The following post is adapted from my personal academic coursework.
Like most good teachers and preachers, Tony Merida has a way of saying things that stick with you. His quote about people having “more degrees than Fahrenehit” rings very true. Psalm 14:1 (NKJV) says that “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” So many in our world deny God entirely or acknowledge His existence but choose to ignore Him. This is particularly prevalent in many academic settings. Obviously, this should not be the case, but I think many people fall victim to the lie that their faith and their education must remain separate. However, this compartmentalization limits one’s potential in both areas.
As a teacher, I believe that education is the pursuit of truth through knowledge. No matter the field of study, at its core is truth. Other teachers have expressed similar beliefs, including Clement of Alexandria who wrote “There is only one way of truth, but different paths from different places join it…,” and Dr. R. C. Sproul who stated that “All truth is God’s truth.” As believers, we know that God’s word is truth (Psalm 119:160) and that Jesus is the truth (John 14:6). So anyone pursuing truth through knowledge will eventually arrive at the ultimate Person of truth, Jesus Christ. Thus, to divorce faith from academia is not only disingenuous, it also makes true education impossible.
References
Clement. (n.d.) Stromateis: Book one. Catholic University of America Press.
Holy Bible, New King James Version. (2020). Thomas Nelson (Original work published 1982).
Mathison, K. (2012, May 4). Introduction - A reformed approach to science and scripture. Lingonier Ministries. https://www.ligonier.org/blog/introduction-reformed-approach-science-and-scripture/