Silliman University is 110 years old today. The Founders Day theme “A mighty fortress is our God” is the English title of one of the best loved and most influential Protestant hymns ever composed. It was written between1527-1529 originally in German by Martin Luther, a monk. He was one of the forerunners of the Protestant Reformation, a period in history when the doctrines, rituals, and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church was challenged by those who became deeply troubled by the increasing corruption and moral deterioration in the church. The reformation causes were quite complex and multi-faceted. Luther especially opposed the selling of indulgences, a monetary payment of penalty which, supposedly, absolved one of past sins and offered release from purgatory after death.
When the SU Founders Committee 2011 headed by Dr. Helen Margaret Udarbe-Alvarez, Arts & Science dean, finalized the theme for this year, one comment I heard was that the theme sounded very “serious”. I suppose what the person meant was that the theme was not quite jovial, or that it was too militaristic, too “churchy” or perhaps, too “spiritual”.
But nothing ever happens by chance. In all things and in all circumstances, there is a purpose. The Lord led Silliman to this “serious” theme for a beautiful reason. And when we just give ourselves enough time to quiet our hearts and look at what is happening all around the world today, we will be convinced that the Committee made the best choice.
Times are indeed quite serious. If we cannot agree to that, then we are not looking long enough. Just as in the time of Luther, there is much to critique, there is much to inquire, there is much to reform.
Every year, we pause to give thanks to the Lord for the circumstances that led to the birthing of Silliman Institute in 1901: the coming of the Presbyterian missionaries; the $10,000 donation of Dr. Horace B Silliman, a retired businessman from Cohoes, New York; the first 15 students; the steadfastness of Dr. David S. Hibbard and wife, Laura; the rented two-storey building which started it all, and more.
After all the telling and re-telling of Silliman’s rich past, I could not help but realize one thing: that the missionaries who founded Silliman did not really come all the way to Dumaguete to build a school. They built the beautiful Campus by the Sea to proclaim Christ. The Gospel of Jesus was the end; education was simply the means.
Some would object to this historical interpretation. But those who have been privileged to see up close the journey of Silliman, to hear the countless testimonies of our alumni all over the world, and to be part of the University system as student, faculty or staff would agree that what sets Silliman apart from other prestigious educational institutions is its intentional emphasis on the biblical teachings of Jesus Christ as the very core and very heartbeat of its initiatives and endeavors.
But times have greatly changed. We hear comments like, “You cannot be too godly these days. You have to be acceptable to all, to blend, to be practical, to be cutting-edge and competitive.” We often wonder in our hearts what those comments really mean.
What we know is that times may have changed, but our basic needs as human beings have remained the same: our need for love and acceptance; our need to know the real purpose of our existence; our need to make peace with God; and our need to hold on to what is truly eternal, secure, and significant.
What we are also recognizing is that when the forces of nature attack us with all fury; when we come face to face with an incurable disease, or when we are overtaken by deep feelings of isolation and emptiness despite all our possessions and all our achievements, we desperately look for a fortress.
We run to a place where we can hide, refresh, find safety, feel secure, receive peace, and keep our sanity. A true fortress is not all the time physical. It is unseen but it is very real. A fortress is not a place but it is a relationship — a genuine and sincere bond with Christ.
What practical things can we do in these volatile times to find true fortress?
Repent. Repentance is stopping the blame-game. It is coming to an agreement with the Lord that we are sinful, that we have done wrong; that we have no one to blame and that we have no excuse for our transgressions.
Repentance is also about taking action. It is knowing what needs to be reformed or corrected, knowing well that if we refuse to change our ways, we can lose everything when our sins eventually catch up on us.
Rejoice. Now more than ever before, we are humbled by the sincere patience of the Lord. We rejoice in his unfailing love. In the Bible, this is simple called grace. It is God’s awesome ability to withdraw judgment and condemnation on the worst of sinners because of the blood of Jesus Christ that has been shed for our forgiveness.
But we also rejoice that God is just and righteous. We can never mock God. Those who continue in their evil ways will eventually get what they deserve but those who remain steadfast will receive their abundant reward.
Remain. We cling, hold on, stay connected, abide, stay true, and endure faithfully to the end. Luther and all the early reformers showed us through their lives that remaining in Christ is very costly. The greatest cost we pay is our very lives, our willingness to fully relinquish our rights to ourselves, our plans, our dreams, and our goals so that God’s will is done on earth as it is in heaven.
Do you feel that your life, family, career, or your health is being shaken right now? Are you in a season of conflict, instability, and uncertainty? Are you overwhelmed or too weak to keep on? Listen to King David’s humble realization when he learned one day that his nation was going to be attacked by forces beyond his control: “Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from Him. Truly He is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” (Psalm 62: 1-2).
Happy birthday, Silliman University! Stay strong. Stay true.
