Extreme or Blending In?

Phillip A. Bishop,
Exercise Physiology,
University of Alabama

[April 8, 2012]-

The Temptation

Every day we face the temptation to blend in here in the academy, to attract no attention for being a Christian professor. On the other hand, we hope to stand out in terms of research and teaching!

Rae Mellichamp (Emeritus, Management Science) has been my friend and mentor here at Alabama for many years. As Rae explains it: “The very nature of the research aspect of the university has to do with putting before our colleagues ideas for which we seek approval – theories, models, approaches, principles. The problem occurs when the distinction between seeking approval for professional contributions and seeking approval for our personal beliefs becomes blurred.”

What can we do to succeed in academe and develop a strong Christian testimony on our campus? Here are some steps I have attempted:

• Develop an effective research program – and these days that is important even at traditional teaching institutions. Find a mentor if this is a challenge.
• Develop effective teaching skills – a career-long pursuit for me. Read, attend seminars, talk to students and colleagues, study effective teachers.
• Develop a Christian world view. This helps me see my academic specialty, my research, my interactions with students and faculty, all from the standpoint of Christ, another long-term project.
• Without apology identify myself as a Christian to students and colleagues when and however appropriate. There are several MMMs on this topic.
• Purpose to stand out as a competent, effective professor who is totally and radically committed to Christ.

Stand Out

I want to do such a great job as a professor that it is noticed. But even more, I want to be so committed to following Christ that I really stand out. I don’t want to blend in. I don’t want to put my light under a bushel.

Several months ago, I heard some former faculty colleagues of Rae, now retired, remark that Rae was “extremely Christian.”

A colleague of mine mentioned that perhaps I was “too Christian.” One of my grad students countered by saying that my expressions of Christianity were natural and not offensive. “That’s just who Phil is, ” he remarked. I can’t think of a nicer compliment.

©2012 Phillip A Bishop

photo©istockphoto

When God Lifts the Veil

John Walkup,
Emeritus, Electrical and Computer Engineering,
Texas Tech University,
Faculty Commons Staff

{March 25, 2012] –
Many times as followers of Jesus we are little aware of the positive impact that our lives have for God’s kingdom. But occasionally God lifts the veil to give us a glimpse of how He has used us. Three examples from my own life illustrate that.

In my final two years at Texas Tech, three of my former undergraduate students from 20+ years earlier were back on campus recruiting for their companies. Each of them stopped by my office to say hello.

Publicly Identifying Myself

They all mentioned that they could still recall the first day of class when I had identified myself as a believer. One of them told me that he had not forgotten my saying that my faith in Christ was even stronger than my love for electrical engineering. He said that he was a relatively new Christian at that time, and that I had helped him get his personal priorities straight.

Needless to say I was greatly encouraged to hear their unsolicited comments, since I had no previous assurance that I had positively impacted their lives for Christ.More recently, just last fall, a post doctoral fellow joined one of the faculty groups I facilitate at our San Francisco Bay Area campuses.

Ripple Effect Through Others

He told me that one of my early Tech doctoral students, now a professor himself, had strongly influenced him for Christ when he was an undergraduate student. His comments reminded me that the impact of our witness carries on through time even through the lives of our former students.

Finally, a young lecturer recently joined this same fellowship group, He shared with me that eight years ago, while he was still an undergraduate, he had heard a talk I gave on the calling of a Christian professor. He expressed that he had been strongly influenced by my comments, and subsequently had decided to attend graduate school, had received the PhD. degree, and now was a lecturer on our campus. Again hearing his story significantly blessed me.

Glory to God

All three of these experiences reminded me that God, in his graciousness to us, uses such “divine happenstances” to remind us of His faithfulness. He chooses to use us for blessing others in whom He is building Christ’s kingdom. And He knows that we need to have the veil lifted from time to time to encourage us and to strengthen our faith. Such glimpses enable us to continue to respond to Him by daily yielding our lives in obedience to Christ’s control.

Do you have any examples of the veil being lifted for you?
(c)2012 John Walkup

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