Guest Post: Books to Help You Survive College with Your Faith Intact

August 8, 2013 By Timothy Dalrymple

I’m pleased at last to present the final installment of this series on remaining faithful in your college years, from two Christian academics and philosophers I greatly respect, Douglas Groothuis and Sarah Geis. As with all guest posters, their opinions (and book recommendations in this case) are their own, and the title is mine. I’d encourage you to leave your own book recommendations in the comments.

Faithful Christianity in College, Part 3

By Douglas Groothuis and Sarah Geis

In the first two parts of this series, we discussed twelve principles for wise Christian engagement in college. Many of these principles advised that you study and read books that will sharpen your mind and embolden your spirit. In this final installment, we have broken our recommended resources into what we hope are helpful categories. If you read on, you will find books under the headings of “The Christian Mind,” “Philosophy and Apologetics,” “Christianity and Culture,” “Biblical Studies and Theology,” “Other Religions,” and “Intelligent Design and Evolution.” As further resources, we have also recommended some excellent DVDs and websites. It is our hope that you will use this annotated bibliography to help increase your knowledge, bolster your faith, and prepare you to confidently go forth into the world proclaiming the Truth in love (Eph. 4:15).

1. The Christian Mind

Blamires, Harry. The Christian Mind. Vancouver: Regent College Publishing, 2005. This book is a modern classic.

Horner, David A. Mind Your Faith: A Student’s Guide to Living and Thinking Well. Downers Grove, IL: 2011.

Köstenberger, Andreas. Excellence: The Character of God and the Pursuit of Scholarly Virtue. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2011. Goes into clear, insightful, wise detail about how to develop into a virtuous Christian scholar.

Moreland, J.P. Love Your God With All Your Mind: The Role of Reason in the Life of the Soul. 2^nd ed. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2012. Perhaps the best book of its kind, it defends the requirement for Christians to develop their minds for the cause of Christ.

_____. Kingdom Triangle: Recover the Christian Mind, Renovate the Soul, Restore the Spirit’s Power. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2007.

Schall, James. The Life of the Mind: On the Joys and Travails of Thinking. Wilmington, DE: Intercollegiate Studies Institute, 2008.

Stott, John. Your Mind Matters. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2006. This essential short book is introductory, but rich and biblically rooted.

Williams, Clifford. The Life of the Mind: A Christian Perspective. Ada, MI: Baker Academic, 2002.

2. Philosophy and Apologetics

Apologetics Study Bible. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2007. This study Bible includes solid apologetics essays throughout and a large bibliography.

Blomberg, Craig. The Historical Reliability of the Gospels. Leicester, Eng: InterVarsity Press, 1987. A top-notch defense of the Gospels as trustworthy.

Groothuis, Douglas. Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2011. Rigorous yet highly readable, this book is essential reading for all budding and advanced Christian apologists (annotation written by Sarah).

_____. On Jesus. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2003. Considers Jesus life and teaching in philosophical terms. Argues that Jesus was a philosopher.

_____. Truth Decay: Defending Christianity Against the Challenges of Postmodernism. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2000. Critiques the claims of postmodernism in light of reason and Scripture.

Keener, Craig. Miracles: The Credibility of the New Testament Accounts (2 Vol.). Ada, MI: Baker Academic, 2011.

Kokul, Gregory. Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2009. This book is superb for developing a strategy for conversing with nonbelievers.

Moreland, J.P. Scaling the Secular City: A Defense of Christianity. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1987. Superb higher-level apologetics.

Moreland, J.P., and William Lane Craig. Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2003. An essential philosophy textbook from an evangelical perspective.

Pearcey, Nancy. Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from Its Cultural Captivity. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2005. This book is especially strong in the area of Christianity and science.

Schaeffer, Francis. The God Who is There, 30^th anniv. ed. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1998. A modern gem of cultural apologetics.

_____. True Spirituality, 30^th anniv. ed. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 2001. Essentials of the spiritual life, biblically understood.

Strobel, Lee. The Case for Christ: A Journalist’s Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1998. A solid Christian apologetics primer.

