Freshman Fears
by Ted Slater on 07/22/2008 at 11:53 AM
I received an e-mail yesterday from a young man preparing to go to college, concerned that he wasn't equipped to defend his faith. Here's an excerpt:
I'm currently very worried about starting university in the autumn. I've only been a Christian since the beginning of February, though I can see how the Spirit worked within me long before that.
I've done a lot of reading and the like for advice on how to effectively defend Jesus, but I'm very worried I won't be able to do Him justice when confronted with some well thought out atheist arguments. I don't know if I have enough knowledge to properly defend Him, and if I let the atheist get away with thinking he's won the argument a) I'll be upset that I've left someone to his own sinful devices, and b) that I won't have defended Jesus like I should have done.
What advice do you have for those worrying about whether they'll do Jesus justice, and who want to very much, but don't know if they're well equipped to?
It seems like a lose-lose situation.
A couple of thoughts come to mind. First, I'd recommend he read the article "How Not to Lose Your Faith in College." That brief article provides six specific ways to continue growing as a Christian during your college years.
I'd also suggest he consider picking up the books The New Evidence That Demands a Verdict and How To Stay Christian In College. Ravi Zacharias's book The End of Reason: A Response to the New Atheists is also an excellent, and pleasantly short, book.
I'd also question his concerns about adequately "defending Jesus." I personally don't think Jesus needs defending; He's been capably defending Himself for millennia.
As far as Christian apologetics goes, I've recently begun to see it primarily as something to encourage Christians, to help us grow in the assurance that our faith in Christ is true. While it is of some use when dialoging with non-Christians, I think our interactions with the unsaved could sometimes be less cerebral and characterized more by spiritual grace and boldness. Clever arguments may be of some worth but being prepared to speak words of life is of eternal worth.
It may be more loving and more effective, for example, to simply share your testimony that Jesus died for your sins, reconciling you to your Creator, than to argue the minutia of evolution or ethics or epistemology (though that can be enjoyable, and there may be a time for that). The Lord converts people, draws them to Himself by His merciful kindness; we ultimately don't draw anyone through our clever words.
I'm not arguing against being informed, being intelligent. Indeed, I think we should study as much as we can to learn the truth about our Lord and the world that was created through Him. I am saying, though, that reasonable arguments are not sufficient, and that an atheist may reject Christ even based on the perfect argument. And if they do, you have not failed Christ.
A lot of you are either in the university, or have recently graduated. What advice would you give to this young man who's recently come to a saving faith in the Lord?
1. obewan said the following at 12:09 PM on Jul 22:
Pick and choose your battles carefully. Most of the time I think your classes will focus on topics other than religion. You will spend a majority of your time on homework not related to religion.
Your social time is important. I would suggest you look for the local chapter of Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship or Campus Crusade for Christ. You could also find a good church with a college ministry. Being with other Christians and praying about your challenges will help a lot. Also, having Christian activities will help your non-Christian friends. You can invite them to Christian things instead of going to their keg parties.
If you do meet them on their turf, you need to be especially strong in your faith, and you need to know when you are in over your head so you can excuse yourself and let things lie for a while. Small steps will help the fight. Don't expect to win the whole war in one day.
2. Keb said the following at 12:16 PM on Jul 22:
Making it your goal to win an argument is a losing proposition, unless perhaps you're in a formal debate or legal situation. One on one or group discussions (especially online) very rarely change anyone's mind, and can often end up with shouting or hurt feelings over very silly things if people fail to be respectful of other people's positions.
No matter how wrong the other person is, they arrived at their conclusions the same way you did: Trusting their logic and experiences. Going into an argument recognizing that the person you are arguing with is also an intelligent person with feelings and deeply held beliefs, wrong or right, is the best way to debate something. Done respectfully and with love, you can both learn from the other person and share your own experiences and knowledge. You may part without having changed anyone's mind, but you can part as friends.
It's also a good chance to display a true Christian attitude of humility, grace, love and respect in how you deal with other people. Many people don't expect Christians to debate politely; you might gain their respect for being different from what they've experienced or come to expect.
3. Matt from DC said the following at 12:30 PM on Jul 22:
Ted, I like what you have said.
