New TBC course weighs significance of current issues in light of Bible teaching

by AMY DAVIS
TENNESSEE BIBLE COLLEGE

COOKEVILLE — Global warming. Animal rights. Illegal immigration. Just how important are these and other much-publicized issues of public concern?

That's the question being addressed in a new course being offered next quarter at TBC — Christianity and Contemporary Culture.

"One of the things we want to instill in the students is that contemporary culture does not determine which issues are most important. The Bible determines that," said Kerry Duke, TBC dean. "Just because contemporary culture or the media spend a lot of time emphasizing an issue doesn't mean that that issue is important in God's sight."

The purpose of the course, Duke said, is to help students weigh the importance of current issues in light of Bible principles.

"If the Bible addresses an issue, we want the students to see what the Bible teaches about it and also how much importance it places on that issue in the overall scale of things," he said.

"The trend in many religious circles is to ride an issue simply because it's being talked a lot about in the media. For instance, a number of religious leaders are talking about global warming simply because everybody else seems to be talking about global warming. But that doesn't mean that that's a key issue on the full scale of things. So we're going to teach students how to assess the relative importance of an issue, as well as how to address it in the Bible, if it can be addressed."

Other issues to be discussed in the class include abortion, capital punishment, same-sex marriage, church and state political issues and much more.

In addition to Christianity and Contemporary Culture, the following courses are being offered at TBC during the winter quarter, Jan. 7-March 28:

Undergraduate

• English Composition II (Glenn Ramsey)
• Romans (Kerry Duke)
• Christianity and Contemporary Culture (staff)
• Principles of Christian Living (Malcolm Hill)
• Ancient Philosophy (D. Hill)
• Ephesians, Philipians, Colossians (M. Hill and Paul Wilmoth)
• Introduction to Christian Counseling (Ramsey)

Graduate

• Biblical doctrine of Prophecy (M. Hill)
• History of Theology (Duke)
• Alleged Discrepancies of the Bible (Ramsey)
• Advanced Hermeneutics (staff)

Registration is Thursday, Jan. 3, from 10 a.m. to noon.

Tennessee Bible College, which is authorized by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, specializes in Bible doctrine, evangelism and apologetics (the study of Christian evidences). Students may pursue a bachelor's degree in religious education, master's and doctorate degrees in theology or a two-year preaching diploma. A wide variety of religious courses are offered — courses designed to prepare students for a career in preaching, missions and other Christian works.

Christianity and Contemporary Culture is just the latest — and Duke encourages interested individuals to take advantage.

"We want the students to know how to keep things in perspective, biblically speaking," he said. "The environment and education are legitimate issues, but the overarching theme of the New Testament is salvation of the soul through the gospel of Christ. Balance is the key. So while students may become involved in a number of societal concerns in the future, we want to give them a basis for weighing the seriousness of the issues. This foundation will remind them of their primary mission as Christians: to take the gospel to the world."

For more information about Tennessee Bible College, call (931)526-2616, visit www.tn-biblecollege.edu or stop by the campus at 1616 McCulley Road, Cookeville.