A DENOMINATIONAL COLLEGE?

In God’s Word the number three is often referred to as a number of unity, strength and cooperation. The Holy Trinity, for example, includes the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. God’s Word declares of them: “For there are three that bear witness in heaven, the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth, the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree in one.” 2 John 5:7, 8. Another example of unity was Peter, James and John. They were called as disciples, were together at the mount of transfiguration and in the garden of Gethsemane. As far as we know out of the Word of God, these three friends and apostles stayed together all their lives until death made a separation. There was also Mary, Martha and Lazarus who were an example of unity. All these are a proof that a “threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

In our temporal life we also observe a threefold cord which the Lord has established, namely, the home, the church and the school. Each one of these three can be divided into three again. At home we have the time of infancy, teens and adulthood. In church life we have baptism, confession of faith and marriage. Likewise in school we have, elementary age, high school age and college age. All these things put together form as it were a cord consisting of many strands of which each strand has a vital part. The whole cord is made by a cunning Master, which is God, who has made and ordained all things in heaven and upon earth. As long as the cord remains whole it serves its purpose for which it is made. If one of the strands is missing however, the cord loses its usefulness and consequently it is weak and finally it breaks.

Do we have a weak strand in our school system? Indeed we do. At present we have an elementary school and a high school but we are missing a vital part in our school system, namely a college. One may ask, why do we need a college? We need a college for the very same reason that we need an elementary and a high school. A teacher is to instruct a child and a teenager in the truth but who is to instruct and prepare a teacher in the same truth? What can we expect from a teacher if he or she is not trained in a college where the doctrine of free grace is not taught and is instead taught a doctrine where everyone is in the covenant? It is as important to train a teacher in the truth as it is to train a child in the truth. Indeed, a strand is missing of the threefold cord, elementary school, high school and college education. It is of necessity and very important that we consider this weakness in our school system and to repair and complete this cord with the help of the Lord. This final period of education does not effect teachers only but applies to all whose future profession requires a college education.

The Synodical Education Committee was instructed by the Synod to further study the possibility of having our own college and to report back to the next Synod, D.V. The Synod was convinced of the necessity of having both our children and our teachers trained in our own doctrine and in our own environment during their time of study. To carry out this mandate, the Synodical Education Committee appointed a sub-committee to investigate all phases of a denominational college. When all the information is compiled, a report will be prepared for presentation to the next Synod, D.V. Much work has been done already and much more work still has to be done, but instead of wavering, let us remember that which we read in Luke 9:62 where the Lord Jesus says: “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

College is biblical. We read in 2 Kings 22:14 of Huldah, the prophetess, who dwelt in Jerusalem in the college. If a devout, God-fearing person can live in a college, the students are privileged to be included in the prayers of such a favored person. We can see from this example that it is a blessing for confessing members to Uve in such an environment with God-fearing people.

May the need for such a place of education be bound upon all of our hearts and may the Lord gladden us by His almighty deeds to His glory and the welfare of our future generations.

The Synodical Education Committee

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