This is a day of unparalleled achievement in almost every avenue of human endeavor. Men boast
of accomplishments in. this century which pale all their doings in the six millenniums of human
history. One of the results of these achievements and the resulting international competition is an
intense emphasis on education. From, "Operation Head-Start" for pre-kindergarten children to the
post-graduate levels and continuing adult education, the emphasis on education cannot be unfelt
by many in our "Great Society." The educational standards of the past generation are judged
greatly inadequate in today’s world of change.

As to the changes going on about us today, "President Vernon R. Alden of Ohio University noted
that the biggest change will be in what men know. In a single day modern man now undertakes
enough research to fill seven complete sets of the Encyclopedia Britannica. Robert Oppenheimer
estimates that half of all the knowledge we have today was acquired over a period of ten thousand
years. The remaining half has been acquired in the last fifteen_" (Christianity Today, p. 29, Aug.
27, 1965). We might question the letter’s own, knowledge as to four of the ten thousand years
mentioned, yet, we do not challenge his judgment as to the present rate of the acquisition of
knowledge.

It is solemn to note that this vast increase in knowledge is accompanied by the redoubled efforts
of "higher criticism" and modern scholarship to discredit the only sure and unchanging thing in
this whole scene_the Word of God. The first aspiration to greater knowledge was accompanied
by bringing God’s Word into question. The serpent said to Eve, "Yea, hath God said, Ye shall
not eat of every tree of the garden?" "And when the woman saw that the tree was . . . to be
desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat. . ." (Gen. 3:1,6). In our
Lord’s day He pronounced "Woe" upon the lawyers, who, under the guise of greater learning and
diligent study, had "taken away the key of knowledge. . ." (Luke 11:52). God’s Word is that "key
of knowledge" to which they gave little heed. The Pharisees also had invented shortcuts past its
plain moral obligations (Matt. 15:5) and ignored its weightier matters_"judgment, mercy, and
faith" (Matt. 23:23). It is no new thing then, that we in our own times should find similar efforts
to repudiate the Bible.

We feel a word of caution is therefore in order to the many among God’s flock who are involved
in either teaching or studying in educational institutions today. We urge that all precepts and
principles that are taught be weighed in the balances of the sanctuary. The Word of God must be
the reference Book by which to compare that which is set forward as truth in the schools. Most
schools avowedly give the Bible little place in forming their thoughts and teachings. Hence the
Christian should not be surprised if he meets a measure of conflict and contradiction. Instead of
one’s faith being subverted by this infidelity, we would encourage all who are the Lord’s to use
such occasions to testify to the "grace and truth" come by Jesus Christ and to not be "ashamed of
the testimony of our Lord" (2 Tim. 1:8). Peter wrote, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts:
and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is
in you with meekness and fear" (1 Peter 3:15).

We encourage children of God to seek the Lord’s guidance in deciding their course of study,

"working … the thing which is good." We do believe that there is much instruction available that
is profitable in training and disciplining the mind as well as imparting factual information.
Educational training also develops natural abilities which might otherwise lie dormant. In addition
to these abilities, whether natural or acquired, our Lord gives spiritual gifts, pictured by the talents
of Matthew 25. The trading with these is what will merit our Lord’s "Well done" when He comes.
All our study and preparation should be with this end in view.

Many work long and hard to attain scholastic achievement and degrees signified by Latin phrases
and initials; cum laude, A.B., B.S., Ph.D., etc. But what effort is put forth toward the A.U.G.
degree? Those initials stand for "approved unto God." In this pursuit we are counseled to "give
attendance to reading" and to study to receive God’s approval "rightly dividing the word of truth"
{2 Tim. 2:15). "Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them:that thy profiting may
appear to all" (1 Tim. 4:15).

The Apostle Paul, as an example, showed a good knowledge of the Old Testament which we
believe was the result of much Spirit-led study on his part. God also imparted much to Paul by
revelation, which no amount of study could have acquired. But we cannot believe he exempted
himself from the need of study. When near the end of his life, in prison and ready to be offered
(or poured out as a libation or drink offering), he yet asked Timothy to "bring … the books," no
doubt for his own study, and "especially the parchments" to use perhaps for writing letters to the
saints (2 Tim. 4:13). From Festus’ remark to Paul during an earlier imprisonment, "much learning
doth make thee mad" (Acts 26:24), we might judge that diligent study characterized him. Paul was
also acquainted with writings of certain Greek poets as well as Cretan prophets (Acts 17:28, Titus
1:12) from which, no doubt, he gained insight in being "all things to all men" (1 Cor. 9:22). "And
this I do for the gospel’s sake," said Paul (1 Cor. 9:23). Does the reader also pursue his course
"for the gospel’s sake"?

John wrote that "there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be
written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be
written" (John 21:25). But we are not swamped with endless volumes. God has given one Book
of Books to unfold His mind and heart of love in the completed Scripture. The Spirit of truth has
also been given to teach us all things. To us this is a grand unchanging foundation and blessed
relief when contrasted with the endless volumes of learning being amassed by men today. Perhaps
this is what Solomon referred to when he admonished his son "of making many books there is no
end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh." Is it not like men to fill the world with books
of which there is no end and a) weariness in their study? And yet there is only one subject and one
glorious Person worthy of such coverage. Still, the world could not contain the books if they were
written. The one Book God has given is inexhaustible, which makes this admonition all the more
needed and timely. "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not < to
be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15).

"And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in full knowledge and all
intelligence, that ye may judge of and approve the things that are more excellent, in order that ye
may be pure and without offence for Christ’s day, being complete as regards the fruit of
righteousness, which is by Jesus Christ, to God’s glory and praise" (Phil. 1:9-11, J.N.D. trans.).

"For the arms of our warfare are not fleshly, but powerful according to God to the overthrow of
strongholds; overthrowing reasonings and every high thing that lifts itself up against the
knowledge of God, and leading captive every thought into the obedience of the Christ" (2 Cor.
10:4,5, J.N.D. trans.).