Application Essay Instructions

Write an essay of at least 500 words responding to one of these three essay prompts.

The essay topics below are drawn from Sattler College’s Founding Precepts, which outline the biblical convictions that shape our community life and mission. While students and college employees are not required to personally affirm these precepts, all members of the Sattler community are expected to read, understand, and respect them.

1. Just War

In 2014, Anchor-Cross Publishing and Followers of the Way sponsored a debate on the subject of just war. They sought to bring leading thinkers together to discuss the issue in the historic Faneuil Hall in downtown Boston. Speaking on behalf of the just war tradition were Dr. Peter Kreeft (professor of philosophy at Boston College) and Dr. J. Daryl Charles (Berry College). Speaking on behalf of the nonresistance position were David Bercot (Scroll Publishing) and Dean Taylor (Zollikon Institute). Watch the video here.

Essay Prompt: What do you see as the strengths and weaknesses of each side’s arguments? Are there additional arguments you might add to either side’s position?

2. Modesty

Adoniram Judson (1788–1850) was one of the first American missionaries to Burma and a pioneering translator of the Bible into Burmese. In his 1831 Letter on Ornamental and Costly Attire, written from Maulmain, he addressed the women of American churches, urging them to reject vanity in dress for the sake of gospel witness. Read his letter here.

Essay Prompt: Do you agree with his reasoning? What arguments did you find particularly weak or compelling?

3. Discipleship

John Wesley (1703–1791), founder of Methodism, wrote The Menace of Antinomianism to confront what he saw as a dangerous separation between faith and obedience. He argued that true faith necessarily produces holiness and that grace never excuses disobedience to Christ’s commands. Read the tract here.

Nearly two centuries later, German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–1945) made a similar plea in The Cost of Discipleship, where he contrasts “cheap grace” with “costly grace” — the grace that calls us to follow Christ even unto suffering and death. Read an excerpt from the book here.

Essay Prompt: In light of either Wesley’s The Menace of Antinomianism or Bonhoeffer’s The Cost of Discipleship (Ch. 2, 45-60), discuss the relationship between faith and works in the Christian life. How does the author you chose define true discipleship, and how is the author’s view similar or dissimilar to your own understanding of the relationship between faith and works in the Christian life?