The Tendency To Spiral Downward
On this day in history 1642, the first commencement excercises were held at Harvard University. The following quote mentions the rules that were adopted a few days later.Quote:
| The board of the oldest institution of higher learning in America, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, declared its purpose was to “train a literate clergy.” Ten of its twelve presidents prior to the Revolution were ministers, and over fifty percent of the seventeenthcentury graduates became ministers. The Rules and Precepts for the students, which were adopted this day, September, 26, 1642, stated: “Let every Student be plainly instructed, and earnestly pressed to consider well, the main end of his life and studies is, to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternal life.” The name of the College was Harvard. American Minute with Bill Federer. (Amerisearch, Inc., P.O. Box 20163, St. Louis, MO 63123, 1-888-USA-WORD, www.amerisearch.net) |
As I read this quote, I could not help but recall the story from last winter about Harvard. The school approved the publication of a pornographic student magazine. The founders would drop dead, if they were not already dead of course.
Why does this happen? How does a Christian ministry like this stray from it's foundation?
It actually reveals the truth of Romans 12:2
"And [you* are] to stop conforming yourselves to this age, _but_ [are] to continue being transformed by the renewal of your* mind, in order for you* to be proving what [is] the good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
(Analytical-Literal Translation)
As we allow ourselves, or our churches, or other Christian institutions to give into the pressure of the current age, we spiral downward. It takes a walk of faith, a commitment to truth, and a submission to God and His Word to stay strong.
Harvard is a testimony to how "rewarding" compromise can be. It makes one wonder about the "success" of the current "church growth" movements.
The men at Harvard who made the initial decisions to "cut the anchor" were probably good men. I am sure they were well-intentioned men. They may possibly have even been believers. But the path they chose for their school was the wrong path.
It is incumbent on each of us as children of God, and leaders in His church to walk catuiously and choose carefully.
Jeremiah 6:16
Thus says the LORD:
“ Stand in the ways and see,
And ask for the old paths, where the good way is,
And walk in it;
Then you will find rest for your souls.
But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
Posted On Sep 23, 2005 at 0:00 AM
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