How Broad the Umbrella? Christian Education in the Thought of Robert E. Picirilli
Bible-believing Christians faced many challenges during the twentieth century, including education. Once they realized that the vast majority of higher-education institutions had rejected the Christian worldview, conservatives had to “rake from the ashes what scorched fragments of civilization” were left.[1] Part of this process required determining what precisely constituted “Christian” education and separated it from secular education.
Robert E. Picirilli participated in this discussion. For thirty-nine years, he worked in the administration of Free Will Baptist Bible College (FWBBC, now Welch College), dealing specifically with academic standards for much of that time. In that work, he attempted to discern the extent of Christian education and describe its process. He concluded that Christian education should incorporate all vocations and equip students to battle the secular presuppositions present in academics and daily life.
Biography
“Bobby” Picirilli came to FWBBC as a student in 1949 from Pamplico, South Carolina, where he was a member of Mt. Elon Free Will Baptist Church.[2] He was only sixteen at the time, but he graduated cum laude from the college four years later. He and fellow student Clara Mae Lee from Coward, South Carolina, married that summer and had three girls over the next two years (two were twins).[3]
During those years, Picirilli served as a graduate assistant at Bob Jones University and completed a masters degree in the spring of 1955. That autumn he joined the faculty of FWBBC, teaching Greek, philosophy, and Bible.[4] He and Clara had two more daughters over the next eight years while he completed his doctoral work in New Testament.[5]
Picirilli served as an administrator and faculty member of FWBBC in some capacity for fifty-four years. He taught various courses in philosophy, Bible, and Greek throughout his tenure. He served as Registrar for twenty years, Academic Dean for nineteen more, and was instrumental in obtaining regional accreditation for the college in 1996.[6] Picirilli retired from full-time work in 1999, but he continued to teach courses in a part-time capacity for the next three years.[7]
In fulfilling his administrative responsibilities, Picirilli worked with, among others, L.C. Johnson, Charles Thigpen, Tom Malone, and Leroy Forlines to guide the development of FWBBC and set a course for the future. As part of this work, he wrote several papers concerning FWBBC’s educational philosophy for presentation.
These various works describe Christian education as encompassing all knowledge with the Bible at its center. Yet Christian education also addresses the spiritual life of the student, encouraging Christian maturity and evangelism. For Picirilli, true Christian education concerns the “whole person’s development—spiritual, social, physical, cultural, and mental.”[8]
How Broad the Umbrella? Defining the Extent of Christian Education
Around 1970, Johnson asked Picirilli to write a paper entitled “How Broad the Umbrella?” that defined the extent of Christian higher education, specifically in relation to Bible colleges. Picirilli remembers this request as an outgrowth of discussions in the Accrediting Association of Bible Colleges (AABC, now the Association for Biblical Higher Education) concerning what constituted a Bible college.[9] In answering that question for FWBBC, Picirilli also defined the extent of the Church’s educational responsibilities.
For Picirilli, the Church was unquestioningly responsible for training ministry students. Christian workers such as pastors, missionaries, Christian school teachers, and music directors need theological education and specific training for their unique callings. A Bible-centered Christian institute would “by nature” act as a “hot-bed of ministerial trainees, a literal spawning ground for preachers yet uncalled when they come and a magnet attracting those already called.”[10] In 1978, Picirilli argued strenuously for providing educational opportunities for pastors, believing that ignorance in the ministry would “cost our churches and our denomination dearly, in ways we cannot even now imagine.”[11]
While Picirilli strongly believed in training career Christian workers, other Christian educators argued that this was the Church’s sole educational purpose. Picirilli admitted that providing ministry training alone was a less complex and expensive approach that he was “magnetically drawn” toward.[12] Yet he concluded the Church has a more extensive educational responsibility.
Very few, if any, local churches have the resources to combat the myriad ways unchristian philosophical assumptions have infiltrated every vocation. Well-trained and industrious clergy can provide thorough Biblical and theological instruction. However, they often do not have the specialization required to counteract the secular philosophical underpinnings presented in the whole range of specialized fields in which their congregants work.
