In graduate school, I studied under a particular saintly, first-rate New Testament scholar. Everyone – students and professors alike – revered this man, not least for his Greek genius. One day I heard another New Testament professor remark, “I’ve never heard Dr. X ever make a mistake in Greek.” High praise indeed.
This gentleman regularly invited us into his office to pray for us; he embodied pastor, friend, and scholar. Yet when it came to a dissertation defense or an academic presentation, those who were wise to him secretly trembled. You see, this professor had an uncanny ability to ask a single question – always softly and humbly, of course – that could undo an entire argument. After years of preparing a dissertation, the poor presenter or defender up front could be exposed to be nearly a fool, by one simple, piercing question (this, by the way, is why students wanted him on their dissertation committee!). I’ve watched it happen.
Truth be told, no one, not the least academics, wants to be exposed, especially for what they do not know.
In the book of Job, Job faces a dissertation defense sort of situation. Like my professor friend, God has a few piercing questions for Job.
These questions expose Job.
In Job 38 the questions commence: “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?” “Who shut in the sea with doors?” Then God launches into a string of “have you?” questions:
“Have you commanded the morning?”
“Have you … walked in the recesses of the deep?”
“Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth, declare if you know all this.”
“Have you?”
Gulp. Exposed.
Being exposed is the first step to being used by God. In fact, until we embrace that we are simply limited humans who will return to dust, we cannot flourish in life, whether inside the academy or beyond. Until we repulse the ever-present temptation to subtly believe that we are a great gift to the world, we’ll never make much of the One who truly is great.
One day a student remarked to me “I love tests!”I stumbled for a response. He continued: “because tests reveal to me what I do not know, and then I can learn it.” Wow.
Being exposed can actually be a gift.
Exposing students to what they do not know is part of the job of a professor, for then they can move forward.
I suggest it’s a remarkable gift to help students realize their true place in this created world. In love, help them see that they likely have some years ahead, then those days come to an end, and one day no one will remember their name (Ecc 9:5).
That’s a priceless gift.
This has been an unpleasant school year, partly because COVID-19 exposed us:
We aren’t as indestructible as we feign to be.
Our citadels of learning can go from thriving to closed in a blink of an eye.
As much as we know about the human immune system, we are one mutation away from being undone.
Let’s remember, however, that being exposed can actually be a gift.
Next school year perhaps we will love better because of this year’s pain.
Maybe launching a new Christian faculty group on campus will seem a higher priority after being alone all year.
And who knows?
Seeing smiling students in front of you could be sweeter than ever before—after those one thousand Zoom hours.
In Faculty Commons we believe that what the world needs most is for you to live out your God-given calling to the academy. God has called you to your department, university, and students.
May God use you to do great things—because you realize and help your students realize that one day no one will remember your names.
Have a great summer!
Rick Hove
National Director
Faculty Commons