In A Glorious Yet Frightening World . . . The Next Generation

At the top of my home computer screen are the following home pages just a click away: the BBC, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Al Jazeera, Macleans, National (US) Public Radio, CNN, and Fox News. Together they give me a broad overview of what's happening in the world. I scan all of them in the morning and evening trying to stay in touch with the panoply of world events. It is sometimes like drinking from the proverbial fire hose. What's the reality accrued? We live in a glorious and yet frightening world.

• The byline of the lead article in this week's Economist reads - "As change sweeps the Middle East, the world has many reasons to fear. But it also has one great hope." International media covered the deposing of a tyrant in Tunisia followed by the public protest and forced departure of Egypt's long seated strongman, Hosni Mubarak. Now we await the prospect of the 40 year reign of Col. Omar Gaddafi in Libya coming to an end. We are witnessing sweeping change with more to come possibly in Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and Iran. An uncertain future characterizes this most volatile part of the world.
  

• Much of the change we are seeing is due to advances in technology, especially in communications. Technological innovations continue to shape the way the world lives, works, and advances materially, politically, and spiritually. Nevertheless, human nature remains unchanged reflected in both remarkable acts of altruism and compassion on the one hand, and ruthless acts of aggression, violence, and degradation on the other.
  

These are but two ways that the world continues to undergo seismic change. A world both battered or blessed by radical change calls for heroic leadership. Such leadership can not be merely grounded in universities that excel in preparing young people for their first job or an entry into the job market with a basic level of competence alone. The world cries-out for leaders of competence and character and the highest standards of character is the likeness of Jesus Christ. Now is the time for universities to come along side of the next generation of Christ-like leaders helping them to renew their minds, to embrace a Christ-centred world view, to be guided by a Christ-like heart, to seek truth wherever it may lead and wherever it may be found, to know compassion, reconciliation and hope, by faith seeking understanding. The task of a Christian university is to help develop such leadership and equip the next generation.