Stopping the Scandal

As I read this first chapter, I found myself largely agreeing with what Noll was proposing; evangelicals have and do seem to be absent from the public square when it comes to intellectual vigor. He suggests that one of the reasons this is so is because we bow to the 'urgencies of the moment' (12) and prop up that which seems ready to topple. We succeed at proclamation, evangelism, charity, justice, and generosity toward supporting certain Christian institutions but fail when it comes to developing our minds and assisting other evangelicals to develop their minds.

I wonder (and Noll seems open here) what should be done in our own lives to stymie this flood and prepare the way for even reversing its flow. Each of the members of this blog seems to be capable and in a unique enough life situation to address this problem by becoming a professor at a research university if he desired. But is that what we do? Part of my uneasiness in continuing to a doctoral degree in Christian studies is that the market is already flooded with Christians doing this, as Noll points out. Why not stand at a different post where Christians are absent? Do we form evangelical publications? Do we support others that are bridging this gap? I suppose I just wonder that if Noll raises a true critique, how do we as individuals and as communities respond?

Blog on!