Please Read This Before Choosing A College

Choosing the right college isn't easy.  Things like the size of the school, academic reputation, majors offered, and available housing are all considerations.  The odds are good that before choosing a college, you've made at least one visit to get a feel for the campus and investigate things.

But there's one aspect of choosing a college that is far too often overlooked by parents and students and that is the spiritual life of the student.

Ah, but you think, "I'm sending my child to a Christian college, so they'll be good to go!"  As much as I wish that this were true, it simply isn't.  Many colleges that have a Christians heritage are now Christian in name only or far worse, they retain some of the outward appearances of being Christian while actively teaching things that undermine the Christian faith and can be detrimental to the spiritual life of students. 

So before you choose a college, please consider the following.

1. Does the college claim to be a Christian college?

Parents might think that if the college is a "Christian" college, that their child will be in good shape and well cared for spiritually.  Students might figure that since they're at a "Christian" college, that what the school will teach and the values held by the school will be very similar to what they've grown up with in their home congregation. 

However this is often very far from true.

If the college claims to be "Christian," you need to consider what they mean by Christian. 

Do they come from a particular religious tradition (Baptist, Roman Catholic, Reformed, etc.)? 

If so, is that religious tradition still an active part of the life on campus?

Do they believe that Scripture is the divinely inspired and inherent Word of God? 

Do they hold to Trinitarian theology?

What do they teach concerning human sexuality?

Are students required to attend chapel? (It's not necessarily a good thing if they are)

These are but a few of the questions that need to be asked.

2. Does the college claim to be a secular college?

It's not necessarily a bad thing if that's the case, since there won't be a mingling of false "Christian" ideas and practices with true Christianity.  But if the institution is secular, are there religions groups that meed on campus or near campus?

For instance, I would want to see if there is an LCMS U chapter in the area because that would allow me to be much more confident that my student would be receiving solid biblical teaching, rather than them having to sift through some good teaching and some not so good (or even heretical) teachings. 

3. Where will the student attend church?

Yes, I'm well aware that most college students don't actually get up and go to church on Sunday mornings. This was even the case when I attended Concordia. But just because it's not the norm doesn't mean that we should excuse it.  Frankly, I expect the college students from my church to get up and go to church on Sunday morning, even if they're away from home and have to attend another congregation.  And when my children attend college, they'll be expected to attend too.

So, when you start checking out colleges, investigate the church options in the area too.  Go to LCMS.org and see if there are any congregations in the area.  If there aren't any, that might not be the best option for college, since college years are very vulnerable years spiritually. 

If it's possible, when you go to visit the college, make it a point to attend worship at the church(es) you pre-identified and see if it seems like it would be a good place for the student to attend.  

4. Is this college likely a place where the student can find a godly spouse?

No, attending college isn't just about trying to find a husband or wife, but it does present the most likely time and place for a student to meet his or her future spouse.  A godly spouse is a treasure well beyond anything that will be learned academically at college.  This should absolutely be something to consider when looking at school options.

5. What are some good options?

The Concordia University System is a group of Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod colleges.  The greatest blessing here is knowing what to expect as far a religious teaching and practice.  

Check out LCMS U and see if there is a campus ministry at a school you're considering. 

Use the find a church locator. 

Above all, parents, make sure that this is taken into consideration and impress on your child the importance of this aspect of their college experience.  The college years don't need to be a time of drifting, but can be a time of spiritual growth and flourishing!