Jesus is at Home on Campus

I have a movie screen in my head. Don't look so surprised, so do you. We all have pictures that flash to mind at the mention of a topic, person, event, or idea. When people ask me how a student could possibly keep his or her faith at college, I think I know the picture that is reflecting off their grey matter: a country scene (adjusted to their region) with a small, white steepled church bathed in a single ray of sunlight. It's a picture shaped by our culture. The church, the people of God, flourish in simple, slow, uncomplicated settings. That is our culturally conditioned picture of the church, but it clashes with the picture Scripture and history give us of the early church.

For almost three hundred years the church was all about cities. Jerusalem, Ephesus, Athens, and Corinth were crowded, busy, flourishing cities. They were seats of commerce and learning. In the early centuries of the church all ministry was directed toward cities. In fact, our modern word "pagan" originates from the ancient word for country folk.

If our current understanding of the Christian faith includes a fear of the diversity, complexity, learning, and issues of city life, then our picture doesn't match that of Jesus and his early disciples. Not only did Christians seek out the cities, they flourished there. If our faith is up to the university, then it's a faith shaped by culture rather than Scripture, and there lies the problem.

We are finding that more and more Christian students enter college with beliefs that are shaped more by culture and opinion rather than by Scripture. It's not their fault. They have been raised in churches that have not taken their Christian education seriously. Entertainment and pep talks have taken the place of careful teaching. This trend, more than anything else, puts students at risk.

The cure is easily within reach. Christian education needs to be taken seriously parents and church leadership. You have a responsibility: "And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others." (2 Tim 2:2) each generation has a responsibility to the next.

Students can easily improve their situation. Begin with Scripture. Bath yourself with the words of Jesus. Become familiar with his character and voice. In addition, read sound theology. Writers such a Timothy Keller, N. T. Wright, Eugene Peterson, and John Stott are a good place to start. Avoid trendy, pop theology for belief that has stood the test of time. Commit yourself to campus fellowship which have committed themselves to good teaching and learning.

The second cure is to actively apply what Scripture teaches. Discover the nature of Jesus' ongoing mission and add your strength to the effort. Prayer, worship, fellowship, and your life in the Spirit gain meaning and value when you allow Jesus to touch the world through you.

The city and the university don't scare us. It's where it all began. But a soft, intellectually weak, selfish faith cringes at the thought. If your faith doesn't fit the challenge, then let God adjust your faith to match his vision. If we do, then God's strength will replace our fear.