The result, Picirilli observed, was that most Christians have no concept of the “great gulf that separates the Biblical philosophy of life from the whole heart and core of most secular educational philosophy.”[13] They’ve been trained in school to think materialistically. As a result, even our most mature laity are usually fervently evangelical in matters related directly to church and witnessing, but hold “a godless and materialistic philosophy of life the other six days of the week.”[14] Thus, a more complete Christian education is required to combat the ingrained materialism of our day.
Picirilli’s concern extended beyond discipleship. Free Will Baptist churches are led largely by the laity who serve as music ministers, deacons, trustees, women’s and men’s ministry leaders, Sunday school teachers, and often even youth ministers. Picirilli argued that the laity’s direct control and indirect influence on “the character of our church life” demands that they be Biblically literate.[15] Considering the power of the laity in our churches, Biblical ignorance on their part could be almost as damaging as the clergy’s.
In addition, the laity have the greatest opportunity to evangelize the lost. Picirilli declared that the “secular world needs to see men and women on the work-a-day world who are living a Biblically-oriented life, who see their lives as a ‘ministry’ for Christ.”[16] Therefore, to best fulfill the Great Commission, Christians should approach their vocations Christianly and be equipped to evangelize effectively, “whether they are going to be missionaries or mothers.”[17]
In addition to these factors, education is very expensive. Speaking specifically of Free Will Baptists, Picirilli wrote, “We have not yet, as a people, faced up to the cost of education.”[18] Education’s expense coupled with the educational needs of our day led Picirilli to argue vociferously for Christian education that addressed all possible areas of knowledge. The only limits to the breadth of the umbrella are resources and student interest.
What Does True Christian Education Look Like?
After addressing the extent of Christian education, Picirilli explained the best way to produce such a program. Though space won’t allow a detailed discussion of his approach here, a brief overview can provide the primary elements.
First, for students to be able to think Christianly about all of life, including their vocations, they must be Biblically literate and spiritually mature. For Picirilli, the Bible is necessary for education because we cannot properly understand humanity and reality without God’s revelation.[19] He states this point beautifully: “The Bible is the crown on the brow of all knowledge, the standard by which truth and error is finally judged.”[20]
Students must also be discipled by mature believers if they’re going to develop the spiritual acumen needed to apply Scripture to all of life. Picirilli thought that a constant diet of good preaching was essential to this process, echoing Bob Jones, Sr.’s advice to Johnson, “Keep the chapel platform hot!”[21] Just as importantly, teachers need to model Christian maturity before their students, taking the time to disciple individuals.[22]
Second, teachers must address the philosophical underpinnings of each subject covered. Of course, teachers must bring the “light of Biblical truth to bear on everything that is taught.”[23] This goes far deeper than merely adding religious lingo in class, fervently studying the Bible, or pointing out glaring differences such as evolution and creation.[24]
Fully integrating the Christian worldview in education requires: (1) critically analyzing all sources by “uncovering basic assumptions, evaluating methodology, and testing theories” in each subject; (2) recognizing the “spiritual dimension in interpretation of facts”; and (3) drawing out the implications of Christianity for each field of study by “thinking out the implications for a Biblical worldview for a field” and “studying the Biblical teaching that will lead to a Christian understanding of the subject.”[25]
Third, a Biblical view of service must be presented. Picirilli wanted students to see their lives as “a sacred service” to God whether they became a “preacher or plumber” by taking part in regular service activities.[26]
Conclusion
Christian education involves much more than just ministerial training. Believers need Christian education to best nurture spiritual growth, protect orthodoxy, and spread the Gospel. In addition, they need training to combat the secular assumptions of our culture.
Encouraging spiritual growth, fully integrating the Christian worldview into every subject, and cultivating a sense of sacred service provide a full-orbed approach to Christian education that addresses the spiritual, social, physical, cultural, and mental development of students. While this system offers the best chance of molding young people to think Christianly, there are no guarantees. Students who have no interest in growing spiritually and intellectually have the freedom to reject all of this, but at least they will have been presented with an option.
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[1] Russell Kirk, The Conservative Mind: From Burke to Eliot Seventh Revised Edition (Washington, DC: Gateway Editions, 2001), 11.