Sire, James. The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview Catalog, 5^th ed. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2009. Essential reading for all Christians in (and out of) college.

3. Christianity and Culture

Carson, D.A. Christ and Culture Revisited. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2008.

_____. The Intolerance of Tolerance. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2013. Carson takes on a much-abused and misunderstood motto of the secular world.

Groothuis, Douglas. The Soul in Cyberspace. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1997. An early attempt to interpret the meaning of the Internet and related technologies.

Guinness, Os. A Time for Truth: Living Free in a World of Lies, Hype, and Spin. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2000. An erudite but readable cry to a return to truth.

_____. God in the Dark: The Assurance of Faith Beyond a Shadow of Doubt. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1996. Doubt is something few Christians want to discuss, but Guinness wisely reasons through the issue in light of Scripture.

_____. Prophetic Untimeliness: A Challenge to the Idol of Relevance. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2005. On being a prophetic presence in culture.

Postman, Neil. Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business. New York: Penguin Books, 1986. The best critique of TV ever written, and it still applies today to technologies beyond TV such as the internet. If you want to improve the way you study and think about culture, you must read this book.

Wells, David. The Courage to be Protestant: Truth-Lovers, Marketers, and Emergents in the Postmodern World. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2008. An abridged version of an earlier trilogy, this book is a superbly written and brilliantly reasoned critique of postmodern, Western Christianity.

4. Biblical Studies and Theology

Bock, Darrell, and Daniel Wallace. Dethroning Jesus: Exposing Popular Culture’s Quest to Unseat the Biblical Christ. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2007.

Bowman, Robert, and J. Ed Komoszewski. Putting Jesus in His Place: The Case for the Deity of Christ. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel, 2007.

Carson, D.A. Exegetical Fallacies. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 1996. A modern classic about how to logically reason when reading the Bible, although the principles apply far beyond that.

Fee, Gordon, and Douglas Stuart. How to Read the Bible for All it’s Worth. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2003.

Green, Bradley, ed. Shapers of Christian Orthodoxy. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2010. A series of essays about key leaders in church history, providing a solid introduction to the history of Christian ideas.

Hendricks, Howard G. Living By the Book: The Art and Science of Reading the Bible. Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2007.

Komoszewski, J. Ed, M. James Sawyer, and Daniel B. Wallace. Reinventing Jesus. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel, 2006.

Köstenberger, Andreas, and Michael Kruger. The Heresy of Orthodoxy: How Contemporary Culture’s Fascination with Diversity Has Reshaped Our Understanding of Early Christianity. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2010. This book expertly challenges and refutes the popular theory that Christianity began with many different versions, and the most powerful version won and became “orthodoxy.”

Packer, J.I. Knowing God, 20^th anniv. ed. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 1993. A brilliant, timeless work of devotional theology. Packer discusses the nature and character of God in a convicting, astute, and biblically sound manner.

Wilkens, Michael J., and J.P. Moreland, eds. Jesus Under Fire: Modern Scholarship Reinvents the Historical Jesus. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1995.

5. Other Religions and Cults

Corduan, Winfried. Neighboring Faiths: A Christian Introduction to World Religions, 2^nd ed. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2012.

Groothuis, Douglas. Are All Religions One? Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996. Booklet. Makes the salient argument that all religions are not one.

_____. Unmasking the New Age. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1986.

Halverson, Dean, ed. Compact Guide to World Religions. Grand Rapids, MI: Bethany House Publishers, 1996.

Martin, Walter. The Kingdom of the Cults, rev. ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Bethany House Publishers, 2003.

Netland, Harold. Encountering Religious Pluralism: The Challenge to Christian Faith and Mission. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2001. In a globalized world, we are surrounded by a cacophony of competing religions and ideas. This book helps to answer the challenge of pluralism (both the sociological fact and the philosophical position).

Rhodes, Ron. The Challenge of the Cults and New Religions. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2001.

6. Intelligent Design and Evolution

Behe, Michael. Darwin’s Black Box: The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2006.

Dembski, William. The Design Revolution: Answering the Toughest Questions About Intelligent Design. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2004.

