Survival Guide for Christians on Campus How to Be Students and Disciples at the Same Time

Introduction A Message from Tony and Will "I used to be a dedicated Christian," saidthe man looking intently at my teeth. "Then, like a lot of people, I went tocollege. I took a couple of religion courses that did more to destroy myreligion than to teach me anything about it. Those professors asked some toughquestions about the Bible and made me see that it's mostly just a bunch of mythsand ancient fables. That was the beginning of the end of my faith." I couldn't say anything to counter his comments with allthose dental tools stuck in my mouth. But what I would have said to that dentistif I could have, I now say to you: College can be a place where you grow -- notonly intellectually, but also spiritually. The Christian faith is not threatenedby tough questions, and you don't have to endure a lobotomy to be a believer.Some of the greatest minds that the human race has produced -- Paul, Augustine,Blaise Paschal, Soren Kierkegaard, Dorothy Sayers, Flannery O'Connor, to mentiononly a few -- put tough questions to Jesus and came away more firm in their faith,not less, and more convinced than ever that the narrow way of Christiandiscipleship was the only way for them to go. A recent conversation with a college student exemplifies thestruggle to maintain faith on a university campus."So you are in a campus Bible study?" Will asked."Yep," the student answered. "I love my Bible study group. We meet everyWednesday in the basement of the dorm.""You were big into Bible study in high school?""No. I grew up Episcopalian. I don't think we do that sort of stuff.""Well," Will continued, "I find it interesting that, though you have not been ina Bible study group before, you come here to college and get into Bible study.Why is that?" He looked at Will as if he were dumb, then said, "Dr.Willimon, have you ever tried to be a sophomore and a Christian at the sametime? It's not easy."We expect that many of you know exactly what this sophomore is talking about.Here you are in college for the time of your life, some of the most importantyears you will ever have, among the world's privileged few who are able to gointo higher education. What a great place to be. And yet, you're also a Christian. The modern college oruniversity campus can be a challenging place for a Christian. Perhaps this isyour first time away from home. That means you must learn to get along withroommates, do laundry, spend weekends away from your family. Or perhaps you areone of the growing number of commuter students, having to balance the commute toclass, a demanding work schedule, and tight finances. With so much to do,there's not much time left for religious things. Then on the weekends, you haveto contend with the sometimes intimidating social scene and the challenges andpressures of dating, drinking, or worse. And then there's church -- which has anodd habit of usually meeting at eleven o'clock on a Sunday morning -- a veryinconvenient time of the week for most college students! Intellectually, your life is now in the fast lane. You aregrowing every day, in class and outside of class. You are reading books theynever told you about in high school. Your mind is expanding. Almost every daysome new insight or idea assaults your consciousness. Will the Christian faithyou brought to college be able to hold up under the scrutiny of all you arelearning? The way we see it, God has called you, at this stage in yourlife, to the ministry of study. Just as God called Moses to lead the Hebrews outof slavery and Paul to preach the gospel to Gentiles, so God has called you tostudy, grow, and witness on a college campus. Some Christians have as theirprCampolo, Tony is the author of 'Survival Guide for Christians on Campus How to Be Students and Disciples at the Same Time', published 2002 under ISBN 9781582292366 and ISBN 1582292361.