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Maximizing Your
Christianity At College
By
Sharenda Barlar
October 28, 1999
“Ye are the
salt of the earth; but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be
salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be
trodden under foot of men.”
Matthew 5:13
I have tried to let this scripture guide me during my seemingly unending college
education. However, it always amazes me how many Apostolics spend so much of
their college experience as a wallflower. Although
now accepted as an alternative to Bible School, many of us take this opportunity
that God gives us to do absolutely nothing for His kingdom. How many times have I heard Apostolics bemoan the fact that
they have to listen to liberal professors, go to secular schools, and that it is
a difficult experience for them because they face so much opposition?
When I hear this, I feel that these people are missing out on so much.
When else can you come into contact with so many unique people and
contrasting opinions?
Jesus did not intend for us to get an education, yet avoid an opportunity
to witness. I would like to set
forth several challenges for my collegiate peers.
Who said that Apostolics cannot be popular and still hold to their
beliefs? Many feel that in order to
remain strong spiritually, you have to avoid all contact with those that
you’re uncomfortable around or with whom you disagree.
This is in direct opposition with the plan of God.
Now I’m not saying that you have to party with people to be accepted.
However, it doesn’t hurt to smile and show yourself friendly once in a
while.
I was privileged to attend Union
University, a Christian liberal arts school.
I lived in the dorm and had Christian roommates, but temptation still
lurked. Let’s face it, we have
temptation within our own church youth! It
would be such a shame to spend four of your most wonderful years shut inside
your own little world. If you are
unsatisfied in your college, the power to change it might lie within your own
hands.
You can remain Apostolic and become active in your school in several
areas. Here are a few suggestions
to let your light shine:
■ Get to know your
professors.
When they offer office hours, go see them.
Often during an explanation for a calculus problem, you have the
opportunity to tell them something in your personal life.
■ Join a professional
club or society.
In almost every major offered, there is a professional organization that
puts students in contact with others of the same field. It’s a good idea to get involved in groups like these
because it can help you find a job in the future.
■ Join an
extracurricular club or organization.
When I was an undergraduate, I joined several organizations, such as Student
Government and the Student Activities Committee.
Since I lived in the dorm, I soon realized that I would have to take a
stand for what I believed. When I
say take a stand, by no means do I mean preach.
Preaching usually turns people off, so I found that if I didn’t want to
participate in questionable weekend diversions, I would have to involve myself
in something that would let me be a witness and at the same time, have a good
time. The Student Activities
Committee planned all of the social events at my university and I joined so that
I could suggest other entertainment, such as bowling nights and camping trips.
Most students were receptive to these new ideas and they appreciated
doing something besides just going to the movies or having another party.
■ Creative Witnessing.
Several of my student friends have gotten the Holy Ghost and are still
serving God because I used a simple tactic. I would wait for an opening in the
conversation such as, “What did you do this weekend?”
That answer always involved church, so I didn’t shy away from the
opportunity to tell my friends about the great service we had or how incredible
the choir sounded. Most of the
time, my friends were interested in hearing more about a church that was
enjoyable and many times they visited with me.
When I graduated in 1995, I left feeling that I had made a difference in
my college; but I had a greater challenge ahead.
It was easy being a witness
among other Christians, but now I am attending graduate school at Vanderbilt
University where people are not as receptive to the truth.
As a graduate student, I am representative in the Graduate Student
Council and a chairperson on the Religious Affairs committee.
Both of these outlets provide an excellent opportunity to be a witness
through my life. In my department,
other Teaching Assistants and Faculty members know that I pray and believe in
God. At first, I admit, there was
some pressure, but throughout the years, many of the other graduate students
have come to respect my beliefs. One
guy in my department mocked my beliefs because he knew that my church spoke in
tongues, something he thought extremely irrational.
Then one day, the copier wasn’t working and he was desperate to finish
copying an exam for his students. I
was standing around and he came to me, disturbed and cursing, and said in a
mocking tone, “Well Sharenda, let’s see if your God can fix this copier in
five minutes.” I smiled and told
him to give me a minute to pray. He
kind of laughed, and I went into the bathroom and prayed. I told God, “God, this might be my chance to show that You
do exist. Show Your power.
I know that this is something so small for You.
Please fix that copier in Jesus name!”
I know it sounds odd, but when I came out of the bathroom, my friend was
stuffing his copies into his backpack. He
admitted that God must have heard my prayers.
Since that time, he has come to me on numerous occasions asking for
prayer.
As a Teaching Assistant, I am
also a Master’s Teaching Fellow, which brings together a group of TAs
interested in teaching. We are a
close group and recently, we took a whitewater-rafting trip. On the way to the
river, I rode with another woman who is earning her Ph.D. in religion.
I assumed that she believed in God (wouldn’t you think a religion major
would?), so I felt like we had an instant bond.
The conversation turned towards how we chose Vanderbilt; I said that I
put out a fleece to choose the school that God wanted me to attend.
She looked puzzled. I repeated, “You know a fleece, like in the
Bible.” She still had no idea what I was talking about, so I
explained.
Her confusion taught me never to
make an assumption about someone. I
had assumed that she knew God because she was a religion major. In reality, she
didn’t know Him at all. She
proceeded to tell me that within the past year she has come to an understanding
that God exists, yet she doesn’t believe that we can have a relationship with
Him. Our conversation struck
something deep within me. She
claims to be a member, in fact, a clergyperson of a major church organization,
yet she doesn’t believe that she can talk to God and He will hear.
She knows all of the liturgy and the rhetoric of her church, she’s even
teaching others at the university about the Bible, but she doesn’t have the
revelation of Truth.
Since that meeting, I’ve been
stirred even more to let Christ’s light shine at the University.
I want others to know that I have a relationship with Him. We have a
tremendous opportunity as students to witness to a diverse group of people. We
don’t have to carry a Bible around and constantly quote scripture to be salt.
All we have to do is look like we have the joy of the Lord and be a
friend to all.
ninetyandnine.com
© Sharenda Barlar, 1999
-------
Sharenda
Holland Barlar grew up as a
Missionary’s Kid in Uruguay, South America before returning to the United
States in 1991. She earned her M.A.
in Spanish and French at Vanderbilt University and is currently finishing her
Ph.D. in Spanish. The topic of her
dissertation is "Los problemas en disparates de Baltasar del Alcazar."
(Sounds extremely interesting, no?)
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