Johnson, Philip. Darwin on Trial, 20^th anniv. ed. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2010.

Meyer, Stephen. The Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence for Intelligent Design. New York: HarperOne, 2009. More advanced reading, but well worth the effort.

Strobel, Lee. The Case for a Creator: A Journalist Investigates Scientific Evidence That Points Toward God. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005. A good introduction to the subject.

Wells, Jonathan. The Icons of Evolution: Science or Myth? Why Much of What We Teach About Evolution Is Wrong. Washington, DC: Regnery, 2002.

7. Intelligent Design DVDs

Darwin’s Dilemma, DVD. Directed by Lad Allen. La Mirada, CA: Illustra Media, 2010.

Expelled, DVD. Directed by Nathan Frankowski. BC, Canada: Premise, 2008. Demonstrates that critics of Darwinism are often discriminated against.

The Case for a Creator, DVD. Directed by Lad Allen. La Mirada, CA: Illustra Media, 2006.

The Privileged Planet, DVD. Directed by Lad Allen. La Mirada, CA: Illustra Media, 2010.

Unlocking the Mystery of Life, DVD. Directed by Lad Allen. La Mirada, CA: Illustra Media, 2010.

8. Web pages

Bible.Org. www.Bible.org. This is the home of the New English Translation of the Bible, but also contains a vast array of helpful theology and biblical studies articles.

Denver Journal. http://www.denverseminary.edu/resources/the-denver-journal. This is the book review journal of Denver Seminary. You will find many reviews of books on philosophy and apologetics in the “Apologetics and Ethics” section.

Probe Ministries. www.Probe.org. A Christian research ministry which provides well-researched articles pertinent to college challenges.

Reasonable Faith. www.reasonablefaith.org. The web page of Christian philosopher, William Lane Craig.

The Discovery Institute. www.discovery.org. A leading organization challenging Darwinism and defending Intelligent Design.

Virtuous Minds – Faithful Christianity in College

June 2, 2013 By Timothy Dalrymple

Recently I published the first part of an essay from professor Douglas Groothuis and adjunct professor Sarah Geis, both of Denver Seminary. As of this posting, it ominously has 666 shares. In spite of this ill omen (please, all ye who assume evangelicals are idiots, see my tongue firmly planted in my cheek here), I’m going to forge ahead with the rest of the series. The care and nurture of faith in the college years is a subject near and dear to my heart, and professors Groothuis and Geis have solid advice here. So if you know some folks in college, perhaps some rising college freshman, or even if you like to think about faith and the life of the mind, please take heed:

Faithful Christianity in College (Part 2 of 3)

By Douglas Groothuis and Sarah Geis

Faithful Christianity in college requires more than simply remaining in the faith until you graduate. True, we should not stray from following Christ, but we cannot passionately embrace with our hearts what we have rejected with our minds. Because of the competing truth claims in college, we must strive to gain knowledge of the objective truth of Christianity, and then respond rightly to that truth through obedience and devotion to the one true God. If Christians are to remain faithful to God and thrive in college, we must deliberately cultivate virtuous minds (the intellect) and hearts (character). The following principles are meant to address both, and are a continuation of part 1 of this essay.

1. Remember to honor your parents in college, especially if you attend school away from your home city. It is easy to get so caught up in classes, new friends, and a new city that you neglect your mother and father. But God said: “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12). Whether or not your parents are Christians, they should be remembered and respected. If they are financially supporting you through college, cultivate and express your thankfulness to them. If they are Christians, they may have very good advice for you to follow. Since we should treat others as we would like to be treated (Matthew 7:12), we should stay in touch with them. Your parents will miss you greatly and want to know what is happening in your life.

2. Be careful in choosing friends. College provides a way to meet many new people, some of whom are very different from you. You may meet atheists, Muslims, Buddhists, agnostics, active homosexuals, cross-dressers, and many others who do not share your Christian beliefs and principles. This is good, since we should be “in but not of the world.” However, our friends should not come between us and the Lord. If someone is tempting or causing you to become slack in your Christian convictions or practices, you should reevaluate the relationship. Boundaries may need to be set. As Psalm One says:

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers—Psalm 1:1-4.