Luke 12:11-12 comes to mind:
11 "When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, 12for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say."
Jesus teaches the same reliance on the Spirit in Matthew 10:20, John 14:26, John 15:26
One of my personal favorites is this section of Isaiah...
Isaiah 54:16-20
16 "See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work. And it is I who have created the destroyer to work havoc; 17 no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me," declares the LORD.
Finally, brother, remember that whether you're facing your own fleshly desires, a quite witted atheist, a demon, or even their prince that through Christ we are more than conquerors. Read the last section of Romans 8 - Paul spells this out beautifully.
4. Christina (in green) said the following at 12:32 PM on Jul 22:
I'd think that for him, the most crucial question to be asking himself is if he comes against a well said argument that he can not, for the life of him, find any counter-argument for and can't find any in any book ever written by an apologetic, will he still continue to believe? Will he be willing to cling to his faith like a child with no reason when all reason is gone?
Yeah, i agree apologetics are great for edification of the believer...it gives you some logical ground to stand on. Though I've seen some atheists respond well to well thought out arguments, apologetics wasn't made for being a witnessing tool.
Also, he REALLY needs to understand that not everyone is going to be receptive to Christ as Savior. And some of them have so much faith in their own intellectual prowess that they will beat a believer down until he has nothing left to stand on. It would be good for this guy to recognize when is a good time for walking away.
Oh...and the #1 most critical thing - dig into God's word on a regular basis...and PRAY...CONSTANTLY. Consistent and frequent interaction with God is what will build his faith and his conviction, and ultimately help his ability to defend.
5. Cassandra Marie said the following at 1:01 PM on Jul 22:
As mentioned, arguing only goes so far. I think defending Christ happens more in how you live. If people watch you day after day, LIVING in a way that contradicts their worldly view, they are going to want to know why. Instead of preparing to ambush people living the worldly lifestyle with 10 points on why Jesus is God or something to that extent, be prepared to give an answer as to how you live. One thing I've found that helps a lot with this is honesty, rooted in humility. Live according to the Bible, but also don't hide your struggles when people ask you about it. If they know that you are obeying His Word because you believe, despite personal hardship, that is the most powerful argument you can give. Let your devotion be your defense. Remember James 2:14-25.
I have people who will listen to me speak about my faith who wouldn't have when I first met them, purely because they see it reflected in my life (fairly...) consistently.
6. Jake said the following at 1:57 PM on Jul 22:
I am in the same boat too. I will be a college freshman next year at a secular college when I've been attending private Christian schools my whole life (don't ask why I'm going to a secular college). I also feel like I am not equipped enough to defend the Faith, yet this is where I realized that I'm wrong. It doesn't matter how much I know, when the opportunity arises where I need to stand up for my faith in Christ, He will give me the words to say. Also, as Christians, it is not anything we say that will change people's minds or open their eyes to see Him. It is Christ, the Holy Spirit that will be working in them and He is the one that will open the eyes and change the hearts, we only need to have the courage, strength and boldness to stand up for Christ and He will be the one working inside of those we are speaking to.
7. Louise the 42 yr old Chicagoan said the following at 3:23 PM on Jul 22:
From the email excerpt I get the distinct impression that this particular young man is prepared to start his college experience with a proverbial mile-wide chip resting firmly and resolutely upon his shoulder.
Good luck to him and anyone he encounters.
Louise
8. Anna said the following at 3:42 PM on Jul 22:
I just graduated from a fairly liberal midwestern university. Looking back, I wish I had focused on loving instead of "winning." When you get caught up in proving yourself right and someone else wrong, or on reaping the "harvest" of browbeating someone into praying the sinner's prayer, you miss the opportunity to plant seeds of love, truth, and kindness that may come to fruition long after you're gone.
Also, be willing to listen -really listen- to the person you're talking with. Don't listen with one ear while formulating your next debate point in your mind, listen with the goal of understanding their beliefs and how they arrived at them. You don't have to accept or adopt those beliefs, but when people know that you're genuinely interested in their feelings and opinions and not simply out to convert them, they become much more receptive to your words as well.
