Michael Craven, Vice president at Colson Center, discusses how the Colson Fellows program focuses on teaching worldview as wisdom, emphasizing the importance of a Christian worldview in various aspects of life. The program encourages cohorts to gather in churches, fostering relationships and engaging in transformative discussions. Participants are challenged to create teaching practicums and personal mission plans, aiming to impact the community through sacred service and seeking wisdom in biblical theology.
The Colson Fellows program teaches Christians to discern truth, goodness, and beauty in all aspects of life.
The program emphasizes the importance of engaging with cultural issues and fulfilling the two great commandments.
Deep dives
Overview of the Colson Fellows Program
The Colson Fellows program is a year-long study program that delves deep into the study of Christian worldview. It aims to teach worldview as wisdom, focusing on discerning truth, goodness, and beauty in all aspects of life. The program originated from Chuck Colson's vision to create a rigorous study program that helps people think like him. It explores biblical concepts such as the Imago Dei and their implications for various areas of life, including human dignity, economics, and education. The program emphasizes living a properly ordered life and understanding one's place in the larger story of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration. It includes a curriculum with assigned readings, online learning, and monthly gatherings with fellow learners.
Importance of Engaging with Cultural Issues
The Colson Fellows program recognizes the importance of engaging with cultural issues such as transgender ideology, LGBTQ issues, and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion). It acknowledges the need to understand these issues and their impact on society in order to respond as faithful Christians. The program encourages Christians to fulfill the two great commandments - loving God with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength, and loving their neighbor as themselves. It emphasizes the necessity of being informed about the world to live faithfully and fulfill the calling of Christ.
Formation of Relationships and Community
A significant aspect of the Colson Fellows program is the formation of relationships and community among participants. The program creates a safe space for Christians to gather and wrestle with the compelling issues of the present day. It encourages respectful dialogue and helps individuals develop the skills to engage in meaningful conversations with those who hold different beliefs. The community gatherings provide a platform for verbal processing and allow participants to discuss and share their learnings, experiences, and challenges. Bonds and camaraderie are formed, enabling personal growth and a deeper understanding of others.
The Role of Philosophy and Intellect in Christianity
The Colson Fellows program aims to counter the prevailing impression that Christianity lacks intellectual depth. It recognizes the significance of developing a Christian philosophy and engaging in intellectual exercises. The program delves into biblical theology, encouraging participants to understand the larger story of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration. It addresses the anti-intellectual spirit present in the church and highlights the importance of reason, faith, and seeking knowledge. By promoting clarity, confidence, and courage, the program equips Christians to engage in thought-provoking discussions, confront cultural challenges, and lead with love and persuasive arguments.
Maria Baer interviews Colson Center vice president Michael Craven to hear about how the Colson Fellows program spurs participants to enter God's story, discern this cultural moment, and become agents of change in their own communities.
