<p>An interesting and well-presented position. </p>
<p>It’s perhaps nice to assume that each person makes his/her own decisions absent pressure and/or influence of peers and other environmental factors. However, that does seem sorely far fetched wishful thinking not rooted in any real reality.</p>
<p>I’m far more inclined toward joyjoy’s concern and vision that a great many young people even those raised in the church, fall away their faith in college years. And the influencers and influences to do so in a secular institution are undoubtedly far more pervasive than at overtly sectarian campuses. Note overtly.</p>
<p>I definitely agree with your concern. In 1 Peter 1:6-7 it says “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” </p>
<p>While influences at secular institutions are like fire compared to those at non-secular institutions, they are a chance to refine our faith and bring glory to God. While many fall away from their faith, on the hand, many people grow stronger because of how hard it is to be a Christian at a non-Christian institution. And even though people may fall away in college, I believe that God works out everything to bring him glory. If you have planted a seed in them by bringing them up in the church and actively teaching them the bible, that is something they will never forget as much as they want to deny it. One day, maybe someone will remind them of your teachings and they will come back to the church. </p>
<p>Reasoning that your child will be more likely to become a Christian at a Christian college is not right if that is your main reason for sending him to a christian college. I think LasMa had the perfect point. If God is calling your child to use his or her talents at a non-Christian college, you do what God wants you to do. He has a plan for your child’s life and we need to trust that. It may be that God wants to use your child to lead someone to Christ at a secular college. It may be that God wants your child to fall away yet restore your child back to him later in life. God may be calling your child to a Christian College as well and you do what he tells you to do then as well. He has amazing plans for all of us, in different ways.</p>
I haven’t been on CC in such a long time, but I wanted to post here for anyone who might be interested! (I am on now just looking at grad school stuff and for my little brother who is starting college next year.) The title of this thread is “Christians who decided that secular college was the better fit.” Well, that is exactly what I felt led to do when making my college decision. Let me tell you…IT WAS THE BEST DECISION!!! I attended NYU and graduated this past December. As for church, I starting attending Hillsong NYC in October of my freshman year. It is the most amazing church. I am forever grateful for my experience and am so grateful my parents let me listen to my heart and follow my own dreams. If you happen to be reading this and are feeling led to go to a secular college, then listen to your heart. It is so worth it. For any parent reading this who is facing any worries about this subject, just remember this: our God is bigger than the “stuff” you are worrying about. There was one older lady in my church who warned my parents that I may lose my faith because I was going off to NYC for college (I am from a very small Texas town). I will never forget my Mom’s reply, “Our God is bigger than any old city.”
Great story, @HPFan13! I’m so glad it worked out for you!
My son is doing great as a junior at MIT. It was also the best decision he could have made. I absolutely see how God has used him at MIT. I couldn’t imagine him anywhere else, though I miss him like crazy, and there have been plenty of very difficult times.
This is going to sound a bit silly. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I haven’t been on CC for such a long time, but what does DS stand for? As for a Christian workplace, I didn’t work in a Christian workplace while I was in undergrad. I actually worked on campus (workstudy). As for my future career, I aim to be a professor. I know God has a plan for my life, and I am confident He will place me where I need to be. I don’t necessarily think I need to be a professor at a Christian university. We will see though. I am really just thankful for my experiences so far. I really cannot express to you how much I loved NYU and Hillsong. It was the BEST experience!
I am religious, but I wouldn’t want a religious school because there wouldn’t be one with an emphasis in my rather obscure sect of Christianity. It would be easier to go someplace with no religious emphasis because even though I am religious, it would be more annoying to be around people espousing and teaching from “incorrect” (IMO) theology.
As for your son, OP, maybe there would be a religious group or organization on the secular campus that he could join? He can’t be the only Christian going there.
@sbjdorlo Thanks! And, my brother applied to MIT! He sure would love to hear that he got in! I am glad your son is doing well. I have never visited Boston, but my mother and brother went two years ago. My brother loved Boston and MIT’s campus.
