Academics UG 002: A Baggage Checkpoint

A BAGGAGE CHECKPOINT: WHY COLLEGE?

Some Christians think that secular colleges and universities are toxic environments for the faithful and only worldly Christians assume such risks just to attend college. “We need to devote ourselves to serving the Lord and not get caught-up with the world,” urged one charged and disenchanted pastor. “The Lord will teach us what we need to get to heaven not the godless.”

Now, let us check out this baggage biblically.

Based on the little we know, let us compare two Apostles, Peter and Paul. Not considering their respective gifts and calling, their ministry output and effectiveness suggest that education (formal and informal) might have played a role. Outside observers of both men, characterized Peter (Acts 4:13) as “unschooled” and Paul (Act 26:24) as having “great learning.” Peter reportedly contributed two letters to the New Testament while Paul contributed 13 letters. Peter proclaimed the Christian message before the Judaic ruling council (Sanhedrin) (Acts 4:5-13; 5:27) as Paul (Acts 22:30), but Paul also went before Roman magistrates (Acts 16:18-22; Acts 18:12), philosophers and other learned assemblies (Acts 17:16-21; Acts 19:10), governors (Act 24:1; Acts 25:1-9), a king (Acts 26:1-3), and an emperor. Both men spoke Aramaic but Paul also spoke and wrote Greek. Although God’s evaluation of both men might be different than we could imagine or speculate, it appears that education and exposure does make a difference, with the right vessel.

Another argument is, let us assume that someone can learn everything at home by reading on his own and without enrolling at any university. How many of us have the discipline and time to acquire on our own the knowledge that experts dispense at colleges and universities? Moreover, such undertaking will take a lifetime. It is true that many other factors (like maturity, aptitude, resources and circumstances) are important in the decision to attend college. However, if those concerns are not considerations or resolved, the real question is, will the Christian with college education be better equipped for God’s service or not? If the answer is “yes,” then the real decision is not whether or not to go to college, but “Lord, how and which one, Christian or secular?”

A Christian college or university can as much of a “cemetary” to one’s faith as a secular one. Lucifer failed in heaven and Joseph succeeded in Egypt. The persons, not the locations, determined their spiritual successes.

Including secular universities in the choice is important because not many Christian colleges have top quality programs in the various fields students aspire to. Today, the lack of marketable skills and low educational attainment are as crippling to one’s quality of life as debilitating health issues. The material and personal challenges those who fail in the job market suffer can become sources of great temptations. In the future, higher educational attainment would be indispensable to socioeconomic mobility and empowerment.

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