by Angie Molkentin
On the secular campus the faith of young Christians is constantly challenged by human philosophies that run contrary to God’s truth. Is your college-bound teen ready to face these challenges?
Christian students react differently to faith challenges. Some use confrontation as an opportunity to witness of Christ. Other ignore the challenge or back down from it, keeping faith-life a personal matter. Unfortunately, still others adjust their own beliefs to accommodate the secular ideas of others. Christian parents will wisely equip their college-bound students for these challenges to their teen’s faith.
Humanism in the classroom
The faith challenges of the secular classroom can be the most difficult to face. Achieving good grades and the respect of learned professors is important to a good student. In Geology 101 students are told to come up with better evidence for the origins fo the universe than the creation account found in Genesis 1. The Bible’s account is likely to be pooh-poohed as a myth. In Sociology 050 students are encouraged to be open-minded in a discussion of whether homosexuals should be allowed to adopt children. Those who dare to address the issue from a Bible-based standard are likely to be ostracized from the student community, or worse, branded by a humanistic professor as narrow-minded or uneducated.
Courses on secular college campuses are often taught from a humanistic point of view. Humanism elevates the thinking of man and celebrates his achievements. Humanistic philosophy says, “Man is the measure of all things.” Although human art and creativity are something that God blesses, we must also recognize the need for a Savior. Humanistic philosophy denies that.
Two repeating themes
What can you expect when your son or daughter gets into one of those religious discussions with a friend or professor? Two dominant themes pop up over and over. The first theme is agnosticism. An agnostic says, “I haven’t decided yet if there is a god or what he is like.” Agnosticism is an attractive, noncommittal claim many college students use to avoid discussing religion. They aren’t sure what they believe yet, and they often use college as a time to “find themselves”—to break from their parents’ rituals and decide what they really believe. Agnostics are humanists; they rely on their own strength to find “the meaning of life.”
The challenge agnostics give to Christians is, “If God exists, prove it to me.” Christians find little support from agnostics, who allegiance is with human reason.
A second theme that dominates secular thinking is tolerance. Often, in the name of love, tolerance preaches, “I have my religion, you have yours. Don’t push your beliefs on me. Love me by respecting my right to believe whatever I want.”
In sociology the same theme is sounded as students are told, “White Christian missionaries should not be encroaching on African culture with the gospel. Out of love we should respect their culture.” Or, “Conservatives will argue against the homosexual lifestyles, but if we really love these people, we’ll let them live their own lives.”
There’s no quick answer to either of these challenges. It’s difficult to speak against love, even when it is used to detract from the Christian’s mission of sharing the gospel.
Mental persecution
Humanists do not want to hear that man is imperfect and needs a Savior. They do not understand the supernaturalism of a good and gracious God who became human to redeem sinners. They speak with the accumulated knowledge of human wisdom, not with the spiritual wisdom of faith; so they cannot grasp the concept that salvation is free to everyone. It doesn’t make sense. The Bible says it’s foolishness to them, so they constantly put Christians on trial. It’s not a physical persecution, like Christians int eh early church endured, but a mental and emotional strain in which the stresses and anguish can be intense and unrelenting.
The Christian response
How does the Christian student respond to each of these challenges? If the Bible is the basis of all we believe, we must turn to it for the answers. There is no substitute for knowing your Bible. A Christian who doesn’t know the Bible is like a judge who doesn’t know the law. Regular Bible study equips Christian students to defend their faith.
But it’s naïve to think that Christians, even those who know their Bible well, will win every argument. Much of academia says, “The Bible is find literature, but believing it’s the inspired Word of God is stubborn fundamentalism.” Because of this attitude regarding the Bible, the playing field is not level. Christians and non-Christians end up talking past each other because they do not have the Word as a common point of truth. When it becomes apparent that arguments are going nowhere, the Christian may lose heart and back down.
Encouragement in the Word
Young students need encouragement so that they do not lose heart. Such encouragement comes from God’s Word. God promises that whenever his Word is spoken, it will have impact (Isaiah 55:11). A Christian’s discussion with an unbeliever may unknowingly touch the heart of someone in the classroom.
Students also need encouragement from their parents. Here are some suggestions to help prepare them for the challenges:
- Look for a church nearby that teaches and preaches the same gospel truth as you believe.
- Some colleges have campus ministries which sponsor retreats, Bible studies, and social activities for students. Look in a synodical yearbook for a listing of campus ministry programs.
- Take an interest in the challenges your son or daughter faces on campus. Explore issues together. Dig into God’s Word together. Don’t let your teen deal with the challenges alone.
God uses challenges to bring us closer to himself. Together you and your college-bound teen can prepare ahead for those faith challenges. And someday you’ll thank the Lord for the blessings and challenges of the college years.
From Wellspring April 1995 © 1995 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved.