© Don W. King

A version of this essay first appeared in The Presbyterian Journal 43 (Jan. 2 and 9, 1985): 9-10.

Believe it or not, it is already that time of the year when many high school seniors and their parents face a perplexing dilemma: where to go to college. For some the first decision is whether to choose a state-supported institution, a non-sectarian private school, or a Christian college. Although there is a sense in which I am singularly unqualified to comment since my entire education took place in the public school system, I have spent the last ten years teaching at a Christian college; this experience leads me to urge parents and potential students to opt for a Christian college.

Let me begin by clearing up some misconceptions about the Christian college. Such a school is not a gigantic Sunday school class, youth conference, or spiritual retreat; these activities may be a part of the mission of any Christian college, but they are not the main focus. In addition, a Christian college is not a place to hide from the world; in fact, any Christian college "worth its salt" tries to expose its students to the hard realities of life, be it through a course in Augustinian philosophy or one in urban sociology. Nor is a Christian college a Bible college; the latter centers study squarely on the Bible while the former gives broad coverage to the liberal arts from an informed Christian perspective. Finally, a Christian college is not a place of solemn faces, pious rhetoric, and kneejerk intolerance. Instead, it encourages freewheeling discussion with an eye on discovering God's truth.

Put simply, a Christian college is primarily an academic environment infused with the spirit of Jesus Christ. That means it will be interested in the mental, physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual growth of its students, encouraging them to question, to explore, and to discover. In such an atmosphere, the integration of faith and learning can take place and students can develop a Christian world view. It follows, then, that the Christian college will ask its students the tough questions all men and women grapple with, including who am I, why am I here, and where am I going. Furthermore, it will point the direction for them to answer these questions, regardless of the place the search for truth leads. Central to this search for truth will be academic courses in both the Old and New testaments. As students study Scripture, they will become intimately acquainted with God's active involvement in His creation.

For instance, when they study the biological sciences and see the amazing complexity and delicate beauty of living organisms, they will know that such life is not the result of some accidental ebb tide five hundred million years ago; instead, they will delight in the fact that God's hand shaped and formed everything "in the beginning." When they study literature, they will go beyond aesthetic and artistic concerns; that is, they will learn how a work of literature serves as a spiritual thermometer of the human condition. When they study history, they will see how the events of mankind's past are all working together towards some larger purpose--the culmination, the summing up, the "reconciliation of all things in Christ."

In addition, there are several other advantages of the Christian college. First, a Christian college offers students a community of shared values. This translates into an environment where God's love is perceived of as a reality, not as a mirage. At such a school there will be a climate of acceptance, a willingness to "agree to disagree," and a strong sense of Christian fellowship. Most importantly in this regard, however, there will be a reliance on the power of prayer when students confront the many challenges of college life.

Second, students will be surrounded by like-minded peers. This is not to say they will march in lock-step, always in harmony, ever happy and content. Still, they will know that many of their classmates care for them personally. Together they will engage in recreational, intellectual, and spiritual activities, developing a bond that time and place will never sever. Hall prayer groups and Bible studies as well as shaving cream fights and dorm raids will be shared experiences that will cement friendships forever. Among such people, few will feel isolated, alone, or forgotten.

Finally, students will be exposed to Christian servanthood. Although our society promotes self-absorption, a Christian college will challenge its students to quit looking at their own navels and to follow Christ's example instead, striving above all else to serve others. As a result they will meet fellow students like Pam, a quiet, gentle young woman, who works in a school-sponsered inner city program. Even though she is surrounded by pimps, prostitutes, and pushers, she finds joy in ministering to the needs of young abused children. Her trust in Christ expressed through her servanthood can make her say that her experience in helping those children is "the most liberating" one possible.

I realize I have been describing the ideal Christian college; no institution is perfect. There are deadbeat administrators, faculty, and students at the best of Christian colleges. Furthermore, costs are going to be higher than at a state-supported school, and athletic and cultural opportunities may be somewhat limited. Yet, in the final analysis, the value of an education at a Christian college should be measured by the quality of its academic program and the depth of its spiritual commitment. Parents and potential students should look for a Christian college where these two criteria are clearly evident and make their choice accordingly. I am firmly convinced that a Christian college can make a tremendous contribution to a person's total development. Opting for the Christian college will lead to benefits that can be reaped throughout a lifetime.