Christian University vs. Non-Christian University

barefooter · 04-26-2003, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by OliveShoot90
Go where God leads you!

end of story...

Exactly.

This is why I'm going to the school that I am-- certainly not because I want to. One thing that I've learned in the last year is that God's plan is not always what I want at that time. So we'll see how this goes....

IAmCrossEyed · 04-28-2003, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dr. Worm
I would strongly suggest a non-Christian university. I've been at both, and I found the secular university to be much better.

May I ask why?

onlyHis4ever · 05-06-2003, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by followerofJESUS
I think that is pretty much only true of non-evangelistic Christian colleges. Those that involve their students heavily in the ministry are even better off than a witnessing Christian on a non-Christian campus.

And also, of the hundreds of people I've talked to and heard speak about this subject, most agree with your point about non-ministering colleges, but they all say that secular colleges MOST OFTEN lead Christian students away from the Lord.

Personally, I believe that the best thing you can do is take one year of Bible college before going into whatever else you want to do with your life. As long as it's a good college which is involved inthe ministry, it will help you grow.

I go to an evangelical Christian college and our campus is dead. I live on a hall with 29 other girls.
Know how many of them go to church on Sunday? 4.
Know how many I've heard cuss, smoke, drink and other things against our school's policy? 8.
Know how many of them go to a small group Bible study? 8. Know how many of them have told me they're not Christians at all? 2.
Know how many of them have told me I am "high and mighty" because I don't curse or drink? 6. That shouldn't happen in an evangelical Christian college, should it? Yet it does...
I expected spiritual life here to be great because that's what I saw in the brochures. It's a lie. While I would recommend a Christian college or university to anyone who plans on going into a ministry field, I do think that some Christians would do better to stick with secular schools because they need someone there to shine the light of Jesus. As for me, I will be leaving this school for either a year of missions or a college that is on fire for God.
My college is full of ministry opportunities, but when we all go out for non-ministry purposes I don't recall anyone being a witness to waitresses or clerks at stores or people who accidentally knock into us. Most of my Christian friends who go to secular colleges and universities find much more challenging in their walk with Christ because they are always out of their comfort zone.
It's also not true that as long as it's a college that's in ministry you will grow. It is just not true. If you PM me I can give you more examples.

Rob · 05-21-2003, 08:44 AM

I say visit a college before you decide to invest 1-4 years of your life there. If you visit a secular college, try to get a feel for the ministry opportunities there. If the college has an active christian community and you would be able to stay in contact with other believers and continue to grow, then it would prolly be a good college for you. If it's a college where there's a good chance you'll end up isolated from other christians, then I wouldn't recommend going there. Same thing with a christian college, try to get a feel for the what the other christians there are doing. I visited Baptist Bible College in Springfield, MO a few months ago and it was awesome. Most of the people there actually had a desire to save the lost and walk closer to God. Yeah there were a few people there like my Pastors daughter (I don't know how strong of language is permitted on this site, but just think of a female with no morals and you'd have her), but they were few and far between.

nestamanchris · 05-24-2003, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RobbyRobbyRue
I say visit a college before you decide to invest 1-4 years of your life there. If you visit a secular college, try to get a feel for the ministry opportunities there. If the college has an active christian community and you would be able to stay in contact with other believers and continue to grow, then it would prolly be a good college for you.

I couldn't have put it much better myself. When you visit any campus make sure one of the questions you have in your head is, "will my faith grow or stagnate if I'm here for four years?" It's a complicated thing to really know before actually attending, but then again it's the same for any other question about college you may have.

UltimaX4 · 07-04-2003, 01:39 PM

I don't think it really has much to do with wheather it's a christian college or not. Every place has its fair of issued. I'd like to think that secular colleges are not as sturday as a christian university/college. But it's really based on where your faith stands, and how well you maintain your relationship with christ. On one hand you can be a great witness to students on a secular campus, and I'm sure there must be quite a few chrisitians on campus, and an Intervarsity Chrisitian Fellowship readily available. Although I haven't witnessed this first-hand, I'm sure that christian campuses has it own fair share of problems and issues. But as far as education goes, I would have to lean toward a place that knows it's topics best; and I would have to say that a chrisitian college/bible school would be the best place to learn about theology, and worship, etc. But I don't rule out secular campuses that do offer education in bible studies. I guess it just depends on what you experience, and how it affects you.

-Leon

Yojimbo · 07-04-2003, 06:28 PM

While I think that it is nearly impossible to not stumble a little at a secular college...it's also a lot harder to not be complacent...you are continually reminded every day what makes you different than the world...and that's something that may not be as readily clear if you are surrounded in a Christian-friendly environment. But if you feel the need to insulate yourself, most secular colleges have great fellowship groups. So you get the best of both worlds.

onlyHis4ever · 07-05-2003, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ¿Goodness

While I think that it is nearly impossible to not stumble a little at a secular college...it's also a lot harder to not be complacent...you are continually reminded every day what makes you different than the world...and that's something that may not be as readily clear if you are surrounded in a Christian-friendly environment. But if you feel the need to insulate yourself, most secular colleges have great fellowship groups. So you get the best of both worlds.

Complacency is a choice... It can happen anywhere, anytime when you choose to put something above, before, or equal to God. In the "Christian-friendly" environment (the Christian college I went to) I found a lot of people to be hostile towards my commitment to Christ. I often chose complacency rather than taking a stand.

We NEED to be reminded of what makes us different from the world!!! The knowledge of the difference between Christians and the world should drive our passion to see souls come to Christ. I think that is often lost in a Christian community because there isn't much to challenge you. Or maybe it's just me...

Yojimbo · 07-05-2003, 09:37 AM

Reading over my post, I used too many negatives. What I meant was that in a secular college, it was harder to be complacent--IF you are still a faithful Christian. Of course, it is very easy to be complacent when you fall away.

onlyHis4ever · 07-07-2003, 10:22 AM

Very true...