Dissertation Digest (November 2022)

DISSERTATION DIGEST

SCHOLARSHIP IN THE SERVICE OF CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH

WELCOME

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).

THE IMITATION OF CHRIST IN SCHOLARSHIP

By Michael A Milton, PhD

"Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV)

Welcome to the Fall 2022 edition of Dissertation Digest: a periodic newsletter from the D. James Kennedy Institute for Reformed Leadership and Dr. Michael A. Milton.

Our goal is to strengthen student scholars with insights and resources for the dissertation journey.

Our focus in this issue is “The Imitation of Christ in Scholarship.”

Is Christian scholarship possible? There was a time when such a question would be ludicrous From Isaac Newton (1642 1727) to René Descartes (1596 1650), Christianity defined the concept of unsurpassed scholarly research and writing Yet, today, scholarship in higher education is too often judged by trendy groupthink, with a distinctly anti Christian and unashamedly postmodern ideology That is one reason why each of us engaged in Christian scholarship must v# committed to a superior process and product. We must do so to win an argument and glorify God.

"Whatever you do, do all for the glory of God.” We must use our opportunities in research and writing to fulfill this essential Christian task by strengthening key variables in scholarship. So, if you would consider my challenge, answer the question about glorifying God. How can you, as a DMin, PhD, ThD, or EdD student use your ministry of theological higher education to fulfill your vocation as a witness to Jesus Christ in this “present evil age?” Based on my work as an advisor, supervisor, reader, and examiner of doctoral work, I want to propose two answers to the question, hopefully thoughtful responses that you can consider incorporating into your work.

I. RESEARCH AND WRITE TO SUPPORT THE GREAT COMMISSION.

If you have started chapter one of your dissertation, you are (undoubtedly, and painfully) aware of the challenge of constructing the “research question.” The infamous research question presses the limits of our abilities, time, and patience by requiring that the doctoral candidate locate and name a presenting issue of the research and the possible response. Not only that, but one must knead this inquiry like a ball of sticky dough until it can be “stretched” into a clean, balanced “A/B” construct Christian scholarship must add one more step: the yeast of the Gospel. This is not a hastily added ingredient but a necessary one. The scholarship rises to a useful level only with the presence of the yeasty grace of God in Christ. The Gospel need not be thrown in as an alien element to research but, rather, enfolded, a non invasive, organic part of the whole. But how? I propose that research questions and proposals must answer this question, “How does my work serve the mission of God in the world?” This is not sprinkling holy water over the project as if to Christianize the scholarship. Such a move is unnecessary, for all truth is God’s truth, and all inquiry, based on general and special revelation, has inherent holiness.

Whether public administration or physics, pastoral studies, or seventeenth century British history, Christian scholars can do the invaluable work of seeking, finding, and disseminating truth that can demonstrate the saving power in resurrection glory of our Father God and His Son our Savior Jesus Christ

RESEARCH AND WRITE TO SUPPORT THE GREAT COMMISSION.

The second essential service of Christian scholarship is to implant signposts throughout the disciplines we serve. The point is not to place signs to draw attention, like a billboard, but to anchor signposts as directional landmarks. Let me explain.

The days are evil Life is uncertain Every day brings us closer to Christ’s return Generations exist on the crumbling precipice of an eternity without Christ. Our gifts from God are best exercised in seeking His glory and others’ good.

I borrow and apply the phrase “signposts” from “Signposts in a Strange Land,” a posthumously published collection of prescient essays by the late Southern Christian (Catholic) author and public intellectual Walker Percy.

"Scholarship rises to a useful level only when the yeast of the Gospel is present in the work."

— M. Milton

Walker Percy presciently anticipated the tsunami of secularism to hit and affect every part of that city on a hill called Western Civilization. By the time of Percy’s death in 1990, it was already clear that the evidentiary foundations were eroding under the unrelenting battering of a postmodern sea The Covington, Louisiana author wrote novels (e g , The Moviegoer, the Last Gentleman, Thanatos, the Second Coming) that featured characters trying to find their way in this new strange new place. What Walker Percy’s fiction suggested, his nonfiction described without irony or the novelist’s magic curtain Walker Percy alerted his readers to the reality of a new predominate idea and welcomed them to the struggle to make sense of being a Christian in a post Christian age. So, this is my thought for our work as researchers, writers, and public theologians Let’s do our scholarly work with Walker Percy’s angle Authenticity or scholarly rigor may not suffer as we do the work. The truth is that others in academia have been more than open about their efforts to educate and promote secularism in practically every disciple imaginable As disciples of Jesus Christ, we can do no less for the cause of God’s mission in the world. In a real sense, you and I are God’s workmen in the raging trenches of intellectual warfare Those infusing their scholarly work with secularism must be inserted by Christian scholars who are not just shaping ideas but equipping other scholars, clergy, and people with the truth that sets humanity free.

