Principled Ideas from the Centennial Institute Publisher, Dr. Donald W.
Sweeting
Volume 9, Number 3 March 2017
A MILESTONE MOMENT
Celebrating the Inauguration of CCU President
Dr. Don Sweeting, February 16, 2017
The inaugural address by Dr. Albert Mohler, president of
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville
The inauguration of a new university president is one
of those milestone moments that is never forgotten.
It becomes a part of the memory of the
institution and a down payment on great
hopes that are invested in this school and in We Celebrate a all the more important. The fragmentation
this president and in all who are assembled New President characterizes this institution. Instead, in the
here. For those gathered here today, we join
in the celebration together. for CCU
Theres a certain solemnity which befits this
occasion. Those of us who are dressed up in medieval
regalia do not do this every day. When we do so, we are
joining in a long line of scholars who have preceded us. We
are the inheritors of a tremendous civilization of learning
of which we are a part.
The university was not invented here, it was invented in the
context of a civilization shaped by Christianity, informed
by the universals and by the transcendentals: the unity,
the good, the beautiful, and the true. This university is a
living representation of that commitment that goes all the
way back and far beyond the university. It goes back to
patriarchs, apostles and prophets. We are standing in that
line and gratefully.
Editor, Jeff Hunt
We celebrate a new president for Colorado Christian
University, Dr. Don Sweeting. He is superbly equipped
for this moment, for this school, for this leadership.
His education is superb, his background and experience
superbly equip him for this task. He is clearly the right
man for the moment. Ive known him and witnessed his
leadership from afar and also up close as a friend and as
a colleague. I know the character and conviction of the
man who has come to be known as the president of this
university. It is thus a great honor to stand in this place and
to encourage you as we celebrate together.
This is the inauguration of a president of a Christian
university. We recognize we are standing in an urgent
moment, in the midst of a civilizational crisis, one that is
not to be overblown, but to be rightly understood. Were
living in a time when our own civilization is unsure of its
foundations, of its meaning, of its cohesive covenant and
what it means to be a community. We are at a great turning
point. We recognize that the culture itself is fragmenting
and we see this in terms of the deluge of the headlines.
One thing that becomes clear is that this fragmentation is
now not only marking the society at large, it marks many
of the precincts of higher education. We thought there was
some immunity, but there is none. Thats what makes this
school, the very model of a Christian university college,
the very hope for Christian higher education,
must not be true here. It must not be what
midst of fragmentation and confusion, there
must be a school that knows why it exists, for
whom it exists, and what it stands for. And,
thankfully, that is the case. Here on this campus, we know
to whom it belongs and whom we serve.
Theres a crisis in higher education, and that crisis, for some
institutions, is a crisis of survival. Many colleges, especially
R. Albert Mohler Jr. serves as president of The Southern Baptist Theological
Seminary, the flagship school of the Southern Baptist Convention and one of the
largest seminaries in the world. Colorado Christian University was honored to
have Dr. Mohler deliver the inaugural address.
Centennial Institute sponsors research, events, and publications to enhance
public understanding of the most important issues facing our state and nation.
By proclaiming Truth, we aim to foster faith, family, and freedom,
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 private institutions, are in danger of closing their doors. soul; nothing inert there. Now, there is a certain amount
Part of this is flagging financial support, but we can trace of learning that might appear to be inert. There are
