Can You Keep Your Faith In College

  • Abbie Smith
  • Feb 12, 2007
  • Series: Books
    Can You Keep Your Faith In College

    My church recently planted a new church next to the campus of San Diego State University where I lead worship every Sunday. It has been a few years since I graduated from college, but I can still recall the difficulties of that major life transition. As I’ve met and ministered to these young men and women on campus this past semester, I have been reminded of these challenges: moving away from the security of home and family, meeting new people, finding a new church, being challenged on what you believe by faculty and peers, the pressures of fitting in, parties, sex, academics, and of course…dorm life.

    I recently came across a great book by Abbie Smith called Can You Keep Your Faith in College?, Abbie gathers together 50 college students to write essays on college life as a Christian. They openly discuss the ups and downs, pressures, perceptions, and challenges that a Christian college student faces on campus. The fact that this subject is written by actual college students living in the academic trenches helps to give this book credibility. I’m sure parents, pastors or professors could write a helpful book on the “dangers of college life”, but it just wouldn’t carry the weight and urgency that come from hearing from your own peers.

    I think most young men and women cannot wait to get out of the house when they graduate from high school. The idea of calling your own shots is alluring, but it also comes with an incredible amount of responsibility - and this is something that is learned by experience. I found most of the writers that shared their experiences in this book to be extremely open about their struggles and sin, and I found this refreshing and not something you read too often in Christian literature.

    In my favorite essay, Regrets and Grace, Sara T. mentions how she experimented with things she had never done before and is now living with the shame and guilt of her sin. Most of her peers told her that all religions were the same and not to worry about it, but Sara came to see the clear difference between Christianity and all other religions – and that difference is grace. She mentions that the best gift she could take away from her college experience was coming to grips with the grace she had received in Jesus. Other religions base their experience with God on a “If I do this, then you will do that,” or “If I say this, then you have to give me that” basis. But our Father in heaven’s kindness does not work like this:

    “When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of our righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy” (Titus 3:4-5).

    I am going to use this resource in my college ministry and I would heartily recommend this book to high school or college students, parents, and churches that minister to college students. College life may challenge your faith, but it is also a great opportunity to deepen your faith as you come into your own as an adult.

    0 Comments | Login to Post Comments