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit Amen

Moviegoer (1961).

Michael A Milton (PhD, DMin, MDiv, MPA) is a Minister of the Gospel (PCA) and a doctoral advisor He is the Distinguished Professor of Missions and Evangelism at Erskine College and Seminary, having served as the chair of missions and as the senior officer of the graduate school there He is the retired fourth Chancellor President and CEO of the Reformed Theological Seminary system Furthermore, he served as the twelfth Senior Pastor in 172 years at First Presbyterian Church, Chattanooga, Tennessee The founding pastor of three churches (KS, GA, NC) and a Christian preparatory school (KS), Milton served thirty two years in the active and reserve Armed Forces, retiring as a Chaplain (Colonel) US Army Milton, a UNC Chapel Hill alumnus, resides, with his wife, Mae, in Western North Carolina from a press release by McCain & Company, Nashville.

To become aware of the possibility of the search is to be onto something. Not to be onto something is to be in despair.—Walker Percy, The

Walker Percy, M D (1916 1990), retired psychiatrist, author, and Christian apologist, at home in Covington, Louisiana.

We offer this curated digest of articles, recommendations, and media that we have found helpful Much of our gleanings are broad enough to be applied to theology and Religious studies. Occasionally, we discover a diamond in the rough (or an applicable truth for our work hidden away in, e.g., a quantum physics dissertation project). Have no fear! Enjoy the good (applicable) stuff and spit out the (radioactive) seeds!

We do not necessarily endorse the views of the link producers but rather share them for their possible technical usefulness to you

RESEARCH, WRITING, AND RESOURCES RESEARCH

What is the Golden Thread? What is it to follow the footnote trail?

Dr. Milton’s Faculty Page (with an abundance of links to help in research, writing, and resources)

The Cambridge Companion Series What about citation management software as a service (SAS)?

If you need support, some editors specialize in theology and religious studies This is quite apart from your advisor or supervisor Ask your advisor whether you would benefit from such a service. For Proofing, editing, and much more, consider Approval Ready editing.

“The greatest part of a writer's time is spent in reading, in order to write: a man will turn over half a library to make one book.”

SAMUEL JOHNSON, THE LIFE OF SAMUEL JOHNSON, LLD, VOL

2

WRITING

Your One Stop Resource Page for Writing Parts of the Dissertation

How to Structure a Dissertation

Can homiletic science help me shape dissertation chapters?

Consider the eight movements in expository preaching and how the logical flow can support your dissertation.

This is a good resource for the topic of the all important literature gap

RESEARCH, WRITING, AND RESOURCES

RESOURCES

We offer this curated digest of articles, recommendations, and media that we have found helpful Much of our gleanings are broad enough to be applied to theology and Religious studies. Occasionally, we discover a diamond in the rough (or an applicable truth for our work hidden away in, e g , a quantum physics dissertation project) Have no fear! Enjoy the good (applicable) stuff and spit out the (radioactive) seeds!

We do not necessarily endorse the views of the link producers but rather share them for their possible usefulness to you.

MIND THE GAP

Dr. Linda Bloomberg on voice in academic writing: https://www methodspace com/blog/managing and writing the doctoral thesis or dissertation

Check out METHODSPACE. Produced by academic publisher, SAGE, Methodspace gathers top scholars to write on scholarly writing, research, and more The site is an indispensable resource for going deeper in scholarly writing. Visit: https://www.methodspace.com/blog/a project management approach to academic writing

“The greatest part of a writer's time is spent in reading, in order to write: a man will turn over half a library to make one book.”

SAMUEL JOHNSON, THE LIFE OF SAMUEL JOHNSON, LLD, VOL. 2