A guy from Bob Jones called yesterday afternoon to answer any questions I may have and see where I'm at regarding making decisions for college. He was really nice and definitely didn't pressure me to make my decisions rashly. I love that about the people at Bob Jones. The staff takes pay cuts so that more people can afford to go there! It's just really obvious that the staff really cares about the young people and not just about the pay check they get when you attend college there. Anyway, when I told him that I wouldn't even consider college unless I pursed medicine he was rather shocked and asked me to explain why. I told him that, based on Titus chapter two, when I get married I will not be working and therefore a degree will not benefit me enough to spend $60,000 and four years of my life. He said that he didn't think enough people had that kind of a mindset. He seemed to agree with my basic belief about home education and women not being in the work force. Yet he argued that even though the degree itself would not be used extensively, the knowledge that I would receive and the ways that I would grow spiritually at Bob Jones would be useful to me even as a wife and mother. He said, "If nothing else, you'll be able to better educate your children." Well, this phone call made me think, even more seriously, about the whole question of college.
I tossed and turned all night. It seemed that I was either thinking, praying or dreaming about it. So while I was just laying there praying the question struck me, "Why do you want to go to Bob Jones?" I came up with some good reasons. One, I want to grow spiritually. Two, I want to be as equipped as I possibly can be to serve the Lord and one day, my husband. Three, a degree may be useful to me some day. I hate to admit this last reason because I fear that it isn't a pure or correct motive, but I also want to be with my brother. So I finally have a plan of action! When I visit the campus in October I will be looking for some things and my expectations are going to be mighty high.
Until October, I'm going to work hard on my studies and try to find a job. Finding a job will be the hard part. Maybe I can call some people and get more than two music lessons going. Plus, I have that job possibility in January. I guess if the Lord wants me at Bob Jones, he'll provide the work so that I can make the money.
If you made it this far, you're truly amazing . . .
19 comments:
I'm very impressed with your standords and I know you will stick to them! And you have encouraged me by writing them down, and also givin' me ideas and thoughts of why I may or may not want to go to college. Thanks, Al!
Also if you don't mind me asking, why did you delete all the comments??
Yeah, it was long :)
Wanting to go to Bob Jones to see your brother isn't selfish.
If you are just looking to learn for teaching your children I believe you can get the same education at home as you would get at college. If you have questions about an issue just send a few emails to instructors from different colleges. I've done this in the past when my teacher couldn't answer a question for me. Any instructor that is an expert in that field of study loves telling other about it so it's easy to get your answer.
It is Biblical to seek knowledge, and if the Lord leads you to use a systematic program such as a particular college to pursue that, you should do so knowing that you are honoring Him, regardless of how it may affect your career.
Proverbs has a lot to say on that, including "Buy wisdom, and sell it not."
Ditto on what eaglet said.
You're going the right direction, just keep going straight!
-Chris
Kelci - Thanks! Those comments that I deleted were all spam.
Eric - I agree that I could effectively learn to teach my children without going to college. Yet, going to BJU could benefit me more. There are just so many angles to consider. I don't even know what to think anymore. Good idea about talking to different college professors. I get the impression that you don’t think I should be going to college. Does that have anything to do with the fact that you’re a student…?
Adam - You brought up an interesting point. You're right, if the Lord is leading me to go to college it doesn't matter how it will affect my career or anything else. I’ve been reading Proverbs since I saw your comment and God does speak of knowledge, understanding and wisdom more than I realized. Anyhow, thanks for commenting.
Chris – Thanks! Keep me on track, k?
Lara - Yeah, it would be great if Chris and I could hold each other accountable and all. Too bad that Masters doesn't have something for you! :-/
Most of the time, I can see a difference in people who have degrees and those who do not as well. Now, sometimes that's a positive difference and sometimes it's a negative difference. ;)
It was a blessing to see ya'll get baptized. I must admit that the water looked nice and cool! :)
thanks for the tip number and for letting me know about the info on the wilton site! I thought that I had my design finalized and now I'm thinking other wise. We'll see what happens.
