By Joshua Ford

CIU Student Writer

Students are hoping Columbia International University’s Authority of Scripture week won’t yield the same results as last year. That’s when they went on spring break and never came back to campus because of COVID. Nonetheless, there was a plethora of information to be gained from the week that commemorates one of CIU's core values.

New Testament Professor Dr. David Croteau spoke in Chapel for the first two days on the topic of clinging to what is good. He discussed how Scripture can make it clear what we have to do to live the Christian life, but we’d rather do something that makes us more comfortable. 

“Why would we despise spiritual instruction? That’s easy. Because a sermon, a passage or some teaching tells us that what we’re doing is wrong,” Croteau said. “We really are living out this despising of spiritual instruction when we neglect the opportunities to be [under a teaching].” 

The next day, Croteau spoke on judgementalism and how to correctly interpret and apply Matthew 7:1-6

7 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. ² For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

³ “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴ How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

⁶ “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

Croteau emphasized that Jesus commands us to judge, but there’s a certain way to do it, and we must use discernment. 

“How are you going to be able to not give treasure to dogs if you don’t discern who the dogs are?” Croteau asked. 

That resonated with Business major George Huff.

“I thought it was a really good reminder of looking at the dichotomy of the difference between judging and discerning,” Huff said. “I thought it was cool to hear him taking apart those verses and putting them in the proper context.” 

The last day of the event featured a panel of professors discussing some of the lesser known or misunderstood books of the Bible.

Drs. Brian Gault, Markus Klausli and Michael Naylor encouraged the student body to listen closely to all of Scripture, even the parts that aren’t as well known. 

Each professor explained why they chose their field of study, particularly the Song of Solomon, 1 Peter and Revelation respectively.

“Peter has this sustained discussion on how do you live in a world that wants to hurt you,” Klausli said. “If we don’t spend time exploring those things then we might just not realize that that is a topic we need to deal with.” 

Listen to the messages and panel discussion at CIU's podcast page. 

Attend CIU and go deep with God with help from experienced professors such as Drs. Croteau, Gault, Klausli and Naylor. CIU consistently ranks among the Top Regional Universities in the South by U.S. News & World Report. Request information on enrollment at CIU and Columbia Biblical Seminary or call (800) 777-2227, ext. 5024.