Not all Christians view theological education through the same lens. There is a strong anti-intellectual streak running through the body of Christ in both Africa and the west. Nor is this something new. Timothy Dwight, the grandson of Jonathan Edwards, and one-time President of Yale University, battled this same attitude in the early 1800s. In his speech given at the opening of Andover Seminary, Dwight set his sights on those who declare, both in their language and conduct, that the [pulpit] ought to be yielded up to the occupancy of Ignorance. While they demand a seven-year apprenticeship, for the purpose of learning to make a shoe, or an axe; they suppose the system of Providence, together with the numerous, and frequently abstruse, doctrines and precepts, contained in the Scriptures, may be all comprehended without learning, labour, or time. While they insist, equally with others, that their property shall be managed by skilful agents, their judicial causes by learned advocates, and their children, when sick, attended by able physicians; they were satisfied to place their Religion, their souls, and their salvation under the guidance of quackery. ¹
Dwight was not referring to those who merely believed there were other means of gaining the requisite skills for ""rightly handling the word of truth." (2 Tim 2:15) History is replete with self-taught men who worked diligently to master biblical languages, hermeneutics, biblical and systematic theology, and more, in an effort to comprehend the "system of Providence, together with numerous, and frequently abstruse, doctrines and precepts, contained in the Scriptures." The issue, then and now, is primarily doctrinal in nature.  

The question at hand is, must a man be equipped to handle God's word, or are there shortcuts? Is a broad, classical, multidisciplinary approach (i.e., the approach of ACU) necessary, or is such training superfluous and unnecessary? Is training/equipping a necessary endeavour at all, or is it actually a hindrance to the more pure, natural, spiritual process of going directly to God for knowledge and insight?
 
There are anecdotes to bolster both sides of the argument. We can all point to the well-trained, highlyeducated apostate, or the illiterate spiritual powerhouse, in attempts to make our point. However, doing so ignores the broader, more pressing question... "What do the Scriptures teach?"
 
The answer, I believe, is found in the proper application of a few key texts. For the sake of space, we will examine one. The Great Commission makes it clear that the mission of the Church is not to merely "convert" people, then back up and 'see what the Spirit teaches them.' Our mission is a comprehensive one: "And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."" (Matthew 28:18-20)
Clearly, the great truths of the Kingdom must be taught! This is the very thing that led the apostles to 1) commit the Lord's teaching to writing, and 2) appoint elders based on their ability to, "hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it." (Titus 1:9) 

At ACU, and ACU Seminary, we take this task seriously. We believe the message of the gospel is too important to be left to chance. It must be preserved, proclaimed, and defended against error. It must also be applied to every area and aspect of life. As such, we are committed to helping called men attain the requisite skills they need to "maintain the pattern of sound words" (2 Timothy 1:13) laid down by the apostles, and preserved through the ages, and "take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5) For it is indeed the gospel that is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16), and that gospel must be understood rightly (1 Corinthians 15:1-3). Otherwise, it is no gospel at all.