“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers, but his delight is on the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:1-3 (ESV)
Reflecting on the thirty years (and counting) of Dr. Mohler’s leadership as President of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary brings the psalmist’s picture to mind: a tree standing strong, continuing the yearly cycle of fruitfulness.
Thirty years is a long time. [The children of students who attended Southern Seminary are now attending themselves.] Countless members of the faculty have served entire careers only under Dr. Mohler’s leadership. The world has changed dramatically. Through it all, the Lord has providentially sustained him and used him to recover faithfulness at this institution.
To see Dr. Mohler only as a leader would be to overlook how the Lord used him to recover faithfulness at Southern Seminary. Indeed, he is a leader with conviction, vision, and passion, but he is fundamentally more than that: he is a man who delights in the Law of the Lord. Dr. Mohler’s tenure as President has been marked by a commitment to Scripture and its profitability for training in righteousness.
He has returned Southern Seminary to faithfulness, not only to the Abstract of Principles, but also to the very Word of God so that all who might come can delight in God’s Word too.
As we dedicate this edition of the Southern Seminary Magazine to celebrating and honoring Dr. Mohler’s thirty years of faithful service as President, we have selected the theme: “Recovering Faithfulness.” God has certainly used Dr. Mohler to recover faithfulness to his Word, faithfulness to the church, and faithfulness to the Great Commission as he has led this institution to a wholehearted devotion of training, educating, and preparing ministers of the gospel for more faithful service. With this theme we also hope to capture that the work God has done here at Southern Seminary through Dr. Mohler is consistent with his work throughout all Christian history. God is gracious to preserve His people and draw them back to faithfulness. As churches, institutions, denominations, and people drift away from him, God has graciously granted the invitation to return – and Southern Seminary is evidence of the blessing that comes from faithfulness recovered.
May the celebration of God’s work to use Dr. Mohler over the past thirty years at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary encourage you to delight in the goodness and grace of our God as we consider an example of Recovering Faithfulness.