Scholarship
To me, true scholarship is driven by genuine curiosity and a constant hunger to learn and grow. It’s marked by a passionate commitment to explaining scripture more clearly each time I have the chance to speak for the Master. Above all, true scholarship requires humility and the honest recognition that I don’t have all the answers.
Proverbs 1:5
A wise man will hear and increase learning,
And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel.
Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.
— 2 Timothy 2:15
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
— Proverbs 3:5
Proverbs 1:5 affirms my desire to keep learning, 2 Timothy 2:15 challenges me to handle God’s Word with faithfulness and accuracy, and Proverbs 3:5 reminds me that true wisdom starts with trusting the Lord, not relying on myself. Together, these verses shape my vision of true scholarship as being rooted in curiosity, integrity, and a deep humility before the Master.
During the summer of 2018 I had the privilege of taking a history of the reformation tour for church history credit. In this picture I am sitting with my professors, Pastor Don Mackintosh and Dr. Dojcin Zivadinovic, at the College of the Barbs along with our tour guide and a fellow classmate. This tour enhanced my appreciation for Biblical scholarship as I followed in the footsteps of the scholars who changed the world.
At the end of the reformation tour we had the chance to go to the Pergamon Museum in Berlin Germany. While there, I had the opportunity to learn more about the Babylonian empire of Daniel’s day and stand beside the reconstructed Ishtar Gate.
Scholarship at Work
On the Sabbath of June 26, 2021, we had an elder take to the pulpit and blindside us with a message that taught distinctly non-trinitarian views. What followed was a 10-month process full of much prayer, hours of study, many personal visits and lots of shed tears as we labored with those who were of the persuasion that the Seventh-day Adventist church had wrongfully embraced the doctrine of the trinity. During this time, we had the privilege of cooperating with our conference in hosting a symposium on the trinity with two members of the Biblical Research Institute and two professors from Andrews University. We greatly appreciated the support of our conference administration during this challenging time. By the grace of God, we were able to reclaim a couple people from the teachings of the non-trinitarians. Below is a documentation of the resources we studied while meeting the errors that were being spread in our church.
The Mystery of Godliness
After the Sabbath of June 26, I spent that week in prayer and fasting with my elders. During that week we had multiple critical visits with many members that were left with many questions after the sermon that blindsided us all. We also spent much time in study and gathered twice for a total of 8 hours to prepare our panel discussion in response to the message that had been delivered the Sabbath before.
True education does not ignore the value of scientific knowledge or literary acquirements; but above information it values power; above power, goodness; above intellectual acquirements, character. The world does not so much need men of great intellect as of noble character. It needs men in whom ability is controlled by steadfast principle.
— Education, 225