We recently had the opportunity to speak at 3 secular universities in Minnesota. Our talks were sponsored by a group that takes a bold, yet loving stance, confidently standing for the truth of God’s Word. This ministry is graciously serving students and presenting a dynamic Biblical alternative to the prevailing secular worldviews.
How encouraging it was for us to work with a group which sees the importance of foundational Biblical truths in actively discipling Christian students while at the same time reaching out to others. We long to see ministries like this on every campus. Unfortunately, many students do not have access to this kind of discipling and support.
Horror stories continue to come in from students or their parents. Christian students today are often ridiculed or discriminated against because of their faith. They are taught to be “tolerant” of other views, but their own views are anything but tolerated. It seems anything goes but Biblical Christianity in today’s classrooms. Marxist, Humanist, New Age, Buddhist, and even Islamic worldviews are often advocated by professors, but Christian professors are reprimanded, censored, or dismissed if they make their beliefs known.
In virtually all subjects, ungodly philosophies are either actively promoted or accepted as the underlying foundations and assumptions of course work. Students continue to be taught the “theory” of evolution as fact, even though it is really just a failed hypothesis (see the Sep./Oct. 2005 T&B). Alternative views are rarely included unless students bring them up, and then they are frequently told that they can’t discuss “religion” in the science class. Of course, this is just a popular “smokescreen,” obscuring the real issues.
All of this would be bad enough if it was just in “secular” universities; however, that is not the case. The majority of church-related, “Christian” colleges and universities have also bought into these same unbiblical philosophies. Oh, yes, they include the Bible someplace in their curriculum, and many even attempt to be truly missions-minded, but the Biblical worldview is rarely embraced and consistently taught in all course-work. Sadly, even when an attempt is made to “reconcile” the Bible with science (or some other subject), it is usually the biblical teaching which is compromised.
So what’s a student to do? For some students, the option is to go to a college or university that holds to a truly consistent, Biblical worldview in all subjects. (These institutions are few and far between.) The other option is to become educated in the issues at stake, and determine to be “salt and light” in a dark world. Many good resources are now available to help students prepare, but it does take time and effort. Parents, pastors, and other mentors of young people need to realize the stakes and do all they can to help.
AOI provides excellent resources and training to help students navigate safely on issues relating to creation and evolution. There are also many good resources relating to Biblical apologetics (a reasoned defense for the faith) and training in a consistently Biblical worldview.
Whatever you do, don’t go to college unprepared! Get the resources. Study them. Talk with others who can help. Find a group of committed Christian students to support one another in fellowship, prayer, worship, and witness. Get your church back home to pray for you and hold you accountable. And most importantly, develop a dynamic, growing walk with the Lord. There is absolutely no substitute for a personal relationship with the Creator of the universe, made possible by the faithfulness of Jesus, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. If you truly are walking with Him, actively and obediently following Him, you can not only survive, but overcome wherever you are in life, even on the university campus.
Originally published in the November/December 2005 issue of Think & Believe newsletter. Please call our office or email us at [email protected] for additional resources on these subjects.
