It isn’t that often that we get to chat with a sociologist—twice! After recording our first “Ask the Expert” with Bart Stykes (who is a member of Genesis with Hans) we decided to re-record so that you could get even more expert precision! We hear about Bart’s research interests, learn how he navigates life as a believer in a field that isn’t full of believers, and then learn that he also loves—volleyball!
Bart’s father-in-law’s school: Harbor Christian Academy
Bart’s comments on being a believer in his field [edited for publishing on the blog]:
Framing Observations
The Lord is sovereign in His timing and has used my profession as a means to sanctify me…particularly in reference to my submitting pride in human wisdom to His word
I pray regularly about my position as a sociology faculty member at a public university
Consistently, I’m left feeling that is where He would have me serve Him
Framing Scriptures
2 Tim 3:16-17 The core crux of my discipline’s contribution is to question and critique, but the word of God can never be on the table in that domain. That’s not to say I don’t critically engage with the Scripture or in my personal study of God’s Word, however, the whole approach [in personal study] is different (i.e., focus on renewing of my mind and sanctification rather than questioning its validity/merit/contribution [see Rom 12:1-2; Heb. 4:12])
Rom 1:22-24; 1 Cor 1:18-25; 2 Cor 2:12-15; Col 2:6-8; Jas 3:15-17 (1) Wisdom of this world (i.e., any secular worldview like sociology is qualitatively distinct and inferior to Wisdom of God presented in Scripture. (2) For practically all believers I venture to guess our jobs are guided by the wisdom of the world. . . . (3) There are times my sociological findings will not align with Scripture. When this happens, Scripture takes the win.