I'm starting some classes next week and hopefully teaching a couple music lessons...other than that I'm free. Let me know what your schedule looks like!
I'm sure BJU is much different but after being in college I know the pressures. Like in the BG seminar he spoke about Christians going to college and coming out without their faith anymore. It's not the curriculum it's the people around you. The less time you spend with the world the less tainted you are. I don't think you will have any problems I just have protective tendencies. Chris needs to go for his career but if you don't need to go I would say don't.
To illustrate let me give you an example from my own life.
Before college I was very careful with my words and made sure that no cuss words came from my mouth, not even the little ones. After going to college for about a year I finally started saying small cuss words that no one even really considers cussing. Well I didn't immediately reclaim that lost ground and with no one holding me accountable and continuing to be among the world I just slowly started proceeding to more cussing and adopted some medium strength language. Shortly after this I stopped it and now I'm back to the low scale trying to break myself of saying words that hardly register on the cuss scale.
To sum it up, I've struggled with being continually around the world and did pick up a new sin. I just don't want to see anyone else fall when they could avoid it all together. If you feel led by God to pursue a health career, I say go for it. But if that prompting doesn't come I say learn at home until it does.
Ok, I know I've just finished writing a book and I could have made it much shorter but now you know my reasoning behind what I'm saying.
Eric - I understand where you are coming from a little better now. I don't completely agree with you though. (Or we may possibly agree and we're just using different terms). I don't believe that someone who is born again can go to college and "lose their faith." If they "lost" it, then they never had it to begin with. Jesus says that whosoever puts his hand to the plow and even looks back, is not fit for the kingdom.
On the flip side of that coin, I do believe that a Christian's conscience can be seared. Basically, when any person is saturated in a sinful cultural of people, they will lose their sensitivity to sin and will be more likely to accept it rather than reject and hate it. That's a serious problem when we consider the fact that we are Biblically commanded to hate evil. Your example of how the swearing has affected you is an excellent example of that. I even saw that happen in my own life when I was taking driver's Ed. The teacher used slang curse words. The first day that I was in class it made me cringe and I hated it. By the last class I didn't even flinch. I was used to it. It was normal, whereas before it was alarming, unusual and completely unacceptable. This is one of the two reasons that I'm not attending Clark this fall.
I'll definably know more once I visit the BJU campus. I don't foresee that I would have this problem there, but it's possible. I guess that's why it's so important to me that they have higher standards than I currently have. I want the atmosphere to stretch me, not tear me down. Considering that BJU requires you to be a born again Christian to go to school there, I wouldn't exactly classify the student body as "the world." Yet sometimes those who profess to be Christians and yet quench the Holy Spirit by compromise are much more destructive people to be around because you tend to let your guard down.
I do appreciate and respect your view. Being a college student, you’re definitely speaking from experience. I'll stop rambling now. It's late and I’m so tired that I’m not even sure that I’m making any sense….
I too believe that a true Christian can loose their salvation. The effects of college can be the vector for putting a block between Christ and them.
That can should be can't
Eric - I think you misunderstood me. I very strongly believe that a Christian CANNOT lose their salvation. I believe that a normative view of the Bible shows that if someone "falls away" he was never truly born again to start with.
However, like with your example of swearing, I do believe that a Christian's conscience can be seared and that their love for Christ can grow cold. Yet even with that, I don't believe a true Christian could watch that happen to themselves and not be crying out to God and trying to change.
I agree, like I said change the can to can't.
Here it is all put back together:
I too believe that a true Christian can't loose their salvation. The effects of college can be the vector for putting a block between Christ and them, but it never takes the gift given to them away..
haha. Sorry Eric, my bad. I didn't see that edit :)
yeah, i'm hoping that's the case
Post a Comment