Wisdom—the ability to apply knowledge and do the truth in order to live fruitfully—is one of the first casualties in the culture wars.

Modern Context

Though we live in an information age with more knowledge than ever at our fingertips, some social prophets warn of a new Dark Ages to come. It is one thing to remain ever-connected to Wikipedia through the vast network of our personal digital devices, quite another to know what to do with all that information. T. S. Eliot asks:

“Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?
Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?”

Wisdom—the ability to apply knowledge and do the truth (1 Jn. 1:6; 3:18) in order to live fruitfully—is one of the first casualties in the culture wars. As Western culture has moved further and further away from its Judeo-Christian roots, its worldview and values have disintegrated. The gospel is no longer the most important message that shapes society. Most people cannot explain to others their thoughts about truth or goodness or the beautiful. Even Christian men and women are unsure of how to follow Christ faithfully in a secularized, fragmented, and pluralistic world.

In a context where every important discussion appears political, where decisions are made on the basis of short-term pragmatism, and where uncertainty about truth breeds indifference and cynicism, even evangelicals have been affected. Many local churches exhibit the same disturbing tendencies we see in society. Seminaries too struggle to overcome the tendency toward fragmentation, where because of specialization it is harder than ever for a biblical scholar to have a scholarly conversation with a colleague from theology or ethics.

A place is needed where Christian thinkers and doers can come together to listen and learn from one another and from Scripture in order to discern what shape biblical wisdom should take in today’s world. Why Trinity? Why the Henry Center? Trinity and its faculty desire to cooperate with pastors and other Christian leaders to address the church, academy, and society as crucial issues of cultural engagement manifest themselves throughout the world. The Center provides leadership in three possible areas: church, academy, and world, hosting ongoing interdisciplinary seminars on the broad theme of thinking and acting biblically.