The Pilgrim’s Protest

By Micah Yaun
By way of introduction, the following three classes are not my “favorite” classes. They may or may not include my favorites, but, if I had to pick my favorite classes, I would pick on the basis of enjoyment and personal impact the classes had on me. I selected the following three classes as “must take” because of their exclusive instruction and training that I did not get in entirety in any other class. Also, these are not required for every major. I do not at all intend to speak against the value of any Bible Core or General Education classes. At the same time, the following three classes are, in my humble opinion, unmatched in their value for life and ministry.
The first class on my list is “Counseling Youth and Families,” taught by Dr. David Olshine. This class is basically a class about you and why you are who you are. Dr. Olshine’s famous quote on opening day reflects accurately the class’s purpose, “I’m going to rip you apart…and then I’m going to put you back together.” Everyone you interact with everyday is not simply an individual, they are a part of a system, a family system, and so are you. The family system is the number one voice in a person’s life. Even the absence of a close family structure is the loudest voice a given person is hearing. This class gives you the tools to understand your own family of origin and of procreation and how it shapes you as a person. Through this understanding of yourself, “Counseling Youth and Families” lets you see what it’s going to look like as you try to guide others in understanding their own lives.
The second class is “Bible for Teachers” taught by Dr. Anita Cooper. The main reason I believe everyone should take this class is because of the high view of Scripture it conveys. Understandably, not everyone is going to be a formal teacher of the Bible. The Bible must, however, be central to how we think, act, and lead. Many of us grew up knowing that the Bible is important and that it is the Word of God. But if anyone has ever asked themselves, “So what’s so great about the Bible?” they should take “Bible for Teachers”. The student in this class is taught to view and teach the Bible as a whole, a book with one purpose and theme, Christ. If Christ is not the theme of the Bible then it is just another piece of literature on the shelf. “Bible for Teachers” is not about how to teach nifty Bible lessons. It is about communicating Christ, gospel, truth, as the Bible reveals it.
“Developing the Church” taught by Dr. Chris Little wraps up the “Must Take” list. All of our lives (for some) we have gotten in the family car on Sunday morning to go from home to church, right? Wrong! We have gotten in the car to take the Church to meet together with the rest of the Church. Have you ever heard someone say that we just need to get back to how they did church in the New Testament, but then it seems like no one is willing to take the time to see what that would really mean? Maybe you’ve heard me say this and wonder why I’m not taking the time, or maybe you seen someone go off the deep end leaving the church angry and bitter. In taking “Developing the Church,” you have a chance to search out what “Church” truly means with other searchers. You have grown up with an idea of what “Church” is. For me, it’s a pink carpeted, red pew room called a sanctuary. I’m sitting in the third row of the far left section with my family. I like some of the songs, some I don’t. The preacher preaches and then everyone goes their separate ways to eat lunch. What does “Church” mean to you? “Developing the Church” will blow your view of Church out of the water and replace it with a balanced, Biblical precedent and directive for how “Church” is supposed to happen.
If possible, take these classes in this order. But don’t let that impossibility stop you from taking them. These classes will leave an impact on you that will not go away. I challenge every CIU student to take these three classes and pour yourself into them before you leave CIU. If you take my challenge and you feel the same way, I want to hear about it. I also want other students to hear about it from you. In these short three to four years, take advantage of what you can and take these three classes. If I’m wrong, at least you’ve filled elective hours, right?