The College Christian

College can be a wonderful time in a young persons life, despite the pressures of academic achievement. College is not free; therefore the pressure to do well can be quite overwhelming. College can be time of apprehension about ones future and life goals. For most college students, college is the first time they have ever been away from home. There are no parents to tell them what to do on a daily basis. Many college students face tremendous pressure to do things they have never done before and to be with types of people they’re not accustomed. Many students do things they will regret the rest of their lives or things that will affect them just as long. Innocence becomes a former memory for most college students. Many face these challenges as well as many that have not even been mentioned. But what has been quite revealing to me is the number of college Christians that do not overcome these challenges. I have wondered if college is the period that young Christians are able to store away their Christianity for four years on the guarantee that God will give them this time to do whatever their heart desires.

I. College Christians Have Christian’s Responsibility.
    A. All Christians have a responsibility (Matthew 5:16 Cf 2 Timothy 2:15).
    B. To others (1 Tim. 2:1-15).
II. College Christians Have Accountability.
  A. I believe many college students don’t believe they have Biblical accountability while in college.
    B. They are accountable to the Lord.
       1. No matter where they are every Christian is accountable to the Lord and must give account to Him (Roman 14:12 [account {logos} [every word, thought, and deed] Cf Ecclesiastes 11:13-14 Cf 11:9-10).
       2. Note Daniel (Dan. 1:8; 3:12-18).
    C. They are accountable to others.
       1. College Christians are accountable to their brethren at home as well as at their immediate locality (Acts 11:24-26; 20:5-7 Cf Hebrews 10:19-25).
     2. Why don’t college students commit themselves to the local church at their locality? No desire for accountability.
       3. What about their kinship to their brethren (Romans 12:9-16).
           • Wherever we are we have responsibility to one another.
      4. I believe many college Christians don’t believe that the Lord will come back while they are in college.
       5. Most believe they are accountable to everything and everyone except brethren!
III. College Christians Have Tremendous Time For Opportunity.
    A. To develop their faith.
       1. Through adversity and challenges. It’s a good time to learn restraint and resistance. College presents many temptations (James 1:2-3 Cf 1 Peter 4:12-14).
       2. Through defending the faith (Acts 17:16-21).
       3. We have a responsibility to do so (1 Pet. 3:15).
    B. To develop faithfulness.
       1. The college Christian has a wonderful opportunity to develop their commitment to Christ.
       2. To develop a willful faith. To put into practice what they have learned previously (2 Timothy 1:5; 3:14-15).
       3. To unlearn some bad practices as well (
    C. To influence & encourage others (1 Tim. 4:12 Cf 2 Tim. 2:22).

​Conclusion: The requirements for college Christian are no different than the requirements for any other Christian! Are You A “College Christian” or A “Christian” in College?

​~Harold Carswell