I chose a “secular” college, and did not apply to any Christian schools. I attended Christian private school K-12 and knew I wanted a change of scene. I went to a HUGE public university, and never once felt targeted or like I needed to engage in any kind of debate. Yes, there’ll be evolution in science classes, and maybe a professor who swears, but those moments are where your faith really comes into play in feeling confident about your beliefs. There were never any moments like in the movies where I had to argue with professors or stage protests. As long as you know yourself, you’ll be fine.
There’s always Christian groups on campus…Campus Crusade, Intervarsity…and those groups really work well in reaching out to the campus community. If you are a person of faith, your faith should stick with you no matter where you are in life. The college years are the perfect time to really get to know yourself, and what you believe, as well as be a positive influence on students who may be struggling throughout school.
Let’s remember that church is primarily for sinners, not just believers. If God didn’t want his followers to attend “secular” colleges, then his command to go forth and spread the Gospel would be an empty platitude. Kids at secular colleges need those of faith to show them a different perspective. I can’t count how many times I debated my religious beliefs with classmates at my secular colleges. At the end of the day, we are all missionaries, wherever God places us.
If our children are ultimately God’s, what does He choose? “Buy Truth and do not sell it–but wisdom, instruction, and understanding” (Proverbs 23:23). Parents are responsible for training children to go the way they *ought to go. The way they ought not go comes naturally. Apart from God’s grace, none of us would choose His view over the world’s.
God provided the Church/believers to equip, fully and to complete maturity, because there is nothing that God doesn’t inform (1 Timothy 3:16). Unbelievers cannot offer what they do not have. They can only twist what, by God’s common grace, they do. Proverbs 14:7 says, “Leave the presence of a fool, or you will not be able to discern words of knowledge.” Most parents ignore this and wonder why their kids lost the little discernment they had. Our children may still choose to go their own way even after having Biblically-minded teachers, but at least we weren’t the ones who led them there.
Proverbs 17:16 says, “What good is tuition in the hand of a fool, who has no heart for wisdom.” It takes humility to know you need wisdom. If it’s a waste of money for a fool to pay for something they don’t believe they need, how much more wasteful is it for us to pay them? We’re called to reach out to unbelievers and share the gospel, but do we love the gospel we share if we’re not applying what we know differently because of the gospel? God’s grace gives us the mind and heart of God, so that we love Him and others (both believers and the lost) the way He intended.
What about a place like St. Olaf’s? It is very strong in both math and science and has religion courses as part of its core curriculum requirements. It is (in theory) a dry campus.
Well, as the OP of this thread, we can probably close it, ha-ha. My son will be graduating from MIT this spring and his faith in Christ has grown and deepened. He’s also engaged to a wonderful, Godly young lady. They both have led small groups (bible studies) in their dorm, have been very involved in Campus Crusade for Christ, and attend an amazing church. My son has been blessed beyond measure, and I have seen how God has used him for His purposes. There have been plenty of challenges, but, by God’s grace, my son has clung to the Rock.
Congratulations to you and your son (and future daughter in law). My wife accepted Christ on a secular campus through the ministry of Crusade and obviously many ministry opportunities still abound today. My daughter is leaning strongly toward Liberty University although she would have a chance to be accepted into about any school. Christians need to seek the Lord and make the best decision for their family with His leading.
Indeed, chargerparent! My son had looked at a couple of Christian colleges, but, in fact, was advised by a math or physics professor at Grove City College to go to a secular college. Since my son had taken so many college math and physics classes in high school, there was no Christian college that had a deep enough offering for him. Baylor had graduate level math and physics classes, but it was not the right fit. I was initially sad, but I see how God worked it out, and I’m deeply grateful. Financially, it worked out exceptionally well (because of generous need-based aid and my son’s outside yearly scholarship, he will graduate debt free) and the dozens of strong Christian friendships he’s made through Cru, as well as the friendships with non-Christians, has been wonderful to behold. Yes, we are deeply grateful to the Lord.
Chargerparent --My freshman daughter is a NMF at Liberty. She is loving her time there. If your daughter has any questions about Liberty, feel free to message me!