Know that your own beliefs and convictions may change, and that this doesn't have to mean you're on your way to becoming a Satan-worshipping apostate. Clinging too stubbornly to non-essentials can stunt your own walk and cut off your opportunities to minister to others. Certainly compare the teaching you receive and the influences around you with the truth of Scripture, and don't violate your personal convictions, but don't go through college (or life) with the goal of leaving with the exact same beliefs and feelings you currently hold. That's called spiritual stagnation.
9. A.M.C. said the following at 4:09 PM on Jul 22:
Being someone who was in a similar situation three years ago (minus the "recently saved" part), here's my take on the issue.
1. Regarding the issue of defending (and sharing) your faith:
* Ephesians 6:10-18 says that the "sword of the Spirit" is the Word of God. An obvious application is therefore to take up the habit of reading the Scriptures daily if you haven't already done so, so that you can better defend your faith. If you're ever going to quote from the Bible, though, remember one thing: assume the person you're talking with has ZERO knowledge of the Gospel. In practice, that means you might need to paraphrase in plain English (or another language of your choice) or define words in the Christian jargon when necessary.
* Of course, some critics might reject the idea of biblical authority by citing supposed "errors." Others might resort to political or philosophical arguments to show that Christianity is wrong. To these charges, do NOT use the "but those people are hypocrites" response. After all, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Instead, you should simply admit the problem:
"It's true that the church (or the specific group of Christians cited) has done horrible things in the past (or right now). I do not deny that. But the fact is that these things happen because no one is perfect. All of these tragedies, injustices, etc. are ultimately caused by sin..." (from here, you can then cite the reason why everyone needs Jesus.)
* Other times, your arguments would just fall on dead ears-- there would always be people who would not believe even if miracles occur. That's why it is important NOT to objectify your non-Christian friends by viewing them only as "potential converts," but to try to see them through Christ's eyes and identify the underlying issues behind their opposition to Christianity (see John 4:1-26 for an example). Above all else, remember to be relational and to try to imitate Christ's example the best you can.
* Ultimately, remember that the war has already been won by Christ and that you're supposed to let God be your justifier. Thus, it is okay to honestly say "I don't know" rather than making up an answer to the critics' charges. What ultimately matters is NOT winning the debate, but getting a soul saved (which is not your job, but God's).
2. As for the issue of staying Christian and even strengthening your faith while in college:
* A common mistake made by many college freshmen is to over-commit in either academics or extracurricular activities, or both. Often, the result is eventual burnout, and even depression and/or substance abuse in some people (!)
==> But thankfully, you can prevent yourself from going down that path by making an intentional effort to stay within a Christian community. If that means you can't add a second regular activity until a later semester, so be it.
* "Experiment" with your faith by first trusting God in small things, so that you can trust Him in greater things later. This may include skipping the physics review session for Large Group because people are far more important than grades. This may include trusting the Lord despite your low GPA. This might even include taking the leap of faith and radically changing your major and/or career plan (because God has called you to something else) despite heavy resistance from your family. Here's a quote that sums up the "faith" issue very well:
Ask yourself: "What's the position of Jesus in my life? A stranger? A 'fix-it man' who helps you during emergencies? A co-pilot or advisor whom you seek help from (even though you have the final say)? Or the commander-in-chief (with yourself being only second-in-command)?" [Source: Notes taken during an InterVarsity retreat]
==> I'm not saying that you have to reach the "commander-in-chief" stage right away. No one can do that. The point is that you must understand that God's sovereignty applies to every aspect of your life, and live your life accordingly.
* Finally, as my mentors have said, remember that your life after college will be heavily influenced by the decisions you make while in college. This idea certainly applies to keeping your Christian faith alive while in college. While this might seem like a daunting task, remember that you are not alone-- remember, you can always turn to your Christian community for help. And most important, remember that Jesus is always there for you-- as Apostle Paul had said, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13).
10. Rich said the following at 5:30 PM on Jul 22:
Ted,
Your advice to the young man about keeping things in perspective is good to keep in mind, however, I get the impression that despite you saying that apologetics is good for the edification of the believer, you are throwing the baby out with the bathwater when it comes to its value in witnessing.