We are similarly warned in Proverbs 13:20: “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.”

3. Be a wise Christian witness. A witness testifies to what he knows. A wise witness is careful and deliberate about how and when to make the truth known. If we know Christianity to be objectively true, rational, and terribly important, we should try to make that known to others, by a godly life and the wise communication of Christian truth. The Apostle Peter tells us: “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).

4. Choose your battles wisely. You will encounter many ideas and lifestyles with which you do not agree. Bear in mind that the best way to influence people is to show that you love them as fellow image-bearers of God. When people know you care, they are more likely to listen to and consider your arguments. This requires not abusing any platform you are given. Learn to recognize what is most important, and stick to that. Furthermore, be relationally sensitive enough to know when to back off of a topic or person. Unwanted apologetic advances or moral advice can sometimes make the person you are talking to feel attacked, and can do more harm than good. For example, if someone does not even believe in any sort of divine being, you cannot reasonably expect them to see the value in a chaste life. This does not mean that you must condone all ideas or behaviors, but it does mean recognizing that some things are of secondary or tertiary importance.

5. Pursue wise and knowledgeable mentors who are older than you are. Find Christian individuals you highly respect for their intellectual skill and spiritual maturity, and interact with them regularly throughout your time in college. Most adult believers, even busy ones, are more than happy to help a college student navigate the complexities and frustrations of being a Christian in college. Such relationships can provide life-giving encouragement and stability. Even though many challenges you see and hear in college may seem new to you, most of it has already been experienced and confronted by generations past. As the teacher said, “There is nothing new under the sun” (Eccl. 1:9). (Who knows, perhaps you will one day even co-write articles with your mentor from college, as is the case here with Sarah’s college mentor, Douglas Groothuis.)

6. Spend time in prayer frequently. The Apostle Paul urged followers of Jesus to pray as a way of life (1 Thessalonians 5:17). He also said: “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people” (Ephesians 6:19).

The Book of Psalms is the prayer book for the people of God. Spend time reading the Psalms and reflecting on them. Learn to pray along with the Psalmist. By praying, we show our dependency on God for wisdom and courage, we give our requests to God, we worship God, we thank God, and we pray for the well-being of others. This is central to the Christian life, in or out of college.

College presents numerous struggles, but it also may be a time when your knowledge of God and of yourself is deepened and enriched. We believe that applying the twelve principles in parts 1 and 2 of this essay will help you grow in your Christian character and conviction. Growth is not negotiable. College is a dangerous place, but Christians have nothing to fear as they follow the one who is “the way, the truth, and the life,” Jesus Christ (John 14:6). Keep on the alert for the final installment of this essay, which is a detailed list of highly recommended resources.

Faithful Christianity in College

April 9, 2013 By Timothy Dalrymple

I’m grateful to Douglas Groothuis and Sarah Geis for this guest series on the practices of a flourishing faith in college.

Faithful Christianity in College (Part 1 of 3)

By Douglas Groothuis and Sarah Geis

The greatest challenge which lies ahead in college for a Christian is not getting good grades or being taught well by professors, although these are important. The greatest challenge is to love God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind and to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39). Your professors and textbooks will not teach you how to do this, unless you attend a Christian college (but some Christian colleges may neglect this as well). Sadly, your church may also fail to help you in this area. Therefore, we offer the following principles for staying faithful to Christ—heart, soul, strength, and mind—as you continue your studies.

1. Find and attend a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. Every Christian needs to hear solid teaching and preaching and to experience biblical fellowship. Every Christian needs to regularly receive the steadfast truth of Scripture, especially in the midst of a college culture that is often very secular and ungodly. The church, as it follows Christ, gives us another—better— culture from which to derive meaning and significance. As Paul says, the true church stands firm as the “pillar and foundation of truth” (1 Timothy 3:15).

2. Read and study the Bible regularly. The Bible gives us a source of knowledge about God, the world, and ourselves that is not available otherwise. Consider the words of Paul, the Apostle, written to Timothy, a young Pastor:

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.—2 Timothy 3:14-17.

