The “Thinking” Student

Humanism (the doctrine emphasizing a person’s capacity for self-realization through reason) is becoming much more evident on the college campus.  The other day I was walking on campus, passing by the Secular Student Alliance (SSA) booth when their sign caught my attention:  ARE YOU READY TO GIVE UP YOUR IMAGINARY FRIEND?

I have to chuckle at the creativity of some of these students.

The SSA is a national organization, which is gaining momentum on the college campus scene.  Read this recent article from the Denver Post for more information. The students involved in the SSA are typically atheists and agnostics (humanists).  They also call themselves the “thinking” students, as they take great pride in arriving at their religious (or non-belief in God) convictions through “logic and reason.”

Boise State has a very active SSA group.  I’ve been attending their (Friday Night) meetings frequently this semester.  It’s been fun.  Yes, I said fun.  Most of these students are interested in debating, and putting effort into developing their life-philosophy.  I admire that.  How many Christians never take the time to really research their faith, swallowing what they have been spoon-fed all their lives?

Just this past week I attended the SSA meeting…they were showing the documentary, Jesus Camp.  Interestingly enough, that evening the room was divided 50-50 between Christians and non-believers.  The mix made for a lively discussion afterwards.

My biggest concern, walking away from the evening, had nothing to do with the atheists/agnostics in the room, but with the “Christian” who was so confused in his faith that I actually had to voice my disagreement with nearly everything he had said that evening.  Very disconcerting.

The best part of the evening?  Well, that actually came a few days later when one of the students that attends my weekly Bible study told me that he had had a conversation with one of the non-believers from the SSA meeting.  This SSA student told my Christian student that she was so pleased with the way I responded kindly, and graciously, to the non-believers in the room.  She had loved the conversation that took place that evening.  The only thing she didn’t appreciate about the evening was the “Christian” who didn’t really know what he was talking about.

Can we, my fellow Christians, please do us all a favor?  Let’s do at least half the research on our beliefs as the atheist or agnostic is doing on our beliefs.  I truly hope that this current generation of Christians on campus will be known as “thinkers.”  And as we live life among the non-believer, let’s engage them in loving dialogue.  It is not our job to “debate” the non-believer into the kingdom.  It is our privilege to simply love them, speak truth, and live out the gospel before them.  Allow God to do the work of persuasion.