First, I don't know why, but there's this pernicious stereotype of arguing as shouting, being mean spirited, and *only* trying to "prove you're right." That might not have been the words you used, but I get the impression that that stereotype looms in the background of your response. At the very least, it looms in the background (and sometimes the foreground) of many of the comments here, so it needs to be said that "arguing," properly defined, is a virtue. By this I mean using reason, logic, socratic questioning, and intelligence when talking with non-believers (and believers). This leaves room for a winsome manner in one's arguing.
Plus, its incredibly biblical. The OT prophets used philosophical reasoning in some of their utterances (see Isaiah 44-45 for an example of an argument using the nature of causation, and see Amos 1-2 for an example of criticizing pagan nations by appeal to general principles of moral reasoning). It reflects the nature of God when we use good arguments and reasons in our dialogues with non-believers (Is 1:18). Jesus, in some of His exchanges with the religious authorities, reasoned apologetically (ex: Matthew 22:23ff). Paul DEFINITELY used it as a missionary (Acts 17: 2-4, 17-31, 18:4, 19:8). And then there's the ol' 1 Peter 3:15 and Jude 3 verses.
Outside of the Bible, using apologetical reasoning has helped me tremendously in my witness. Over the last two years, I have had many conversations with a staunch, dyed-in-the-wool agnostic co-worker, and in many of those conversations, we've delved into apologetical/philosophical matters. On several occasions, he has mentioned how refreshing it is to talk to someone who knows how to dialogue intelligently. He's mentioned I "make him think" and that I've "shaken him up" in the past. He's also said that I'm the first Christian he's encountered who's been willing to talk with him about his questions and beefs and who can intelligently engage him. And that's just one guy. Is he a Christian? No...not yet, anyway. He's definitely closer than he was 2 years ago, that's for sure.
All that to say: don't be so quick to poo-poo defending the faith in witnessing. Of course an argument alone won't "bring anyone to Christ." But neither will love, good deeds, a testimony, etc. Nothing alone brings people to Christ. Now, an argument plus the Holy Spirit, or love plus the Holy Spirit...that's a different question. Arguments (and again, here I mean not being quarrelsome, but reasoning) shouldn't be faulted for not being able to do what only the Holy Spirit can do.
11. BC said the following at 5:34 PM on Jul 22:
Remember that being intellectually outdone by someone else does not mean that you are wrong. There are atheists who are far smarter than you, and there are Christians who are far smarter than you. Admitting argumentative defeat to a smarter atheist does not mean that you have abandoned Christianity. If anything, when you find an atheist who argues beyond your capabilities, consider it an opportunity to learn, and find out later what the answers are to his arguments.
12. Rich said the following at 5:43 PM on Jul 22:
As far as my advice to the young man goes, a lot of the comments have touched upon some good things to keep in mind. What I want to add is that if someone stumps you, or asks a question that you don't know the answer to, that's ok. Like someone else referred to above, just reconcile yourself to the fact that that will happen...often. That doesn't mean that Christianity or Jesus can't be defended...it just means you're in process. Be willing to go back and search hard for an answer. Sometimes you'll find an answer quick, sometimes that will take years or even decades.
Two pithy sayings for you:
1) Rome wasn't built in a day...
2) Get caught with your pants down once, but not twice!
..I hope you all get the meaning of 2...sheesh get your minds out of the gutter...:) All I'm saying is that if you can't answer a challenge, go back and do some research, think how you can handle the situation better next time (this includes not just a good argument but being winsome in your approach, using good people skills), talk to older, intelligent, wise Christian men who can help you walk through the situation. Do some role playing. You get the idea...that way, the next time you get in the same situation (bound to happen), you won't "get caught with your pants down" again, i.e. surprised.
...I understand some might balk at this approach...well, witnessing is a spiritual discipline. It takes practice and serious dedication. And, really, we don't think twice about studying hard for finals, or practicing hours and hours and hours to become good at a certain sport. If we balk at practicing witnessing, what does that say about how important glorifying God really is to us?
