On Going to a Christian College

I was reading an article today in USA Today that got me thinking about a conversation I had with a dad the other day that attends our church. The article was about how Christian Colleges are rebounding with increased attendance, "Christian Colleges Rebound" and how many Christian teenagers are choosing a faith-based college to earn their degree from. I went to Colorado Christian University.

Anyway, this dad was saying that he and his wife decided that their kids were going to be in public schools K-12th grades and then if they wanted to go to a Christian University they would foot the bill. It was an interesting philosophy that I had never heard articulated. He said that he and his wife desired their kids to be in a Christian environment because in college many huge life decisions happen, career choice, spouse (potentially), friends for a lifetime, etc... And they would pay the whole enchilada if they chose a Christian University.

Those all seems like good reasons. BTW, their kids are going to Christian Universities and they are holding true to their word and footing the bill.

In the article I was reading today I found a not-so-good reason to choose a Christian University. Here is a grandfather's response as to why he wouldn't send his grand-daughter to a NON-Christian school,

"The worst form of destruction for a younger person's worldview is to take it into an environment where it is laughed at and ridiculed," says Chewning, a retired Baylor University ethicist. An 18-year-old, he says, is "like a hot-house tomato. If you stick them in a humanistically oriented university ... they're going to get scorched rather than watered."

You've got to be kidding me...laughed at...ridiculed...scorched! Are those really reasons to not send a student to a secular University?

If anything, they sounds like a biblical reasons to attend a Hot-House Tomato University...

"10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 13"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." - Matthew 5:10-16

Christian University or Hot-House Tomato University...we are all called to suffer. I am grateful that God has called students from our church to attend both kinds of schools and model for their peers authentic Christ-like living!

This challenges me to consider what am I doing in my teaching that calls our students to suffer for Him so that they might share in His glory!