The Genevan Alternative

Christians who are seriously considering changing the “IS” to the “Ought” must count the cost. This is true for every endeavor but never so much as when the call is Christ’s.  Once these costs are considered there must be a realization that a certain type of committed passion also must be in place. Without passion for the vision of a Christian community the effort will fail. Vitality and a strong emotional commitment is essential. However there is one other component necessary – education.

Since so many pulpits have abandoned the aspect of teaching from the pulpit, Christians are left without the real meat of the Word of God. Without the tools for the comprehensive application of the great commission Christians remain defenseless against the onslaught of Humanism. While this is bad enough congregations are reduced to “pew warmers” by being deprived of an offensive strategy whereby they can take dominion over those areas of society that Christ has called them to.

The Spirit Filled Warrior

God calls His people to be well equipped for the battle. He commands them to be clothed with the armor of the Word of God according to Ephesians 6. He also calls them to be filled with knowledge, understanding, wisdom and skill. Without these components success is futile. Consider the list.

Knowledge

As a result of redemption God grants His saints the means to knowledge. Knowledge does not come by osmosis. It is gained through the study of God’s Revelation. By it men learn the truth and are able to distinguish between good and evil. Yet knowledge alone is dangerous since it leads to pride and arrogance. Knowledge is not understanding and therefore not beneficial by itself.

Understanding

Understanding insinuates that after learning the basics of God’s Word, the individual then understands the ramifications of it. By the Grace of God the saints learn that knowledge and understanding are not to be divided. They work together and can only work together if they are to be profitable. Understating is knowing what God’s Relational knowledge is intended for.

Wisdom

Next comes wisdom. This is the application of the Word. It is knowing ‘how’ Knowledge and Understanding are applied to the real world. Wisdom teaches how to apply the precepts of God’s
Law-Word to men and nations. Knowing how to do something does not necessary enable the individual the means to actually do it. That requires skill.

Skill

Skill is the actual ability to carry out a tactical strategy or task. It is the performance of a thing usually according to expert  capabilities. I can know the rules of the chess game. I can know what each piece means, and does. I can even understand how to move them on the chess board and play the game. But that does not automatically give me the skill to play effectively or successfully. It certainly does not ,in and of itself, give me the ability to be a champion. That only comes by developing the skill.

All of these component are essential and must work together if the Kingdom of God is to be advanced. Bible schools and colleges no longer accomplish this. Neither do the churches. What we need is an alternative to the apostasy which has pervaded our so-called Theological institutions. What is needed is a new paradigm – a new model- which is not at all new but simply forgotten. I believe New Geneva is the answer to Christendom’s dilemma.

The Semester Strategy at new Geneva

For first year students at New Geneva we recommend the following courses all of which set up a Biblical foundation of World View Studies. These studies enable the student to rightly analyze the various disciplines of the cultural order from a Scriptural vantage point. The lessons are given via correspondence with interactive discussions with each professor monitoring the course. For each course a series of lectures are issued along with several reading assignments initially focusing on educating for knowledge and understanding of the topic, and then for wisdom and skill in leadership application of the material taught.

In the second semester Geneva moves the student to focus on a theological tract. This includes courses in Systematic Theology and apologetics all of which are taught with a view to apply them to the cultural order.

Within the first year of study each student becomes very well versed in both the details of the disciplines studied and how they can be effectively executed in the world. This means that by way of discussion and study the student is challenged to think “Kingdom Advancement” in concrete terms.

Geneva goes beyond abstractionism. Each professor draws out of the student a real strategy for Biblical Reconstruction which is to them be actually executed in the realm of God’s world. This is where Geneva is likened to an internship where the student gets hands-on encouragement and training for the tasks of Cultural transformation. We impress upon each student that they have a divine responsibility before God to get something done. That is their duty and they will be held answerable to that call. Geneva can assist in that realization

The Most Valuable Resource

The most valuable resource for every endeavor is passion. While it is absolutely essential to have individuals who are skilled, smart, creative and diligent, passion is that underlying power that gives all of these other components their worth. It is passion which carves out and elevates some individuals from others. Passion is the essence of leadership. It is that one quality that is identifiable in people simply by talking to them.

When God calls His people to His kingdom’s work, not only does He empower them by His Spirit, he instills in them as passionate hunger to advance His Holy cause. It is only after instilling them with that desire that He trains them. He begins with inward passion and works from there outward.

According to Harvard’s Business Review the world is looking for talented people. It is mad for it. The people most sort after are those with a special mix of natural ability and a passionate attitude about their work. But isn’t this what the church needs as well – and more so? Doesn’t the greatest and most important institution on earth, God’s ekklesia, need people with that mix of natural ability, which is shaped by supernatural means, and a passion for the Glory of God? If so, then why is She settling for less? Why are we settling for less – especially in ourselves?

A Divine Talent Search

If the Kingdom is going to be advanced in our life-time we need to find passionate saints who are willing to be trained as competent leaders. This passion is not man-made. It can, however, be developed in those that already have it as a mustard seed. This passion is what secular psychologist call “intrinsic motivation.” This is entirely a Biblical principle.

Motivation is everything. People are controlled by what motivates them, or what doesn’t. It is the driving force of the human race and it uncovers the true meaning behind every action. What the secular ‘shrinks’ fail to understand is that intrinsic motivation is the result of man’s inmost desire. Either it will be humanistic or it will be God-ward. What the Church desperately needs is divine intrinsic motivation if it is to fulfill its calling.

The Purpose of the Call

God identifies each of His called by certain criteria by which He can encourage and strengthen the Church to go out into the world advancing His Kingdom by taking righteous dominion over the institutions of civilization.

First, He providentially grants these individuals certain skills and positions, and then He calls them by instilling in them the Spirit’s passion (i.e. that divine intrinsic motivation) so that they may fill His holy purpose in those areas to the Church and in the world. Each saint is tapped to fulfill a special purpose according to their talents.

Second, through Biblical training these individuals are then refined and their abilities strengthened. These abilities consist of theological wisdom and understanding, character refinement, dominion creativity, and the ability to lead others. Perhaps you might say that God is building a Leadership Factory of wise and talented individuals with a passion for establishing the Crown rights of King Jesus in every realm of the created order.

Christ’s Leadership Factory

Each of the apostles became leaders. In turn, their students became leaders as well. They were all called to be fishers of men. That was their purpose. Each was to spread the gospel and make disciples of every nation. They were commanded to fulfill the dominion mandate of Genesis 1:28-29 by way of the New Testament Great Commission. Today’s Christians are given the same task.

The Biblical Model @ New Geneva

The College of New Geneva is based upon a paradigm of leadership action coupled with Theological academic scholarship. The Christian army must be smart. They must be wise in knowledge and understanding. But they must also be able to craft practical strategies which can be used effectively in the real world. Since the Christian battle does not exist in a vacuum the saints must take the battle to the street where the war rages.

At Geneva, we have a core competitive advantage. We educate passionate individuals to become productive leaders in the dominion mandate call. They, in turn, educate others who also become leaders so that they too can educate leaders to advance the cause of Righteousness, ad infinitum. Each of these educated leaders is trained to bring about results. For those who are serious about the execution of the dominion mandate Geneva has the strategies.