A Seminary Professor's Cancer Battle and the Faith that Sustains Him.

David Scholer came to Fuller Theological Seminary to teach New Testament after I'd finished my M.Div. An American Baptist, Scholer did arrive, as I remember, during my Ph.D. tenure -- later becoming the director of the Center for Advanced Theological Studies at Fuller. A scholar of note, he now lives with incurable colorectal cancer.

Connie Kang writes in a Column One essay in today's LA Times about Scholer's battle with cancer and the Spirit that empowers him. It is entitled "'Rejoice Always': A a lesson in dying," and it gives us a picture of a man of faith who isn't afraid of death or ambiguity.

He is an evangelical willing to listen and to embrace others. He has long been a champion of women in ministry and teaches the course on women, the bible, and ministry, which apparently is the most popular elective offered at the school (thank goodness the miracles class is no longer there to compete as it was when I was a student there in the early and mid 80s).

I appreciated these comments he's quoted as making:

Students will often hear him say that a sign of maturity is to be able to "live with ambiguity."

As he describes it, he tells each class something like this:

"People who think they have all the answers to all of life's questions are fake. You have no right to oppose women in ministry until you have made a friend who is called to ministry and you've listened to her story. You have no right to make a statement about homosexuality until you have made friends with a Christian homosexual person. The conclusion you draw is another issue."

Too often we live by stereotype, but Scholer makes the important point of saying -- first make a relationship and then make your decision!

As for the cancer -- he's lived longer than anyone expected. Though he's wracked by the cancer he's still teaching -- both at the seminary and in churches -- and he remains among the most popular of Fuller teachers (wish I could have had him).

THERE was no road-to-Damascus moment, no sudden revelation. But over time Scholer came to realize that one of "the greatest lessons" from living with cancer is the value of memory.

Scholer says he revels in remembering the wonderful things he has been given — his family, friends and all the places he has visited and the people he has met — and how much joy that has brought to his life.

That doesn't mean that he dwells in the past but, in remembering, he "celebrates with gratitude what has been," he said.

And there is still the chance to make yet more memories, which explains the hymn sings, the Rose Bowl, the cruise to Hawaii, the loyal correspondence, the teaching, the conference lecture.

In a way, it all leads back to the verse from Thessalonians — Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances.

All circumstances. It's the portion he had long resisted."

But I have now learned that I should and I can," he said.

This is truly a testimony of faith in the mist of suffering -- he has found his peace with God (Rom. 5:1-5).