None of this means that you have to "shoulder a burden" or that you have to get bent out of shape when you find out you have some work to do. All I'm saying is that you gotta take it seriously AND leave room for being graceful to yourself (hence 1 and 2 above). It's just like any other part of being a disciple...do what you can do, and let God do His part. As Dallas Willard has said, grace isn't opposed to effort...its opposed to earning.
13. Mike said the following at 7:13 PM on Jul 22:
If an intellectual approach to apologetics appeals to you, may I recommend the classic of the genre: C. S. Lewis's "Mere Christianity"?
14. Josh said the following at 8:48 PM on Jul 22:
I'm studying philosophy at a large non-Christian university, so people assume that I get bombarded with objections to my faith all the time. However, my experience has been quite different; people are generally respectful, they aren't looking for a fight, and most genuinely appreciate candid conversation about your faith.
So my one big piece of advice is to not go in there with a chip on your shoulder. I've seen too many young Christians walk in freshman year armed with a copy of "The Case for Christ" ready to take on the world, only to crash and burn when they publically make fools of themselves. Not really the glorious scenario that popular chain emails would have you believe (you know, the emails where the Christian Marine challenges the atheist professor in class and soundly defeats his unbelief with deft argumentation and breaking chalk).
Honestly, if your faith is in Christ you have nothing to worry about. I know people who can make persuasive and well reasoned arguments for believing that your mother doesn't exist. I remain unconvinced, because I know my mother. If you know Christ then arguments to the non-existence of God will seem just as silly.
15. peter said the following at 9:28 PM on Jul 22:
I'd say the most important thing is to make sure your primary friends are solid Christians.
16. B. Minich said the following at 9:28 AM on Jul 23:
I would stress the point made in that article - get involved in a local church. Find a good church, attend, get involved. This is one of the most important things you can do to bolster your faith. It has helped me immensely over the years.
Become a member in a place where membership is taken seriously, so that the leaders of that church can know you are with them, and can come along side you when you have difficulties. These are very important aspects of ministry.
17. steph said the following at 10:05 AM on Jul 23:
Yay, you became a Christian! Why? What does God offer that your previous life didn't? Think through this - it is probably the most important thing you'll have to share with people.
Continue to seek God and find a Christian community to grow in/learn from/be involved with/etc. It's tempting to want to memorize all the "right answers" so you can always have the correct argument...but the most important thing is to make sure you're including God in your own life! Seek him, learn, grow, and then share your perspectives when given the opportunity. Listen to other people and love them. :) Have a great semester!
18. Kate said the following at 10:54 AM on Jul 23:
People in above comments have offered some very good advice! Here's my long response.
Watch out for people who just want to argue with you, with the sole goal of beating you down and trying to make you feel like you are wrong and your faith is worthless. There is a lot of hate going around against Christians, some based on actual bad experiences people have had with Christians, and some based simply on people's outrage at what they stereotypically believe Christians are like (with no real experience to back it up). Walking around manipulating Christians in this way is what makes them feel like justice has been served, and they become real pros at it!
Based on what this person wrote in the email, I wonder if he's been around people who have treated him like this? In addition to that, I'm also wondering if he's not more worried about defending himself, rather than defending Christ? I know it can be very compelling to want to defend yourself when your identity and beleifs are attacked from all directions! Plus as I said, I think a lot of times the militant athiests are trying to attack you personally, not God.
I have found a lot of encouragement and inspiration from Matthew 10 in dealing with militant athiests in the university setting, particularly verse 16 "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." In my view, this mission and direction is not at all about formalized, brilliant apologetics.
I suppose the shrewd as snakes part for me has focused on sort of "hidden" discernment in all conversations about religion. What is going on in this conversation? What is the person looking for here? What past experiences have brought him to this perspective? I guess the innocent as doves part to me speaks to approaching such conversations being genuine, peaceful and calm... and free from self-focused objectives.
The funny part is that when you focus on understanding the person, the conversation and attack becomes a lot less distressing to you and it's much easier to be genuine and peaceful. I think it's a lot more useful anyway, because there is always a person hiding behind that argument... and that's really what they are talking about anyway, even if they pretend they are talking about an intellectual argument.
