A recap of President Garner’s Opening Sermon, Welcome Week 2024

To top off our Welcome Week events, President Gregg Garner spoke at the first chapel of the term, urging students towards the seriousness of discipleship, out of 2 Timothy 2. Here’s a summary of the discussion. In today’s fast-paced world, where media often shapes our perception of reality, it's crucial to revisit the foundations of our beliefs and the essence of education, particularly in religious contexts. 

The Misuse of Scripture and Media Influence

It's amusing yet somewhat concerning how Scriptures can be twisted to fit modern narratives. Consider the example of a preacher using the unlikely comparison of bunnies and elephants to explain discipleship mechanisms from 2 Timothy Chapter 2. Such interpretations not only stray from the original intent but also reflect how media-savvy approaches, rather than teaching sound doctrine, are employed to attract larger congregations. Ironically, the author of 2 Timothy, Paul, wrote these texts in a prison cell, hardly a strategy to boost attendance through appealing analogies!

This misuse of the biblical text is even more muddled as media further influences our perception. In the 19th century, Londoners were bombarded with flyers advertising a "flu bomb" with arsenic and radioactive qualities. Fast forward to today, the curated news cycles and social media feeds shape our understanding of reality, often leaving us with a version that's far from the truth.

The core of educational institutions, especially those rooted in Christian values, should align with the Great Commission—making disciples of all nations. This mission is often overshadowed by the noise of the world and modern-day distractions such as social media. Some Christian institutions combat this through promoting social media fasts, and we are among them in promoting a “digital detox” during Summer Internship. 

These internships are eye-opening; the initial withdrawal from digital devices is akin to breaking a drug addiction, revealing our deep-seated dependency on technology. It's a powerful reminder of the need for real, tangible interactions and the importance of focusing on God's mission rather than worldly distractions.

Paul’s Example and the Call to Genuine Teaching

Reflecting on Paul's epistles, particularly when he penned the letters from prison, shows his dedication to spreading the gospel despite his circumstances. His writings in Philippians reveal a man torn between living and dying but choosing to remain for the sake of Christ’s mission. This level of commitment is what true discipleship entails.

As students, the educational content you receive must not just transfer knowledge but ignite a genuine passion for the teachings of Christ. This involves not only understanding scripture but also living out the principles daily. It's about creating a lineage of faithful individuals who can carry forward the teachings, not through coercion or charm but through genuine, heartfelt communication.

Living the Message in a Post-Christian Society

Today’s society, arguably post-Christian in many aspects, presents unique challenges. The closure of Christian educational institutions and the general secularization of society call for a robust reaffirmation of Christian values not just in personal lives but as a community.

At the heart of this reaffirmation is education that does not shy away from the hard truths, that challenges the status quo, and that aligns with the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. It's about preparing students not just for careers but for a life of service, shaped by the teachings they receive.

Looking at The Soldier

President Gregg Garner explained that Paul uses three analogies in 2 Timothy 2 - the good soldier of Christ Jesus, the athlete who competes according to the rules, and the hardworking farmer. 

Regarding the soldier, President Garner asked students to consider the metaphor, and that they no longer understand themselves as civilians. They look different, they act different, they’re judged by different standards, and there is loyalty and fidelity between them and their fellow soldiers. They don’t consider themselves civilians, so they don’t care about what’s happening in civilian life, because they’re focused on the mission objectives related to their service. This kind of camaraderie, loyalty, and brotherhood is characteristic of military relationships, and no one judges them for it. As students in this school, Paul is calling you to be like the solider. To be more discerning about what noise fills your ears, to understand you’ve been called to a greater mission, and to take it seriously, using your energy to serve the agenda of God.

The Athlete

According to the text, “an athlete isn’t crowned unless he competes according to the rules.” Winning is the goal, but winning only happens if one understands the rules. If you don’t know the rules, as in, the rule of God, all kinds of fiction can happen regarding whether or not you’re succeeding. God gives us rules, and it is our job, as disciples, to teach them the very best so that we can win. 

In Matthew 7, people come to Jesus and note that they are prophesying in his name, casting out demons in his name, but Jesus responds that they didn’t do it biblically. In all of their work in his name, there was no evidence that they knew him. For disciples of Jesus, there has to be a knowledge of God’s rule, which cannot happen without in-depth study of God’s Word.

The Farmer 

Regarding the farmer, the verse notes that in considering the hard-working farmer “who ought to have the first share of the crops.” President Garner explained, that when it comes to the ground, farmers understand that the kind of work you put in has a direct impact on what you get out of it. This isn’t matched in our modern, non-agrarian culture, where you get paid regardless of the quality of your work. But farmers understand, and disciples (students!) should follow suit, that the amount of work you put into something is directly correlated to what you’ll get out of it. 

A final quote from President Garner in closing his sermon

“You all are living in a post-Christian nation. There’s a recent stat our staff has been talking about: Colleges are closing at the rate of once a week. 75% of those are Christian schools. You guys are unicorns in that way. You’re very rare to be young people who are making themselves available to learn the word of God. I want to encourage you with this verse in chapel to recognize who you are, recognize the responsibility you have the next several years that you have, however many years you have left, to learn this word of God and get this time in, is supposed to produce in you the kind of person that can carry forward this incredible history. This is 2000 years of this baton being passed. You guys are now receiving it. You're connected to this guy, Paul, the apostle, who suffered in prison, just to make sure that the word of God could get out there and get written. It's been passed to you. Now take the responsibility seriously. God sees you. God is watching you.  If you came here and you want to do anything less than make history, this is not the school for you. Because we’ve got world changers up in here. We’ve got people whom, like Hebrews 11 would say, “the world is not worthy of.” And we’ve gotta make good on that, right?” 

Conclusion

In this journey, every believer, every educator, and every student has a pivotal role. It’s about making history, changing the world one disciple at a time, and ensuring the message of Christ is not just heard but lived out loud. Remember: the soldier doesn’t get caught in civilian affairs, the athlete doesn’t get crowned unless he competes according to the rules, and the farmer should get his fair share of the crops.