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A headline caught my eye recently. Scientists have decided that the earth is now one-half inch larger around its circumference. I could have used their help a few months ago, because it took several times for me to determine the exact size in feet of the new office space into which I was moving. I am not a scientist. Such infinitesimal measurement of something as large as earth raises some questions in my mind. And, I disagree with our scientist friends on their growth analysis. Geography and science aside, my very unscientific theory is that the earth is a far smaller community today than it was ten years ago. The amazing advances in communication and the availability of travel have made the term global community not only a catch phrase but reality. The world is a smaller place in which to live in that respect. What does this have to do with Union University? Everything! International Studies is an official area of emphasis with implications in business, missions, language, education other areas. Opportunities for Union students to study abroad are available and the experience has become much more common! Faculty involvement with other universities around the world is daily. GO (Global Outreach) trips take students and faculty across the USA and to points overseas. The implications that spring from our core values underscore these activities. To be Excellence-Driven implies Union is constantly striving to be ahead of, not just on, the cutting edge in education. Being Christ-Centered defines our intentions and fuels our mission. Union is preparing students to have a Christ-centered worldview, not a one person, one nation view. People-Focused individuals think in terms of service to others and help for the human condition. Their spirit is contagious – their view earthly and eternal. A Future-Directed mindset reminds us the future is the only life we have. The past is history. We define the word future in terms of tomorrow and eternity. This issue of The Unionite offers a glimpse of Union as a university with a focused global outlook. For the school it means recognition. For faculty, this philosophy translates into enriched classroom instruction. For students, it means an expanded vision of life. Wayne Johnson
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The following is part of a recent interview with Union President David S. Dockery. He discussed the importance of a Christian worldview, a value that is being taught throughout the university. A value that is lived out not just on campus but throughout the world – wherever our students and alumni are found. “A Christian worldview says there is a framework for understanding the world. It begins with the confession, “we believe in God the Father, Maker of Heaven and Earth.” So we recognize that everything that is comes as a gift from God, which answers the question of ‘How did we get here?’ The second question is ‘who are we?’ We recognize that humans are created in the image of God, and that gives us the ability to relate, to have social awareness, intellectual capacities, rational capacities, and the spiritual capacities to worship our great God. So we answer the big question about creation, the question of who we are. But we look around this world and we see tragedy, suffering, and evil and we have to ask – what’s wrong with this wonderful creation? A Christian worldview has an answer for that, at least partially. The question of evil is a very difficult question that I’m not sure we can ever answer fully, but we do know that it’s the result of the Fall – when men and women made a conscious decision to choose against the things of God. Because of that, sin has entered the world and it has ramifications not only for humans and relationships, and our relationship with God, but with the creation itself. Romans says that all of creation is longing for redemption, because it’s impacted by the Fall. But then there’s the Good News, in that that’s not the end of the story. God has provided a remedy or a solution to this problem in Jesus Christ, and we recognize that all things are by Him, and for Him, and through Him and in Him, and therefore we can see issues in economics, in sociology, literature, political science, biology, chemistry – we can see all the disciplines of the academic world through those eyes, asking those kinds of questions. Now it’s going to be shaped differently in each discipline, but nevertheless we come to it asking that question. “What does a Christian worldview have to bear on this subject, how can we think Christianly about this issue?” I think it raises and expands the opportunities to think more broadly, more deeply, about all of our subjects. It does not narrow it to just think about Biblical things, but it helps us to think more broadly about how truth comes from God – He’s the source of all truth – and that our pursuit of truth in each discipline ultimately is a pursuit of God that can glorify Him.” Union President David S. Dockery |
