17 November | Youth
«See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.» Colossians 2:8, NIV
Research shows that there is a recurring tendency among young Christians to abandon their religious beliefs while attending university. The change in routine, lack of time, contact with new discussions, dis-tinct positions, and difficulty in dealing with issues about relationships, morality, and ethics are among the most cited reasons.
Some factors related to the academic environment tend to favor this trend, such as skepticism, influences of atheism, cultural relativism, etc. Most Christian university students are bombarded with questions they did not know about. Thus, going to the university destabilizes the faith of those who do not have a solid knowledge of the Bible.
Exposure to non-Christian ideologies at university has been the cause of apostasy among many young people. A biblical foundation is of the utmost importance, which is developed in the family and in the church. We cannot live alienated from the risks that exist in the world at each stage of life.
Everyone can be vaccinated by studying the Scriptures.
Although the university is a space for intellectual development, one should not absorb everything that is taught in its classrooms without a filter. The Bible warns us of the need to remain alert against “deceptive philosophies,” as they can lead us away from faith. And the risk lies not only in pure atheism, which is widespread in academic circles, but also in attempts to reconcile elements of biblical faith with materialistic and naturalistic assumptions.
The clash of faith values with non-biblical presuppositions can result in difficulty in maintaining be-lief in the existence of God. When this temptation knocks on our door, we have to turn to the Bible for answers. The reality of sin and divine greatness, in comparison with human smallness, are obstacles to understanding the complexity of God’s existence. Faith is the answer to our doubts. In the Bible, we find the right path to reconcile our doubts.
Furthermore, evidence that God exists is scattered throughout creation. With the eyes of faith, we can contemplate them and rest in the certainty that God is real and loves us, as His Word reveals to us.