The truth of the Holy Scriptures has a unique power to reveal truth.

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.—Hebrews 4:12-13.

It makes sense that we should study, read, and even memorize the Bible, so that we may have and maintain a biblical perspective and approach to the world. As Paul says:

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.—Romans 12:1-2 (see also 1 John 2:15-17).

Become a walking and talking Bible.

3. Study how to study the Bible. The Bible is not an easy book to read and understand, and therefore it is wise to read books on biblical interpretation. Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart’s How to Read the Bible for all It’s Worth is an excellent place to start (see the attached bibliography for more suggestions). For specific books of the Bible and when trying to interpret more difficult passages, use Bible commentaries by evangelical authors. Your pastor should be able to recommend good commentaries for you to use in your study. The more you understand how to read the Bible, the more you will be able to gain from your reading of it.

4. Be aware that many of your Christian beliefs will be challenged by your teachers and textbooks and other required readings. Be alert for this. Do not simply think, “I’ll do what I have to in order to pass.” Ask yourself, “Is this class teaching me the truth?” Sometimes, intellectual hurdles won’t come directly from the course material itself, but instead, from passing comments made by the teacher. To remain unswayed by these challenges, you need to do some extra work, extra reading. Become familiar with common objections to and misunderstandings of Christianity, so that you will not be easily caught off-guard. Very often, anti- Christian comments in the classroom or in required readings are rife with logical or factual problems that have been thoroughly answered elsewhere. It is also wise to seek some help from people who have been there and who are experts in defending the Christian worldview as true, rational, and pertinent to all of life. Please consult the bibliography at the end of this essay for help in this vital task.

5. Keep lists of books to read and topics to research. In college, you will go through periods of time which will require much more coursework than at other times. So, you may not always have ample time to read and study outside of your classes. It is therefore a good idea to keep a list of recommended books to read and important questions to research for when your semester load temporarily lightens. Keep in mind that reading biblical studies, philosophy, and apologetics is not always easy at first, but your reading skill and comprehension will improve with practice. Studiousness takes discipline, but it yields abundant intellectual and spiritual rewards.

6. Consider your use of technologies, in and out of the classroom. Ask yourself whether the technology serves to help you grow more knowledgeable and holy. Although we must all rest and recreate, we are never called by God to waste time. Moses said to God, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12; see also Ephesians 5:16). Some video games, texting, and tweeting may simply be a waste of our limited time on earth. In the same vein, we must take care that we do not allow texting or email to take the place of personal interaction. A large part of learning requires spending time in extended, unmediated, physically present conversations with other people. It is here that you can best articulate to others what you are learning, and perhaps receive further sharpening in the process. Clear communication and nimble thinking require real-world practice.

Moreover, teachers who rely too much on PowerPoint may not be teaching in a way to serve real learning. So, choose your teachers (when you can) carefully. Further, on-line classes are usually inferior to in-person classes. This is because you often need to ask questions of your teachers in real time. In a live classroom, you can also interact with other students and potentially grow more in knowledge.

College can be a trying and testing time; and it is the time when many leave Christianity. Even if you go to a Christian college, you may not be immune to this problem. Too few students realize that Christianity is not meant to be fun or comfortable. Study the life of the apostle Paul for an example of a maximally uncomfortable life! Rather, the truth of Christianity is so solid that it can sometimes hurt when we collide with it. Yet because it is true, it is the only firm foundation for life. If you have identified with Jesus for any reason other than the fact that Christianity is objectively, absolutely true and thus relevant for all people at all times, then your faith is on unstable ground. All it takes to prompt the abandonment of such a shaky faith is finding a more enjoyable social group, seeing professors challenge the faith, or not knowing how to address key objections yourself. So, we exhort you to study, pray, attend church, and watch for parts 2 and 3 of this essay.

Douglas R. Groothuis is a Professor of Philosophy at Denver Seminary, and Sarah Geis is an Adjunct Professor of Philosophy at Denver Seminary.