Christianity and Higher Education
Only one percent of the entire world's population has graduated with a college degree. Twenty-nine percent in the United States make up college graduates with various degrees. Most of the modern world has the Church to thank for the establishment of institutions of higher learning. Prior to becoming secularized, many of the world's top colleges and universities were founded by Christian movements for the sole purpose of advancing the gospel. Unfortunately, due to the growing need of financing these former Christian institutions of higher education sold their birth right and became secular hives of all sorts of knowledge, beliefs, philosophies, sciences, and ideologies. In spite of it all, though, a Christian can still acquire an amazing higher education and maintain their faith in a real God while being confronted with ideas that challenge the cardinal doctrines of the Bible.
Unfortunately, some within Christendom find colleges and universities to be a waste of time. Some Christian movements discourage their members from pursuing higher education in secular colleges. These same movements have their own Bible colleges established solely for the purpose of perpetuating their own curriculum and ideologies. There is nothing wrong with that, except for the fact that graduates of these colleges can only find employment within churches of the same movement, and rarely outside in the secular world. They create a niche market for employment that only a few of the larger mega-style churches and afford to employ – which do not afford enough employee positions to fill the need of career-ministry demands.
I've heard silly quotes from detractors of secular education say that public universities and colleges are nothing more than breeding ground for the devil to seduce young minds away from God. I contend that young people who are strong in their faith will not fall away to the wiles of the devil. That is not to say that weak ones won't, but what if they don't? What if being confronted by anti-Christian ideas provokes a weaker believer to dig further in to their faith? Do we fail to have faith in the Holy Spirit if we say that weak ones will fall away? Even if someone is weak in the faith, are they not yet filled with the Holy Spirit? Isn't the Holy Spirit the same Spirit of Truth who leads and guides all in to truth? Is the Spirit of Truth less powerful than the father of lies? I dare say that even a weak Christian who is filled with the Holy Spirit is still strong enough to contend against the wiles of the father of lies, and will not be swayed easily in secular colleges and universities. Quite the contrary. If anything, those who stay firm to their faith even when confronted with lies and accusations will stand strong in the blood of Jesus and shine like a beacon in a dark world. Contine next Page....................................
Christianity and Higher Education.
By Elder J.T Wheeler. Director of Vocations.