Worse than forgetting the other person and focusing only on the argument is focusing on yourself in these conversations. Focusing on your own anxiety and vulnerability will only enhance and increase those experiences. I know it can be pretty compelling to pay attention to it when you are nervous! Focusing on your desire to convince this person or your desire to be right and smart are self-centered and ultimately are mostly unattainable in any real sense anyway. Worse, they are not Christ-based motivations, as God is the only one who gets to enjoy being completely wise, completely justified and all-knowing! If these self-centered motivations are what you bring into the conversation, the militant atheist will perceive it instantly. It will confirm all of their expectations and they will prey upon your faults. This will only add fuel to their fire as they take pride in their competence at defeating you, just as they expected to do!
Sometimes it's better not to argue, but just to listen and to ask more questions to really get at the heart of why that person believes/says what they do. This response will at least be a surprise to that person, especially because they won't be able to get off on upsetting you. It may also be a first step in that person seeing an example of Christ through you, and you never know where that may lead.
19. Darren said the following at 3:03 PM on Jul 23:
Rather than having the first focus be on sharing Christ, I would make the first focus "Growing in Christ."
A priority should be to find a fellowship where you can be nourished in the Word and where you can meet and develop relationships with Christian peers. Moreover, if possible, don't just find a parachurch group on campus, but find an actual honest to goodness church where you can be discipled, encouraged and corrected in the Bible.
20. Amy said the following at 3:58 PM on Jul 23:
I am currently enrolled in a philosophy class at a secular college with an atheist professor. Though he constantly pokes fun at Christians, I have found the class to be one of the better classes I have taken in the past few years. It has challenged me to explore my Bible and other Christian resources more and really convince myself of what I believe.
One book that I have found useful is "The Case for Faith" by Lee Strobel. Really any of his books are great ("The Case for Christ" and "The Case for a Creator"), and I highly recommend them. Lee was an atheist so he knows the arguments better than anyone, and he interviews some of the big names in Theology. Even if you don't use them to bring up a dispute in class, they will help you become stronger in your faith and leave you with no doubt that we serve an awesome God!! Best wishes and stay strong! God is with you! =)
21. BDB said the following at 5:24 PM on Jul 23:
To summarize the main comments:
1) Focus on growing in Christ yourself
2) Read some Apologetics like C.S. Lewis
3) Get involved in one of the campus ministries
4) Get involved in an actual church
There's one I haven't seen that I recommend: find a Christian mentor.
During my freshman year in college, I ran into one class that really bothered me, and I couldn't figure out why. I ended up in the Chaplain's office, trying to figure it out.
He said, "Ah, you're not a determinist." And gave me some really hard books to read, such as Alasdair MacIntyre's After Virtue. What's interesting about that book is that when he started writing it, he was an atheist, and when he finished, he was converted to Catholicism. (Fun Fact: I wrote to him once and he wrote be back.)
Anyway, I failed two classes and nearly two others in college because the professor's philosophy was so diametrically opposed to mine that I couldn't get past it. Eventually, in graduate school, I learned that it wasn't necessary to agree to get a B. You simply write the essay that "accrding to author X this is true, and according to author Y that is true." The classes I failed had professors who wanted essays on how we personally did the philosophies discussed, and not being a determinist, I said I didn't, and got a failing grade on those papers. (But really, I didn't turn in others because I was so unhappy. So I take full responsibility - I still graduated in four years. Had to double up on classes later on.)
Anyhow, try to find some Christian professors as mentors. Go visit them during their office hours and they will help you "phrase" things. For example, upon reading one professor's book, my reaction was, "He's not a Christian." The Chaplain coached me to say, "Substantial theological objections can be raised about this book."
Even though I attended secular college and grad school, I gravitated to those degree programs that had a fair number of Christian faculty. The way they taught - making sure that there was still room for Christianity in their world view - went a long ways towards learning how to discuss important questions with non-Christians without it degenerating into a bunch of personal attacks flying around.
Man, I miss that...
22. Leah said the following at 6:50 PM on Jul 23:
At the risk of repeating previous comments:
#1 - Get involved in the campus Christian group
#2 - Make sure your primary friends are Christians, a support network you can fall onto when you need to.
