How to stay grounded in Jesus Christ our Lord during college?

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I may be going to college or university next academic year and I would like to know if anyone has any advice as to how to stay grounded in our Lord Jesus Christ during college, and how to share the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ with others.

Personally, I feel that it may be possible for one's faith in Jesus Christ our Lord to be strengthened in a secular college, but I don't want to receive non-biblical teaching, so I am curious about if you have went to college or university do you feel that any teaching has at any time contradicted the Bible (and if so, how did you deal with it), and if you feel that whether the course content agrees with the Bible may depend on the subject studied, and also about how was your faith journey in college?
 
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Radagast

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I may be going to college or university next academic year and I would like to if anyone has any advice as to how to stay grounded in our Lord Jesus Christ during college, and how to share the gospel with others.

General guidelines:
  • Prepare yourself. For example, this is a good book for those studying in the USA: https://www.amazon.com/Chris-Chrisman-Goes-College-Individualism/dp/0830816569
  • Attend church while you're at college, if possible
  • Make time to read the Bible and pray each day
  • Ideally, get involved with an on-campus Christian group, if there is one (if not, perhaps you could exercise some initiative and get Christian students together for a regular Bible study -- I did that as a freshman and was surprised at who turned up)
  • Any issues in the teaching that cause heartache should be discussed with a pastor, with a Christian counsellor, or with other Christian students
so I am curious about if you have went to college or university do you feel that any teaching has at any time contradicted the Bible (and if so, how did you deal with it), and if you feel that whether the course content agrees with the Bible may depend on the subject studied, and also about how was your faith journey in college.

Mathematics and chemistry will not conflict with your faith at all. If you believe in 144-hour Creation, then biology and geology might cause problems (if you believe in theistic evolution, you'll be fine). The humanities, as taught in the USA, are likely to cause serious problems regarding issues of right and wrong.
 
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Radagast

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Thank you "Radagast" for your reply :amen:. In terms of "humanities", what types of humanities are you referring to?

Well, everything that isn't mathematics and science, really. I'm thinking especially of things like:
  • English (depending on what books are studied)
  • Gender Studies
  • Media Studies
  • Political Science
  • Sociology
  • Social Work (this thread, for example, is from a Social Work student on CF)
 
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Tolworth John

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advice as to how to stay grounded in our Lord Jesus Christ during college,

Know now how to defend what you believe.
What reasons do you have for calling yourself a Christian?
How do you demonstrate with historical facts that Jesus did live, die and rise again?
Get involved with a church that teaches and practises Christianity and do so yourself.

Ask your pastor why he hasn't taught you this.
Start reading coldcasechristianity, reasonablefaith web sites

on this site scroll down to the bottom of the page for links to scientific reasons for Christianity.
Clear thinking about Rachael Slick’s departure from Christianity
 
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Pioneer3mm

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It was during my college years, I made further commitment to Christian faith and my calling.
---
You will go through challenges..about your faith
commitment.
---
Christian literatures and fellowship with other believers
can be helpful.
- Also more devotion/spiritual renewal time.
----
May the Lord guide you.

Blessings,
 
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deusartemlux

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I may be going to college or university next academic year and I would like to if anyone has any advice as to how to stay grounded in our Lord Jesus Christ during college, and how to share the gospel with others.

Personally, I feel that it may be possible for one's faith in Jesus Christ our Lord to be strengthened in a secular college, however I don't really want to receive non-biblical teaching, so I am curious about if you have went to college or university do you feel that any teaching has at any time contradicted the Bible (and if so, how did you deal with it), and if you feel that whether the course content agrees with the Bible may depend on the subject studied, and also about how was your faith journey in college.


I am half way through a bachelors in science from two secular institutions. Firstly, you will be exposed to anti biblical sentiments. Yes, especially in topics of English, music, sociology, economics, but also even some people you talk to in mathematics and science. I was afraid of the academically atheistic worldview myself and I worried that sitting under teachers that refuted the gospel and religion as a whole would pollute or weaken me.
Granted, hearing some of the secular ideas and "proofs" is shaking, disturbing, and will cause you to question things (at least it did me). I don't necessarily see this as a bad thing though, in fact all the questions I've had and the opposition I've faced, has really helped me put roots into the gospel. The single greatest thing that helped me besides prayer, bible reading, and my supportive christian family, has been reading philosophy, apologetics and history of worldviews. Once you understand that everything a college tries to teach you (either that there is no God (popular among scientists), or that truth is subject and so therefore everyone is right (popular in the humanities department)) are all recent worldviews that are based on certain assumptions you can be more confident in your faith.

VERY helpful resources:

"Mere Christianity" CS Lewis
"The Pensees" Blaise Pascal (this ones my favorite)
"How then Should we Know Live?" Francis Shaeffer
"Making Sense of your World" Gary Phillips and William E. Brow
"The case for Christ" Lee Strobel

Reading these really help you see that empirical, postmodern, and transcendental philosophies fall into bias and contradiction.

By being open minded, and defending my faith with careful thought and research has really helped me have great conversation with Christians and non Christians alike. One of my more intellectual friends who was raised Mormon and had a really heavy agnostic phase and was asking a lot of questions about the bible. I was able to share with him both the "unreasonable" faith based parts of my faith, as well as the historical and philosophical reasons behind why I can be more confident about it. By God's grace alone he is now reading his bible everyday and has really accepted the gospel for himself. Also, I have met some christian teachers who were very open about their faith with whom I have had amazing discussions about God's word with.

To sum it up you will hear opposition in a secular college, but that's okay! With God's help, some reflection and good reading you can stay your own. Once you've gone through those moments of doubt, or even loosing arguments with God haters, you will have a stronger faith and a more confident attitude.
 
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Dave-W

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I may be going to college or university next academic year and I would like to if anyone has any advice as to how to stay grounded in our Lord Jesus Christ during college, and how to share the gospel with others.
Most important thing: Find a good congregation and keep close to those who can hold you accountable.

The lack of that in my freshman year almost made me totally fall away. I came very close.
 
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