In my second year at a four year university, I often think back to the days of college applications, acceptance letters, and “the big decision” regarding where to attend the following year. I vividly recall having two types of encouragers in my life: the first group of encouragers said, in so many words, I know you’re religious, you’re better off going to a secular institution. There’s diversity of thought, and more of an emphasis on academic growth. The seconds group said You would thrive on a Christian campus! You’ll be surrounded by people who share your values. There are endless opportunities to strengthen your faith.
Interestingly, in my decision to go to a secular institution, I feel as though my experience can be properly characterized as a continuous process of testing, strengthening, and expanding the depth to my religious convictions. I could probably count the number of people who share my Christian faith (at least those who I know of) on one hand...and I love it. My setting forces me to think hard about the things I consider to be universally true. Practicing my religion despite the fact that everyone around me seems to be areligious – and therefore less likely to hold me accountable in the same way a Christian campus would – has instilled within me a sense of self-reliance, a spirit of critical thought, and most importantly, the ability to not only reconcile contrasting ideologies, but reconcile myself to people who hold a contrasting ideologies. Thus, I find myself comfortable in a setting where I am frequently called to reexamine my ideals and put them to practice, without the luxury and convenience of a present like-minded community.
That being said, there are three concepts central to Christianity that I’ve learned on this campus:
- Discipleship is not a concept limited to one’s ability to convert people. In fact, I’ve learned that discipleship has nothing to do with conversion. Discipleship, anywhere, is predicated on the idea of extending God’s agape (self-giving love) to the people around you. This means fostering relationships with people with the same authenticity I would with my sibling. This means living alongside someone in a reciprocal relationship: I learn from you, you learn from me, I care about you, you care about me – and in turn, we learn how to be in true communion with each other.
- Though I find it an essential institution, church is not a place where faith is best demonstrated, nor cultivated. Being faithful in a place of convenience is much different than being faithful in times of uncertainty, when the odds aren’t in your favor. The times of uncertainty are the most character defining: do you pull a Peter and abandon what you know to be true, even if it’s just a one-time event, or do you reflect the boldness of Christ as he faced the Sanhedrin and Pontius Pilate?
- The famous phrase “Preach the gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words” has taken on a new, active meaning in my life. That said, by no means am I some perfect saint. Because many people are simply disinterested in what Christians have to say at my school, I’m constantly called to “walk the walk.” A mentor of mine once told me, “you might be the only Bible a person ever reads.” I now know what she meant.
Now, I don’t want to knock what Christian colleges have to offer a student – I’m sure they offer an invaluable experience. I’m just thankful and content with my own circumstances.
To conclude with a benediction: regardless of where we are and what we believe in, let us continually seek new depths to the convictions we hold most dear. Let us boldly embrace the vulnerability of both ourselves and our beliefs in times of uncertainty.