[2] More information on Picirilli’s life and work can be found in Zach Maloney and Jarred Taylor,” Life, Ministry, and More with Dr. Robert Picirilli,” Helwys Society Forum, September 7, 2015; http://www.helwyssocietyforum.com/?p=6020; accessed January 11, 2017; Internet.
[3] “Picirilli Receives Graduate Degree,” Bulletin 12, no. 2 (September, 1963).
[4] “Picirilli to Teach Greek,” Bulletin 4, no. 1 (August-September, 1955).
[5] “Picirilli Receives Graduate Degree.”
[6] Picirilli also served as the Dean of the masters program during the early 1980s.
[7] This overview of Picirilli’s work is limited to his career at Free Will Baptist Bible College. He is also a prolific author and well-respected editor who has been a part of many publications. Picirilli has also served as the chairman of the National Association of Free Will Baptists Historical Commission for many years and been instrumental in the collection and organization of Free Will Baptist historical documents.
[8] Robert E. Picirilli, “What College Should I Attend?” (Nashville: Free Will Baptist Bible College, n.d.), Welch College Archive, Nashville, Tennessee.
[9] Robert E. Picirilli, interview by author, Hermitage, Tennessee, April 21, 2016, in Phillip T. Morgan’s private collection.
[10] Robert E. Picirilli, “How Broad the Umbrella?” (Nashville: Unpublished, [1971]), 3, Welch College Archive, Nashville, Tennessee.
[11] Robert E. Picirilli, “Our Greatest Educational Need,” Contact 25, no. 2 (February, 1978), 7.
[12] Picirilli, “How Broad the Umbrella?” 1.
[13] Ibid., 2.
[14] Ibid.
[15] Ibid., 4.
[16] Ibid.
[17] Ibid., 2.
[18] Ibid., 6.
[19] Ibid., 2.
[20] Robert E. Picirilli, “What College Should I Attend?” (Nashville: Free Will Baptist Bible College, n.d.), Welch College Archive, Nashville, Tennessee.
[21] Robert E. Picirilli, “The Role of the Spiritual Life in the Mission of Free Will Baptist Bible College” (Nashville: Unpublished, November 16, 1998), 4, Welch College Archive, Nashville, Tennessee.
[22] Picirilli, “The Role of the Spiritual Life in the Mission of Free Will Baptist Bible College,” 6-7.
[23] Ibid., “How Broad the Umbrella?” 2.
[24] Ibid.; Picirilli, “Toward a Model for Integrating Faith and Learning,” 1.
[25] Ibid., “Toward a Model for Integrating Faith and Learning,” 1.
[26] Ibid., “How Broad the Umbrella?” 2.
January 17, 2017
Good review by Mr. Morgan. Dr Pic addressed a complex issue that has gotten more complicated over the years. His insights are as timely now as when written. Thanks. DDwyer
January 17, 2017
Mr. Dwyer,
Thank you very much for your readership and kind compliment. Dr. Picirilli’s work has helped me think through a lot of things–especially Christian education.
January 20, 2017
Thanks for the article. When I went to FWBBC in 1975 I had no idea of the impact the people there would have on my life. Although raised in a FWB church, we were not members of any association for some years and I had no idea of our worldwide organization. Only heard of the college about 6 months before enrolling. Having the opportunity to study under men like Picirilli, Forlines, Outlaw, and others there gave me a foundation and foothold on the Scriptures that prepared me well in serving people, both in and out of the pulpit. This was a great reminder of the struggle I and FWB faced then and now.
January 23, 2017
Mr. Tilley,
Thank you for sharing about your experience at FWBBC. My parents attended the school during the late 1970s and I grew up hearing stories about Mr. Forlines, Dr. Picirilli, Dr. Outlaw, and Mrs. Thigpen that pointed me toward the college in 2004 when I was seeking a robust explanation and defense of the faith. Although, I never had a class with these great professors, I benefited from their legacy. Many of my professors were their former students. The writings of Dr. Picirilli and Mr. Forlines have been invaluable for my own spiritual and intellectual development while simultaneously building in me a deep appreciation for the Free Will Baptist tradition. Even more importantly, Dr. Picirilli and the rest of these professors live out to the best of their ability what they have written. Thanks for reading and offering such kind feedback.