that back to a loss of identity and to a forfeiture of mission. multiplication tables that must be memorized, dates and
Many institutions are adrift, no longer aware of why they people to remember, texts to read. But if thats where it
exist, what they are to teach, and what is to characterize begins and ends, it is inertia.
their learning community. Instead, true education means not only understanding the
This points to the urgency and opportunity of this moment equations, but understanding the algebra. Whitehead was
for a truly Christian university. Charles Malik of Lebanon a genius, a philosopher mathematician. He saw through
pointed to what he called the two tasks of the Christian the equations the secret of the entire universe, to an entire
scholar and the mission of a Christian institution. First, to system of truth. As Christians, we understand we must
save the soul and second, to save the mind. We are here first go beyond inert ideas to the larger picture of knowledge.
and most fundamentally because of the redemptive truth We must bear witness to a comprehensive Biblical vision
of the Gospel of the Lord, Jesus Christ. And we are here of life and the Christian worldview. We cannot settle for
because of the transformative truth that God has revealed anything less.
in His Word and all that God has assigned to us as His Christians must understand that this is the world that God
human creatures. has made, and though those algebraic equations actually
This means that the Christian institution of higher work, that they actually reflect truth, not because of some
education has to be about the task of recovery. Recovery is cosmic accident, but because God made the world for His
one of the most glorious gifts God gives to His church, a glory and He made it intelligible. He made human beings
reformation looking back to 1517, the beginning of what the only creatures made in His image as the creatures who
we call the Reformation. The mission of recovery is essential can know that world and analyze that world, have the
and rightly understood as glorious. Thats why were happy cognitive ability, and has a restlessness to ask the questions
to affirm an institution that is intentionally, strategically, about the meaning of these things.
and unapologetically about that recovery. That means the aims of Christian higher education
In 1916, Alfred North Whitehead, the great philosopher have to be pointed towards truth, not mere knowledge.
and mathematician, gave an address entitled The Aims of And not merely truth as the secular world might affirm
Education. He was frustrated in the educational system it, but transformative truth and without apology,
that was shaping the young, especially without hesitation. Revealed truth. Truth
the young leadership for Britain during transforms every discipline of knowledge,
that period. He said the great problem Save the Soul, every arena of thought and investigation,
was that they were teaching inert ideas,
that they had lost the aim of education. Save the Mind every scholarly endeavor, and every major,
every minor, every degree program, every
They were teaching schoolboys to do diploma. The Christian claim is for a
algebraic equations, but not how to understand algebra. comprehensive system of truth, a comprehensive truth that
They were teaching the mechanics, but not to understand entails all.
the meaning. What is so dignified in the midst of this is the role of
Whitehead warned that the aims of education are lost if the Christian scholar. The calling of the teacher must be
all it produces are those who can perform the mechanical dignified and respected in any context, but in the Christian
acts of inert knowledge. Inert ideas are not the genius of school it must be most highly honored. The teaching office
true education. Education is about learning and wisdom, in the church is held out in the New Testament in terms
about the formation of character. It is about the head of particular responsibilities and the stewardship of truth.
and the heart. Christians understand that it is about the It is James who reminds us that the one who teaches will

