'Leader Launch' Complements Student Character Lessons

Dressed for the Storm
By Dr. Mike Sligh, Headmaster
“Many of the teachings of Christianity are, as well as being
incredible and mythical, immoral.”
Christopher Hitchens in, Is Christianity Good for the World
As I sat with my senior Bible class watching a
DVD rendition of Christopher Hitchens leveling this
charge, and many others against our faith, I was
struck by the witty, winsome and sincere manner
with which he presented his case. Upon first blush,
it was a bit unsettling. Some may question the
appropriateness of introducing this line of thought
into a Bible class in a Christian school.
This particular presentation featured not
only Hitchens, but also a Christian apologist and
author who engaged Hitchens on a variety of
“The exposure of various
pre-suppositions
enabled the students
to peer below the
surface impressions
and bring the truth of
scripture to the fore in
their thinking.”
subjects regarding Christianity.
Their passionate, yet respectful
exchanges were both
stimulating and informative.
My wife, who throughout
much of her childhood,
adolescent and early adult
years, shared many of Hitchens’
perspectives before coming to
faith in Christ, joined me as we
worked our students through
the various lines of reasoning
represented in this debate. It was
gratifying to see our students
analyze and wrestle with these ideas. The exposure
of various pre-suppositions enabled the students to
peer below the surface impressions and bring the
truth of scripture to the fore in their thinking.
I was reminded of an illustration a friend
of mine offered as we discussed the challenge of
preparing our students for the barrage of ideas
that they will face upon leaving the Christian high
school. In some ways, it’s like dressing our students
to go out into a storm.
We could dress them in an old fashioned PVC
vinyl type yellow raincoat. That material would
definitely keep the water out, but its air-tight barrier
would quickly become restrictive and smothering.
Although it provided an impenetrable shield
against the rain, it would
become so uncomfortable
and impractical that they
would take it off at the
first opportunity.
We could dress them
in a wool sweater. That
covering would be useless
as it would absorb the rain
and offer no protection at all.
We could dress them in a
Gortex ® rain suit. This fabric
would keep the water out, but it breathes. They could wear it all day in
the storm and stay dry and comfortable. The material would allow the
free exchange of air while maintaining the barrier against the rain.
Let’s make the connection between raincoats and educating
our students. Erecting an impenetrable wall between the minds of
our students and the attacks of atheists and other opponents to our
faith seems attractive at first. This “PVC fabric approach” is probably
appropriate at younger ages. We certainly don’t want the “wool
sweater” approach that would encourage them to soak up all ideas
indiscriminately. That strategy offers no protection at all.
The wisest strategy is for us to expose our students to lines of
contemporary thought that they will, no doubt, face as they enter
into higher education and the workplace. They need the “Gortex ®
protection” from the elements that will allow them to be confident and
comfortable in the exchange of ideas with those who do not share our
same faith commitments. They need to be able to engage in the process
of starting conversations, of asking penetrating questions, of defending
our faith, and requiring the opponents of Christianity to defend theirs.
All of this must be accomplished with strategies that are
appropriate to the age and stage of the learners. One size does not
fit all. This type of instruction requires a level of biblical literacy and
discernment that is suitable for the challenge.
The instructional program at LCS provides a number of settings
where our students can wrestle with many of the big questions and
foundational issues of life. We want to work through these topics with our
students to enable them to deal with their own questions and doubts as
well as to prepare them for the exchange of ideas with others (I Peter 3:15).
The storms will come. Let’s make sure our students are well dressed!