This is an introductory statement on the Case for Comeford College, written by Jim Martin, Comeford President
What does it mean for a Christian to be “educated” in today’s world? What role does Comeford College play in that education?
Most educational programs, especially undergraduate ones, have historically included a general education component required for degree completion. Over the last hundred years, the purpose of general education has changed drastically. Originally, “gen-ed” aimed to develop character, civic responsibility, and broad intellectual skills rather than focusing solely on career preparation. Today, these courses emphasize interdisciplinary breadth, practical literacy, and career-specific skills. This shift has moved the focus away from moral and civic development toward career preparation.
This change has resulted in a “hollowed out” education for many individuals. While they may be well-prepared for utilitarian roles in society, they are often functionally illiterate when it comes to maintaining and advancing a healthy culture—let alone one that honors Christ. Additionally, this shift has led to a bifurcation in Western Civilization. The resulting confusion is evident: a large majority of citizens believe the nation is “on the wrong course,” yet their understanding of “the right course” varies drastically across the ideological spectrum. This cultural divide, seen in university conflicts and polarized electorates, reflects a lack of understanding about the origins of Western Civilization and what is necessary to advance it.
At the root of these problems lies a widespread denial or ignorance of the claim that Jesus is Lord of all. Without this foundational truth, efforts to build culture amount to little more than “rearranging the deck furniture on the Titanic.” Meaningful and lasting culture-building stems from the glory of God and the Lordship of Christ as its impetus and purpose. Consequently, the moral and civic development absent from today’s education must be derived from the Word of God.
Recognizing this deficiency in modern education raises another challenge. Numerous Christian educational institutions have attempted to address these problems, but their theological frameworks often result in inconsistent applications of the Lordship of Christ principle. Institutions with covenantal theological frameworks frequently interpret God’s Word in a way that reduces earthly realities to mere types of heavenly ones, thereby diminishing the richness and goodness of God’s creation. This raises the question: why care about the things of earth if they ultimately do not matter? Similarly, institutions rooted in classic dispensational theology may lead to a “hunker in the bunker” mentality, focusing solely on soul-winning while neglecting efforts to advance a Christ honoring culture here and now.
Comeford College believes that a biblically accurate theological framework begins with a Historical-Grammatical or contextual hermeneutic. When applied consistently, this approach reveals what we call Kuyperian Dispensationalism. This framework holds that God is progressively glorifying Himself throughout history, culminating in the return of Jesus to establish His literal thousand-year reign on earth, centered in Jerusalem. At that time, the nation of Israel will experience a mass conversion to Christ as their hearts are transformed. The Kuyperian aspect emphasizes that faithful Christians should labor to build, battle, and bless their culture by making Jesus Lord of all spheres of human existence. This way of living not only glorifies God but also provokes others, including the Jewish people, to repentance.
This theological framework enables Christians to glorify God by addressing the curse wherever it is found, enjoying God’s creation as His good gift, and eagerly anticipating the day when all things are brought into subjection under Christ’s Lordship. Ultimately, this leads to enjoying God’s presence forever in the final glorified state.
The Role of Comeford College
Comeford College exists to address the “hollowed out” nature of higher education. It offers a unique program designed to equip students with the knowledge and tools necessary to establish and sustain a culture that consistently recognizes the Lordship of Christ. The program focuses on what it means to “build, battle, and bless” in the effort to advance a Christ-honoring culture. These terms are explored from a biblical perspective and compared with major historical movements.
The Bible serves as the foundation and roadmap for all aspects of life. As it pertains to culture-building, there are six “big ideas” that are essential: the true, the good, the beautiful, justice, equity, and liberty. This program explores how the Bible defines these concepts and contrasts them with interpretations from other worldviews throughout history, particularly within Western Civilization.
The program will include (but is not limited to):
- How to interpret the Bible using contextual hermeneutics and the grammatical-historical method.
- Identifying a biblical worldview based on a proper interpretation of the Bible.
- Understanding how the Bible defines the six “big ideas.”
- A comparative study of how other worldviews interpret these ideas in relation to the Bible.
- Exploring how these principles apply to all spheres of human existence.
Graduates of this program will be better prepared to “build, battle, and bless” in ways that advance a Christ-honoring culture, no matter their calling. What sets this program apart is its theological framework, which uniquely combines Dispensational and Kuyperian principles. To our knowledge, no other institution claims both distinctives. The program is designed to cultivate students who live thankful and sacrificial lives, inspiring others to follow Christ. We call this vision “Jealousable Lordship,” describing students whose lives provoke others to glorify God.