How to Integrate Faith
and Learning: A Practical
Model
Faculty Development Webinar
Mid-Continent University
Sila Tuju, Ph.D.
December 14th, 2013
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Biblical basis
What integrating faith and learning means
Opportunities for integrating faith in the
classroom
A model for integrating faith in the classroom
Putting it together: Model + Opportunities
Concluding remarks
Psalms 24: 1 says, “The
earth is the LORD's,
and everything in it,
the world, and all who
live in it.”
 Col. 2:2-3 says, “…in
order that they may
know the mystery of
God, namely, Christ, in
whom are hidden all
the treasures of
wisdom and
knowledge.”
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What Does Integrating Faith Mean?
What it is not
• Devotion at the
beginning of class
• Prayer at the
beginning or at the
end of class
• Casual reference to
God or to a Christian
principle
What Does Integrating Faith Mean?
What it is
• Intentional interweaving of
biblical truth into the
content of the course
Robert Harris says, “Christian faith in relation
to learning must be understood not as just an
"added bonus" or appended item to standard
scholarship from a secular worldview, …
…Christianity should be an anchor and a
touchstone for the analysis of culture and
political structures rather than merely a point of
view or another source of commentary on
morals and manners.”
http://www.virtualsalt.com/integrat.htm
A Word on Hermeneutics
O Hermeneutics is to
integration what
statistics is to
quantitative
research.
- N. A. Beadles
Opportunities for Integration
How then shall we integrate?
The
Proposed
OSM Model
The OSM Model
Approach
Overarching Themes and
Principles
Subject-Specific
Mixed
Description
Applying overarching
themes and principles
found in scripture to issues
in the academic discipline.
Applying scripture that
speaks to specific subjects
in the academic discipline.
Using overarching themes
and principles, and subjectspecific application
concurrently.
• Stewardship
• The earth is the Lords,
Psalms. 24:1
• Parable of the talents,
Matthew 25-14-28
•Justice, Mercy, and
Humility
• Micah 6:8
•Love
• Matthew 7:12
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Low-Cost Provider
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Broad Differentiation
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Focused low cost
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Focused differentiation
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Best cost.
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Are humans just like
rats in a Skinner Box?
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Imago Dei (Gen 1:26)
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Free Will and
Responsibility (Gen
3:15-18)
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How different would your
quality control be if you
applied Matthew 5:14-16
versus if you ignored this
passage of scripture?
What is the most important
challenge that managers face
when managing control?
 How might you tackle the
challenge differently when
you apply Christian (Bible)
principles versus when you
ignore those principles?
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The light shines in the darkness, and the
darkness has not overcome it (John 1:5).
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For God, who said, “Let light shine out
of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to
give the light of the knowledge of the
glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2
Cor. 4:6).
Making connections:
Integrating Christianity
and economics
 Faith learning
integration in
economics
 Teaching strategic
management from a
Christian perspective
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Beadles, N. A. (1998). Biblical integration in
business: A trip through the looking glass?
Journal of Biblical Integration in Business, 109123. Retrieved from
http://www.cbfa.org/jbib_98.pdf