Tony Campolo - The Survival Guide for Christians on Campus. How to Be Students and Disciples at the Same Time

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Increase faith in the hearts of growing Christians

Inspire holiness in the lives of believers

Instill hope in the hearts of struggling people everywhere

Because Hes coming again!

The Survival Guide for Christians on Campus 2002 by Tony Campolo and William Willimon

All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America

Published by Howard Publishing Co., Inc. 3117 North 7th Street, West Monroe, Louisiana 71291-2227
www.SimonandSchuster.com

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Edited by Philis Boultinghouse

Interior design by John Luke

No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations within critical articles and reviews.

ISBN: 1-58229-236-1
eISBN: 978-1-451-60495-5

The Scripture quotations not otherwise marked are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright, 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Other Scriptures are quoted from the Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV), copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society, used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House; The Living Bible (TLB), copyright 1971, used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189.

to David Black,
a university president
with a vision for students

Will wants to thank Ms. Jackie Andrews for her accurate and tireless typing.

Tony wants to thank Valerie Hoffmann, who faithfully did his typing; Peggy Campolo, his wife, who did an excellent job of proof reading; and Philis Boultinghouse, for her fantastic editing.

I used to be a dedicated Christian, said the man looking intently at my teeth. Then, like a lot of people, I went to college. I took a couple of religion courses that did more to destroy my religion than to teach me anything about it. Those professors asked some tough questions about the Bible and made me see that its mostly just a bunch of myths and ancient fables. That was the beginning of the end of my faith.

I couldnt say anything to counter his comments with all those dental tools stuck in my mouth. But what I would have said to that dentist if I could have, I now say to you: College can be a place where you grownot only intellectually, but also spiritually. The Christian faith is not threatened by tough questions, and you dont have to endure a lobotomy to be a believer. Some of the greatest minds that the human race has producedPaul, Augustine, Blaise Paschal, Soren Kierkegaard, Dorothy Sayers, Flannery OConnor, to mention only a fewput tough questions to Jesus and came away more firm in their faith, not less, and more convinced than ever that the narrow way of Christian discipleship was the only way for them to go.

A recent conversation with a college student exemplifies the struggle to maintain faith on a university campus.

So you are in a campus Bible study? Will asked.

Yep, the student answered. I love my Bible study group. We meet every Wednesday in the basement of the dorm.

You were big into Bible study in high school?

No. I grew up Episcopalian. I dont think we do that sort of stuff.

Well, Will continued, I find it interesting that, though you have not been in a Bible study group before, you come here to college and get into Bible study. Why is that?

He looked at Will as if he were dumb, then said, Dr. Willimon, have you ever tried to be a sophomore and a Christian at the same time? Its not easy.

We expect that many of you know exactly what this sophomore is talking about. Here you are in college for the time of your life, some of the most important years you will ever have, among the worlds privileged few who are able to go into higher education. What a great place to be.

And yet, youre also a Christian. The modern college or university campus can be a challenging place for a Christian. Perhaps this is your first time away from home. That means you must learn to get along with roommates, do laundry, spend weekends away from your family. Or perhaps you are one of the growing number of commuter students, having to balance the commute to class, a demanding work schedule, and tight finances. With so much to do, theres not much time left for religious things. Then on the weekends, you have to contend with the sometimes intimidating social scene and the challenges and pressures of dating, drinking, or worse. And then theres churchwhich has an odd habit of usually meeting at eleven oclock on a Sunday morninga very inconvenient time of the week for most college students!

Intellectually, your life is now in the fast lane. You are growing every day, in class and outside of class. You are reading books they never told you about in high school. Your mind is expanding. Almost every day some new insight or idea assaults your consciousness. Will the Christian faith you brought to college be able to hold up under the scrutiny of all you are learning?

The way we see it, God has called you, at this stage in your life, to the ministry of study. Just as God called Moses to lead the Hebrews out of slavery and Paul to preach the gospel to Gentiles, so God has called you to study, grow, and witness on a college campus. Some Christians have as their primary vocation service to others in need. Others serve Christ by witnessing for Him where they work on the assembly line or in the office. Your ministry is as a student on a modern campus. That probably will not be your ministry forever, but right now, the most important thing you can do for Jesus is to study, to use all the intellectual gifts God has given you, to grow in your faith, and to become more steadfast in your commitment to Christ, more disciplined in your faith, and more determined to spend your life walking Christs way rather than the worlds.

The two of us are brash enough to believe that we can help you in your Christian discipleship. We have given most of our lives to working with students in a variety of situations. Both of us are college professors. (Have you ever tried to be a professor