It’s the season when many college students head back to school. What advice would you give to believers in Jesus who are striving to live out their faith while being challenged by the anti-Christian perspectives of many university professors?
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Willie Dean on August 31, 2009 at 11:38 am
Live your faith peacefully, Don’t challenge your instructors unless God is leading you to speak to them. If you openly argue with them, it will leave a bad feeling with all that witness the event. In other words you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Don’t forget to pray without ceasing, lift your educators up to the Lord, privately. God has promised that his word will not return void.
tom felten on September 1, 2009 at 8:59 am
willie dean, I like your winsome approach to confronting instructors who are antagonistic to Christianity (Philippians 4:5). There have been times where profs have criticized me and my faith during class, and that can be a tough situation. But, with the Holy Spirit guiding us, our response can still be truth spoken in love.
Godchaser on September 2, 2009 at 9:31 am
I agree with this. Live out your faith peacefully. You don’t have to use words or confrontation to show your faith. I am currently unemployed but I am also a full-time student. I am constantly amazed at how God gives me an opportunity to share my faith. I went on an interview yesterday and the interviewer asked me how we were making it since we’ve both been laid off since February. That opened the door for me to share about my faith in God. I don’t think I got the job, but I think she will remember me. In school I am constantly given opportunities to share with my classmates one on one. I am also given assignments that give me the opportunity to share my faith. Your professor can’t give you a bad grade when they tell you to prepare a Powerpoint presentation on ANY subject. I chose “How do we know that Jesus is the Messiah”. My instructor is Hindu.
Take every opportunity to speak God’s love in love and respect. The professors may hate you but they will remember your words.
Phileo on August 31, 2009 at 7:01 pm
If you don’t have the answers, ask the hard questions. If you are asking the questions, then you are dictating the conversation. If your professor challenges your question with another question then you continue to raise questions. But it’s not a negative to know the answer to the question, even if the professor does not. The purpose of college is to learn, and to grow. Just because someone becomes a professor does not make them exempt from learning and growing.
As for the other aspects of college that are social. You live out your faith by your example. NO cussing, no drinking, no smoking, no drugs, and don’t give into the constant barrage of sexual temptation that lurks with every person and corner. And always follow the advice of 1 Thes 5:17. Pray without ceasing.
tom felten on September 1, 2009 at 9:01 am
phileo, this is another good approach—modeled by Jesus Himself. He often asked questions to bring people to a greater understanding of what they believed and what He was revealing to them!
micaela.titus on September 1, 2009 at 8:06 am
As a college student it became hard to sit in some classes that in no way recognized God. Especially the philosphy and theory classes. But when I feel the topics coming up I remember God’s promises in Romans 8:28 and I just be still an know that He is God according to Psalm 46:10. I realize that me being in that class is for a reason. To possibly show an unbeliever my walk with Christ. One day, they may ask way are your so joyous and there is an open door to continue to be a servant for Christ. Meditate on the word every morning so that the enemy will not be able to confuse you.
tom felten on September 1, 2009 at 9:11 am
micaela.titus, good thoughts! You’re right, it’s vital that we know God’s Word and what we believe (2 Timothy 2:15).
roseofGod on September 1, 2009 at 7:19 pm
This is wonderful advice, thank you everyone and thank God for guiding me here. As a college student it can become trying to deal with professors and classmates who have radical and ungodly approaches to their lessons, especially when sometimes they can come off as so aggressively forward. However, as Micaela stated, keeping God’s word “in our mouths” (joshua 1:8) can really help to remind us of where we should stand in God. Furthermore in Joshua 1:1-9 there are clear instructions- not just for the early Israelites- but for us today, and a reassurance that He is with us always.
sunny7 on September 2, 2009 at 8:17 pm
could someone please tell me where i can submit a prayer request? thank you.
tom felten on September 3, 2009 at 6:24 am
sunny7, if your prayer request is something related to this topic, feel free to post it here. If not, feel free to go to this page to send us your request: http://www.ourdailyjourney.org/contact-us/
It will be our privilege to pray for you!
edmon on September 2, 2009 at 10:09 pm
take heart. you will certainly be persecuted because of your faith. but God is with you so don’t be afraid.
chickamonga2002 on September 3, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Sometimes, it’s not knowing what to say to someone, but rather, knowing what NOT to say that poses the biggest challenge. Sometimes, less is more. Let your Life, and the way you live it, be your voice. I remember seeing a sign out front of a church that simply said: “The best sermon I ever SAW”!!! WOW! This gave me a whole new direction to look at. You can tell when someone is “intellegently” and ‘seriously” challengeing your beliefs to better understand from where your belief system comes from, as opposed to someone trying to “anger” you and trying to get you to “slip-up” with your tounge !!! This is where knowing what NOT to say is your best defense!!! God Bless!!!