When a Christian goes to College

Before the industrialization era, families were living together as joint societies. Children would learn the tradecraft from their fathers and most often they didn't move away from them until they were married. But the situation has changed now. We live in a different society where we have to do higher education to get into a vocation. And most of the time, we will have to send our children to a place which is away from their home. This can be challenging both for parents and their children.

After finishing my schooling, when I joined the college for higher studies, I had lot of challenges for which I was not at all prepared. It took almost a year for me to get used to the new environment. Here I would like to give some insights from Scripture which I think would be useful for those joining colleges away from home.

1. God is still with you even when are on your own:

"There is none holy like the LORD; there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.
(1Sa 2:2)

You are now separated from your parents and your loved ones physically. Atleast now we have telephones and Skype, so you can keep in touch with them. But still, the only person who is with you is God. He is Sovereign, omniscient and all knowing who is willing to help you when you are in need. His mercy endures forever. And His steadfast love never changes. God has put this test upon you to know whether you can still worship the Lord and walk in His ways like how you used to do when you were at home. Remember that we worship the God who also faced wilderness and loneliness (Mat 4) yet was without sinful. So you will never be on your own if you are a child of God because He will never let anyone take you away from Him.

2. Culture Shock:

But Joshua said to the people, "You are not able to serve the LORD, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good."
(Jos 24:19-20)

God brought Israel after 400 years of slavery in Egypt and 40 years in wilderness, into the Promised Land.  Israelites are now faced with a culture which is way different than what they have seen so far. Thus God gives this warning so that they would be holy and righteous in this new culture. Likewise, you will be exposed to a culture which may be different from what you have been brought up. You may be different from the peers who are there. They may lure you to do the ‘cool’ things in college. I am not saying we should never adopt other cultures. But rather, Christians should be discerning what is right from wrong. Let this verse be a guide to decide good from bad:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
(Php 4:8)

3.Clash of the Worldviews:

Whoever is not with me (Christ) is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
(Mat 12:30)

You will be faced by people from different faith, different beliefs and different worldview. Your friends may believe in other gods. Your college professor may teach evolution and claim that to be the pinnacle of truth. You may be mocked by others for your faith. But there is only one truth in this world and that truth is revealed in the Scripture (John 17:17). All the other worldviews other than the Biblical worldview, are self contradictory and are all false. They may try to deceive you by giving ‘scientific’ evidence etc, but if you logically analyse their arguments, it will be fallacious. So remember what Paul had said to Timothy:

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
(2Ti 3:14-15)

4. Friends:

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
(Pro 13:20)

You will have to be wise in choosing your friends. I had studied in a college in India where most of the students were from Christian background. Some of them were from devout Christian families. But as they come to college, they get in touch with foolish friends and wreck their lives. You may think that you can exert moral restraint while hanging out with your immoral friends but it will wreck your Spiritual life because we are also sinfully depraved and we should try to avoid temptations at all cost. Remember this verse: Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
(2Co 6:14)

5. Preach the gospel:

Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
(2Ti 4:2)

College is where you will get to spend a lot of time with people of different faith for a long time. You can get to know about each and everyone and help them out of their problems through the guidance of Scripture. You can share your faith with them and discuss in detail about the gospel of Christ. Use this time for advancing the kingdom of God.

6. Personal unaided devotion of God’s Word and prayer:

One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple. (Psa 27:4)

You may not have to go for all the fellowships, worships, group prayers and bible studies in the college if you are busy. But you should never skip your personal devotion to God. This would be difficult for you because most of the time your friends and roommates would be hanging with you in your hostels. Jesus Christ, while He was in the world, always spent time with the Father in prayers and fasting in the wilderness alone without His disciples. Likewise we should spend our time with God in loneliness with our personal meditation on Scriptures and prayers. Only then we would get the power of Holy Spirit to overcome the trials, temptations and persecutions which we would face.

These are some of the things which a Christian needs to remember while in college. You may not be the intelligent, famous guy of your college but remember this verse:

His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. (Psa 147:10-11)

Below is a 5 minute clip by a Creation Scientist who gives some practical guidance for Christians to survive in college with their faith intact:

If you have liked this, you can also read Students learn for the glory of God!