There is a worldview war going on in our culture. Society is pursuing our children with ideas that are counter to God’s Word. Nowhere is that truer than at secular universities. At a secular university, there are faculty members who don’t believe in the Bible, a biblical worldview, or creation, and they will seek to make sure that your son or daughter doesn’t believe in the Bible, a biblical worldview, or creation either. Maybe even worse, some so-called “Christian” colleges have a weak faith and do not follow the teachings of Scripture.
So, how can you prepare your son or daughter to thrive in college? How can you make sure they don’t walk away from their faith during those critical four years? In a video titled “Don’t Let College Undermine Your Student’s Faith,” Dr. Thomas White, President of Cedarville University, offers five ways parents can prepare their child for college.
#1 Study God’s Word Daily
Dr. White often challenges the students at Cedarville University with “No Bible, No breakfast.” What does he mean by that? He wants students to be in God’s Word daily. The time of the day may not be the most important thing but making the Bible a priority is.
Joshua 1:8-9, says, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, do not be dismayed. For the Lord, your God is with you wherever you go.”
God’s Word should be the foundation for everything we do. It grounds us. It teaches us all He wants us to know to live a life that honors Him. It prepares us for whatever we may face throughout the day.
Encourage your student to make God’s Word a priority, every single day.
#2 Follow a Biblical Worldview
Evolution is taught in most secular universities and, unfortunately, even some Christian universities don’t believe in a historic Adam and Eve or a literal six-day Creation. If you can rule out the Creator, who then do you have to give an account to? Who is the judge? I’m no longer a steward if there’s no Creator. If I’m an accident that just happened, I can do anything I want. So, a secular humanistic worldview wants to do away with the Creator. And that’s just the beginning. The world wants us to accept other unbiblical worldviews. These all claim to be truth and fight against a biblical worldview. There is one truth, and it is found in God’s Word. John 14:6 says, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Make sure your student finds the truth about the world and their identity in the Bible.
#3 Find Christian Community
It’s been said that if you identify your five closest friends, that’s who you’ll end up being like. Proverbs 13:20 says, “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” Our friends influence us for good or for bad. Finding the right friends in college is important, but it’s also
critical that your student starts building a strong Christian community now. Encourage them to find friends who share the same belief system and who will spur them toward godly behavior. These are friends they’ll keep for life.
Encourage your student to build a strong Christian community.
#4 Choose an Authentic Christian College
Where your student goes to college matters. Will the school build upon or undermine what you’ve taught in your home? Proverbs 23:23 says, “Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.” Find a school that will encourage your student to seek godly wisdom. So, how do you determine a genuine, authentic Christian school from one that is Christian in name only? Here are some questions to ask:
1. Do they believe in the inerrancy, authority, and sufficiency of Scripture?
2. What do they teach about creation? Do they believe in a historic Adam and Eve?
3. Does their faculty affirm the doctrinal statement yearly? Do they even know what it says?
4. Do they have an intentional discipleship program?
5. Do they have a Bible minor built into every academic program?
6. Do they require daily chapel?
Authentic Christian schools do exist, but you must be intentional about finding them.
#5 Pray for Your Child
Pray for your son or daughter that the Holy Spirit will draw them, convict them, grow them, develop in them a passion for the Word and for the Lord. God has no grandchildren – their faith must be their own. God is faithful, and you can trust Him. He loves your child even more than you do, and He has great plans for your son or daughter.
As you pray, ask God to lead your family to the right college, one that will encourage your child’s faith and not undermine it. Watch “Don’t Let College Undermine Your Student’s Faith” for more insights from Dr. White.