CENTENNIAL REVIEW is published monthly by the Centennial Institute at Colorado Christian University. The authors views are not necessarily
those of CCU. Designer, Justin Jones. Illustrator, Benjamin Hummel. Subscriptions free upon request. Write to: Centennial Institute, 8787 W.
Alameda Ave., Lakewood, CO 80226. Call 800.44.FAITH. Or visit us online at centennial.ccu.edu.

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Centennial Review March 2017 2

bear an even stricter judgement. Theres a reason why there within the conversations, no matter where theyre taking
was honor in the 1st Century Jewish world when Jesus was place, and you can see that the learning that starts in the
referred to as Rabbi. There is a reason why teacher has classroom never ends there.
a particular ring of authority and a particular understanding A passerby who might happen into this occasion would look
of stewardship, because theres something glorious in in and see the academics in our regalia and understand the
the mission of being able to shape generations coming formality of the occasion, would look at the program and
as a teacher. understand yes, Ive seen elsewhere or known of elsewhere
The same holds true for the Christian institution committed the inauguration a president, a chief executive officer of an
to and invested in the stewardship of Christian teaching. academic institution.
From the earliest days, Christians transformed the entire But that passerby, though recognizing the shell of what is
understanding of learning. They took advantage of all taking place here, would likely miss the heart of the matter.
that they could take from ancient Rome and Greece. They Because what is taking place here is not just a presidential
understood that without scholars, there would be a great transition, its the passing of a torch. And we ought never
injury to the Christian church and to the larger culture. to take lightly the passing of the torch, especially a torch
This is the legacy that we now celebrate. This requires a that has been carried by prophets, patriarchs, martyrs and
centering vision apostles. A torch that includes reformers and schoolmen,
in the Lordship of
The Inculcation Jesus Christ. That
Puritans and preachers. We recognize scholars who have
labored with students and those who have worked in the
of Christian Truth centering visions
means that every
darkness of a monastery, copying manuscripts they werent
even sure would be seen by anyone in the future, but they
discipline must be did not want knowledge and truth to disappear.
understood with its connection to every other. Theology
stands at the foundation because our basic understanding We recognize those who established the universities
of God and reality is so foundational that nothing can be and began the Christian college movement. It is from
done, except upon that foundation. And thats what points those leaders we pass the torch. Its the passing of a
to the necessity of a Christian school being so absolutely torch to Dr. Don Sweeting and to a new generation who
clear that it is the revealed theology of the Holy Scriptures, serve as trustees, faculty and administrators. As we know
unapologetically affirmed and received and taught by a from Hebrews 12: Let us be grateful for receiving a
Christian university. kingdom that cannot be shaken and let us offer to God
acceptable worship of reverence and awe, for our God is a
Next, our aim must be to demonstrate true community. We consuming fire.
are talking about the community of Christian universities
that we model, even as it is breaking apart on other
campuses. We model what it means to be learners and
teachers together, showing the world what a community of
Christian scholars looks like. The world should be envious
of what takes place on this campus. Looking in, they
should wonder that there could be a place where scholars of
various disciplines and people from many different nations
are drawn together in a community of scholars.
There are less expensive ways to transmit inert knowledge
than this. But we arent aiming for merely inert knowledge.
We are looking for the inculcation of Christian truth.
We want to be a part of creating, developing and sustaining
a university that will aim itself at heart and soul and mind.
We understand what it means for teachers and learners
in the almost magical context of a classroom. When you
walk on this campus and see these students together and
see the community that is evident, you can gauge the
health of the institution.
It is clear that students are happy on the campus and in
the classroom. You can see the community that is evident
Centennial Review March 2017 3
 Centennial Institute
CCU welcomed Colorado Christian University
Dr. R. Albert Mohler Jr., 8787 W. Alameda Ave.
president of The Southern Lakewood, CO 80226
Baptist Theological
Seminary, as the keynote Return Service Requested
speaker at Dr. Donald
Sweetings inaugural.
In addition to leading Southern Baptist Seminary, he hosts
The Briefing, a daily analysis of news and events from a Christian
worldview; and Thinking in Public, a series of conversations
with the days leading thinkers. He writes a popular blog and a
regular commentary on moral, cultural and theological issues.
Dr. Mohlers mission is to address contemporary issues from a
consistent and explicit Christian worldview, and he has been
recognized as a leader among American evangelicals.
Dr. Mohler is a theologian and an ordained minister with a BA
from Samford University and a Master of Divinity and Doctor
of Philosophy from Southern Seminary. He has studied at the St.
Meinrad School of Theology and Oxford (England).

To the ends of the earth and, for that matter, in places where
The challenge that is given to us is nothing less than to
we cannot ever imagine, I have seen the Lord use graduates teach those who will be the servants of an unshakeable
and send them where I never wouldve understood, flinging kingdom. The fragmentation, the crisis in the civilization,
them to the ends of the earth for His glory. and the questions of our culture, theyre
President Sweeting, we congratulate you on going to continue to come. But let this
this transition. I am confident that through
We are About school understand we are about an
you the Lord will do much in this school an Unshakable unshakeable we are called
kingdom. And, if we do what
to do, to teach and preserve
and beyond. We are called to run a race,
to do what we are commissioned to do, Kingdom and transfer, not only inert knowledge,
and then following us will come another. the transformative knowledge of all that is
And then another. We do what we can do, given to us in Scripture, then we will truly
knowing ultimately this work can only be finished by the serve to equip servants of this unshakeable kingdom.
author and finisher of our faith, our Lord and Savior. And Preparing servants for an unshakeable kingdom, who could
our confidence is He will. possibly want to do anything else? n

Centennial Review March 2017 4