#3 - Choose your battles. Some discussions just aren't worth entering into. The person is setting out just to rubbish Christians and trying to involve them in intelligent dialogue is a waste of time.
#4 - Know why you believe what you believe. While apologetics is useful in very limited situations (though it is in a few), having it in YOUR brain is useful so that you can lay out your beliefs coherently which will help in your sharing them with others.
#5 - Get plugged into a local church. While Christian groups on campus are great, as I said in point 1, they are not a replacement for church. Serving in, and having a, stable church family is incredibly valuable. While campus Christian groups are valuable too, they are not as stable as churches (with most people being involved for only 3-5 years) and do not provide the same kind of opportunities for long-term service that churches do. These two points are very important for stabilising you in your faith, which is key for surviving uni with your faith in tact.
23. Jill said the following at 1:36 PM on Jul 24:
I'm going into my final year at a secular university and I just want to encourage you because, for me, university has been very much a place where God has grown me in my faith and given me a heart for the lost and world.
Here's my advice in a nutshell:
1. Stay plugged into a local church and also get involved with a Christian group on campus -- super important!
2. People's objections & questions surrounding the Christian faith are hardly new. There's a lot of good apologetic material out there that helps to answer these -- check those out!
3. Ultimately, only God can change a person's heart so while it IS the duty of believers to be faithful in sharing the gospel, we depend on God for the results. God often uses our weaknesses so that we depend on Him more.
4. Don't take everything your profs say at face value; contrast what they say with the God's Word. They may sound smart and have Ph.D's but don't let that intimidate you -- they need Jesus too.
5. Learn to be disciplined in spending time with God in His Word & in prayer everyday. Learn to depend on the Holy Spirit moment-by-moment.
Enjoy your time on this crucial mission field known as the university campus!
24. Rachael said the following at 8:16 PM on Jul 24:
I'd encourage him not to put all the weight on his shoulders. It is wonderful that he has done a lot of reading in the area of apologetics, but ultimately God knows those who He has called.
Am I saying not to witness? Not at all!! We are commanded to do so.
But I wonder if some people carry the weight of fall-shortedness more heavily than others.
The other day I went to a class on the Christian life at another church. After the class, some of us were discussing stuff and things.
The conversation turned toward the topic of (as it seemed to me), the role of a Christian's witness in others' process of coming to Christ. One of the men and I seemed to be more of the opinion that it is the Holy Spirit who draws and that salvation doesn't ultimately rest on what Christians do. I could sense a subtle difference in mindsets in that discussion.
I guess I'd encourage the young man to realize that God is ultimately in the know. Could God use the young man in his conversations with others? Certainly! But I hope he won't feel an overwhelming sense of guilt or inadequacy...
Peace!
25. Richard said the following at 5:19 PM on Jul 26:
When I went to university, I was surpised at the number of professors who actually taught principles that are the same of the most mainline Christians. For example, I remember had professors who spoke out against late term abortions, cohabitation, the breakdown of family, community, and religion.
There were other professors and teacher aids I did debate with on some issues. All I can say is choose your battles carefully, be very respectful and loving, and listen and value other points of view, even if you make it clear you don't agree with them.
Also, make sure you have verifiable and reliable sources to back up the claims you make. If you want to claim that boys who don't have fathers involved in their lives are more likely to commit crime, make sure you have at least three respected sources to back up your claim. Don't use Christian magazines or popular news magazines like "Time" for your sources. Use sources that everyone can respect, such as The Journal of the American Medical Association. If a news source is to be used, most people are more respectful of news from the BBC than CNN.
Also, I found that most professors actually enjoy students who respectfully and professionally challenge thier viewpoints. Many professors are sick and tired or students who just parrot back whatever the professor says just so they can suck up to get a good grade. Being brave enough to disgree demonstates you value the truth over getting a good grade - And most professors respect that, even if they may disagree with your viewpoints.
College is also lots of fun, so don't spend too much time in debates going no where. The best way to share the gospel is through the relationships you have with people. Show them you genuinely care, you will be suprised on how receptive they will be to the gospel.
26. a sister said the following at 12:27 AM on Jul 27:
God has graciously given me many opportunities to be an outspoken witness for the gospel, often using wisdom gained through thorough apologetic study.
