THE HIGHER EDUCATION by J. Ellis Tenney

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 20, 1900

THE HIGHER EDUCATION.

By J. Ellis Tenney

The significance of the term “higher education” is not fully appreciated by any; nor will it be until we are permitted to sit under the instruction of Him of whom it was said, “Never man spake like this man.” More, however, may be comprehended of the true meaning of Christian education, which is the true higher education, if we will lay aside all former ideas, and, in the light of God’s word and the revelations of his Spirit, seek to know all that we may concerning this important subject.

We are familiar with the following Biblical statements: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;” “To depart from evil is understanding;” “As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom,” etc.; but these significant passages will fail to reveal to us the true science of education as God would have us understand it, unless we grasp the underlying principle.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” only to those who believe with all their hearts that this is true. God “giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding.” To Nebuchadnezzar’s boastful question, “Who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?” these faithful Hebrews, to whom God had given learning and wisdom, replied: “We are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” The same principle is found in the statement, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.”

We are too apt to look for results in a manner which implies a doubt as to the correctness of the course we are taking. This is not faith, but merely experiment. God does not wish us to experiment with those things which involve eternal interests, and concerning which he has plainly spoken.

Let us cease to measure God’s work by human standards. Man’s mind can not estimate the value of the results of obedience, any more than it can comprehend the methods God uses to bring about those results.

There are three grades, or realms, of thought. The lowest has to do exclusively with material things. With the great mass of humanity, the most important question is, “What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or Wherewithal shall we be clothed?” All their thought has to do with material things; and self-gratification is the mainspring of action.

The next class is composed of those who are the acknowledged leaders of the first class. They are thinkers, but all thought is directed toward the materialists in the first class; for from them must be derived position and honor; and through their patronage must wealth be acquired. The masses of the people want to be led; and in this realm of mind above them are those who are as ready to lead as the others are to be led, and their pay is received in the form of position, honor, applause, and all else that the world has to offer.

The realm of faith is over and above all. It is the highest quality of mind. Only men of faith can exert that influence and power which uplift their fellow men, or by which they themselves can be brought into a nobler and better existence.

Men of thought and faith lead up to God, and connect the human with the divine. Men of thought without faith cater to the physical, and never rise above its level. “We are saved by hope.” Faith is the mainspring of hope; hence without faith it is impossible to please him, for God desires the salvation of every soul.

It is a cause for most sincere gratitude that our schools are seeking for and finding this basic principle of all intellectual, moral, and physical growth. Such schools are doing much for those youth who, with all their hearts, indorse the principle of education by faith, and seek for its exemplifications in their lives.

Not only has the working of this principle been seen in its effectiveness in the academy in Wisconsin, but on the occasion of a recent visit to the college at Battle Creek, I was impressed with the presence of this true element of educational growth. No doubt other schools among us are similarly blessed. It is the beginning of a new and better experience for our schools and all connected with them; and though the pre-eminence given to the exercise of faith in education may be scouted by the world and by many professed believers of the truth, yet it will conquer at last, and through it a people be prepared to meet our Saviour when he comes.

Let us take courage and press on.

J. ELLIS TENNEY.