A couple of weeks ago several of us attended the annual conference of the Association for Biblical Higher Education. It is a group that has been immensely helpful to us as we continue to steward the mission of establishing students in the Word of God for life in Jesus Christ.
The talk of the conference this year was recent action by the Department of Education that considers a lot of what we do as Christian colleges “failure.” The overarching philosophy of higher education in the United States today is that education is certification to get a job and to make money. In an attempt to eliminate programs that do not provide good value to students, the department has slated certain programs at certain colleges to be removed from federal financial aid consideration.
The metric by which these programs are measured is financial, and only financial. You could imagine that a Bible and theology program does not fare well when compared by terms of income generation. Now, the Free Lutheran Bible College and Seminary does not participate in state or federal funding, but we still are affected because of the faulty philosophy of education assumed is then applied to us. We are not designed to help your student make lots of money; we are designed to keep your student grounded—in times of plenty or want.
“We are not designed to help your student make lots of money; we are designed to keep your student grounded—in times of plenty or want.”
That got me thinking. We really need to communicate our philosophy of education well. The last time we updated our philosophy of education was about a dozen years ago, around the time I joined the institution. That philosophy of education still holds, but I thought I would give a little bit of an update on what all of this means. This got me writing the following about the way we see education and the value of a priceless mission. First, a word about value.
Value is a ratio of perceived benefit and price. If the perceived benefit is low the value will be, too. If someone does not understand or embrace Christian faith, maturity, and character, then they will always see what we do as low value. We should not expect every state/federal entity to agree with us about these things, so we have chosen not to engage such entities financially.
Thank you for being one of those people who sees the value of distinctively Christian higher education. You are helping to accomplish all that follows in this post.
How FLBCS Understands Education
We understand education as a deeply Christian task ordered toward the formation of the whole person under the Word of God. Our work is not merely instructional but formative. We aim at maturity in Christ, the cultivation of virtue, faithful service in vocation, disciplined intellectual life, and responsible institutional stewardship. These commitments are integrated and mutually reinforcing, not competitive. We reject the common understanding of education as (primarily) certification for the purpose of employment and generation of income. Further, we believe that in-person on-campus instruction is the best way, though not the only way, to provide this foundational, life-long instruction to a college or seminary student.
Christian Spiritual Maturity
Our central concern is growth in Christ. We desire that students mature in repentance and faith, in confidence in the Gospel, and in joyful obedience to the Lord. Education serves this end by immersing students in Holy Scripture, grounding them in sound doctrine, and shaping lives ordered by prayer, worship, and participation in the life of the congregation. Christian maturity is not assumed; it is nurtured through Word and sacrament, shared life, and disciplined habits of devotion.
Cultivation of Virtue
Flowing from faith, we seek the cultivation of virtue. We understand virtue not as moral self-improvement but as habits of character formed under the lordship of Christ. Courage, prudence, justice, and moderation are shaped through practice, correction, and faithful example. Education therefore trains the affections as well as the intellect, ordering loves rightly so that students learn to desire what is true, good, and beautiful.
Preparation for Varied Vocations
We understand vocation in the Lutheran sense as God’s calling to serve our neighbor in concrete and embodied ways. Education prepares students not merely for employment, but for faithfulness within the relationships and stations into which God places them. This includes preparation for service in:
- Family, as our closest neighbor (spouse, parent, child, extended family)
- Congregation, within the AFLC and beyond
- Community, including all neighbors, any workplace, and the public arena
Vocation begins with the nearest neighbor and extends outward. Our educational work equips students to live responsibly, generously, and wisely in each estate.
Preparation for Pastoral Ministry
While all Christians share a common calling to serve, we also recognize the distinct office of pastoral ministry. We therefore prepare men for theological study and, where called, for service in the pastoral office. This preparation includes careful engagement with Scripture, theological clarity, doctrinal fidelity, and spiritual seriousness. Pastoral preparation remains rooted in the same Gospel that sustains all vocations, yet it carries particular responsibility for the care of souls and the right administration of Word and sacrament.
Intellectual Habits
We cultivate intellectual habits that sustain lifelong learning, including the ability to think, write, speak, read, and listen. We focus on the close reading of a text because the Bible is God’s written text, and on thoughtful writing because writing trains the thinker. Students learn to think patiently, speak truthfully, and evaluate claims with discernment, all of which are habits that serve both faith and vocation.
Academic Rigor
Academic rigor does not exist for itself but reflects our conviction that knowing God involves hard work and stewardship of God’s good gifts of intellect and reason. We pursue excellence across disciplines, believing that truth is unified under Christ. Serious study strengthens both humility and confidence, deepening understanding while guarding against pride and sophistry.
Institutional Sustainability and Stewardship
We steward our institutional life responsibly so that this mission may endure. Faithfulness requires wise governance, financial prudence, clarity of identity, and continuity across generations. Our stewardship is not merely administrative; it is an act of trust that this work belongs to Christ and serves His Church.
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