With that in view, I'd encourage this reader that God alone can change a heart. As other commenters have said, the first thing to understand about apologetics is its limitations. No one is a skeptic or non-believer simply because they haven't heard the right argument. Unbelief is foundationally a moral issue, not an intellectual one.
The second thing to understand is the nature of its value. The primary value of apologetics is in clearing away the cobwebs that stand between unbelievers and faith and in blowing away the smokescreens that skeptics use to justify unbelief.
Third, and others have said this as well, LISTEN to the people around you. Ask them lots of questions about their belief system, their background and their experiences with life and religion. People are hungry for genuine relationship and you'll be surprised how much you learn when you ask them questions. You don't have to know everything about all belief systems (though reading up is good). If you run into a Hindu, but don't know much about Hinduism, ask lots of good questions. The interrogative construction is the most powerful in any language.
ask:
do you have any religious beliefs?
what kind of experiences have you had with Christianity / Christians?
who is Jesus to you?
do you believe in heaven? hell?
what do you think will happen to you after you die?
tell me about your religious journey?
how does your spirituality affect your daily life?
do you think miracles can happen?
which is more important: being sincere about what you believe or believing something that is actually so (true)?
how do you make moral / ethical choices?
if what you believe were not true, would you want to know it?
If someone says something that you know is not true, be slow to overtly contradict them. Instead, ask them a question that will help reveal their assumptions -- and don't press your point too hard, just let them think about it. For instance, if they say that they think that Jesus was a cool guy but that they don't like some of his followers, and, they think it's silly to believe he was God, you might say,
"You know, Ghandi said something similar about how he liked Jesus Christ but he didn't like Christians. I'm afraid, people like me who say we follow Jesus have often failed to love people the way he did. But you know, it puzzles me that you say he is a cool guy who taught great things, yet you don't believe he was God. If he wasn't telling the truth about where he came from and who he was, how can we believe anything else he said?"
Fourth, be willing and even eager to discuss your failures (sins) with nonChristians. We often shy away from that, thinking that unbelievers need to see us as happy and victorious all the time or as moral examples. That's not so. We best relate to other sinners as sinners in need of a Savior. They need to know that you have unanswered questions about faith and God and evil and the future too. When you admit your weaknesses and doubts, they begin to feel you are just like them instead of viewing you as someone who is constantly judging them. They need to know you struggle and they need to feel like you actually like them and enjoy being around them and learning from them. Nobody likes to be someone else's "project."
I'd also strongly recommend reading C.S. Lewis's classic works, starting with Mere Christianity, and anything by Ravi Zacharias, especially, "Can Man Live Without God," & "Cries of the Heart." Although I haven't read it yet, I have heard very good reviews of Tim Keller's "A reason for God." And, "Questioning Evangelism" by Randy Newman is quite worthwhile.
I hope there is something helpful here.
27. Lea said the following at 9:46 AM on Aug 21:
To Peter:
I doubt he'll have good luck finding Christians to be friends with in college. I found a grand total of one at my secular university, and he was more interested in being part of the Latino crowd than in helping establish a Christian presence on-campus.
What'd I do? I befriended some amazing, sweet, incredible non-Christians....and became a non-Christian myself. Though, I'm happier this way, so I suppose it's all good.
But the point for the young man is, if you don't want to befriend non-Christians be prepared for the possibility that you could be very alone at your university. How many Christians are at a secular college is really a luck of the draw type thing.
28. IMO said the following at 10:01 AM on Aug 21:
"What'd I do? I befriended some amazing, sweet, incredible non-Christians....and became a non-Christian myself."
Holy cow! That is both the most saddest and also funniest statement I have read in a long time. Wow.
29. Kit said the following at 11:16 AM on Aug 21:
Which colleges did you all attend? I went to both a Christian college (where I found a disproportinate number of non-Christians!) and a secular college (state university--for graduate work) where the core of Christians was stronger than the Christian college! Just plug in with Inter Varsity, Campus Crusade, and a local church. You will be surprised how many non-Christians are interested in the faith, provided it is not shoved down their throats. Many students are open minded enough to consider it.