Integration
As a student at a secular college or university, you have a unique opportunity for growth through interactions with your professors and other students. College life also launches you into new arenas of awareness, not only in academics, but also in politics, economics, and social and environmental issues. An important part of your growth as a Christian involves the process of learning to live and think Christianly in the midst of these broadening interactions, interests, and issues.
Our college and universities pride themselves on their ability to train students to think critically. This thinking occurs, however, within the parameters of certain unstated but clearly operative assumptions. There is constant pressure in and out of the classroom to embrace pluralistic, “progressive,” “enlightened,” and “scientific” notions of God, the world, human beings, and the process of acquiring knowledge. To find and expose these basic assumptions of your professors and classmates, you must dig to the root of their belief systems.
In many ways, the Christian faith that you embrace is in conflict with these belief systems. As a result, you will constantly be challenged to re-examine and reformulate your beliefs. This re-examination can play an important part in your growth as a Christian.
Asking whether the institution’s, professors’, and your classmates’ assumptions are more reliable or make more sense than an alternative set will not be easy — it will be much more difficult and unpopular than merely accepting them. Yet, you must examine the beliefs of those around you and the beliefs that undergird the university as a whole, as well as your own faith. You will face a lot of work if you do not accept the mainstream assumptions, but you will have the opportunity to receive twice the education!
Your faith must be integrated with all aspects and experiences of your life. Pursuit of truth, ready obedience, and a settled refusal to allow any part of our lives to be off-limits to God are important prerequisites to spiritual growth.