Interpreting the Call
Literary giants C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien are acclaimed for their giftings as spellbinding storytellers, but for many Christians, their work goes beyond entertainment. The truths they conveyed often shape a reader’s worldview. Such is the journey for Stephen Siao.
Stephen Siao, Fall 2013 John Jay Fellow
Having attended public schools and a secular university, his exposure to philosophy and history was limited, but he traces his understanding of foundational Christian principles in part to the works of Lewis and Tolkien. Stephen even summarizes his view of the earthly mission with a Tolkien quote: “It is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succor of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till.”
His philosophical interpretation of these literary masters was encouraged by his time at John Jay in the Fall of 2013, where his understanding of the role of the Christian duty in a fallen world flourished—especially the call to leadership. He says, “Our charge is then for principled Christian leadership in the public square to fight courageously and ceaselessly for truth, for freedom, for justice, and for mercy, despite the challenges and hopelessness that may appear to be before us.”
A Challenge to Think
Stephen says that at John Jay he felt challenged to explore the Christian worldview with new intensity, particularly in the way Christians engage in the public square—the realm of ideas and values. Exposure to Christian thinkers, writers, and philosophers of the past is crucial, he believes, in establishing a foundation for the individual to stand upon in confronting the challenges of life. “The John Jay Fellowship gave me that foundation and taught me the importance of fighting for our culture and society.”
Perhaps more importantly, his time at the John Jay Institute taught him both the “what” and the “why” of this cultural war, including the God-given value of each individual that Christian leaders encounter in the struggle. It is this inherent value that makes even seemingly futile causes worth the fight. Siao points to William Wilberforce’s campaign against slavery and Chuck Colson’s efforts within the prison system as his inspiration to never give up in the battle for freedom, rights, and the souls of men.
A Fight for Hope
When it comes to vocation, Siao adheres to the John Jay concept that a life calling goes beyond a career and a day-to-day job. “We are called to be salt and light in every aspect of life, not just in our careers.” It was a lesson he credits to the daily dinners, teas, and prayer times alongside his fellows at John Jay—learning to love, serve, and lead in everyday moments. Every moment and every action, no matter how seemingly insignificant, points to a greater purpose that Stephen Siao again relates back to his favorite thinkers: “The world in which we are laboring today is indeed bleak, yet we know, as Tolkien and Lewis both did, that we are here for a reason, and that there is a greater purpose and a greater hope.”
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