A “Sophomoric” Reason to Consider Christian Education
[Author’s Note] Recently, I received a message from somebody who asked me to send her a copy of something I had written about Christian education. After quite of bit of digging into my old files, I found an article I wrote quite a number of years ago.
Because of the passage of time, I’ve had to do some editing. When I wrote the article originally, we were awaiting the birth of our second grandchild. We now have five grandchildren and the one whose birth we were anticipating at the time is now thirteen.
After I did my “digging,” I discovered that this particular article was not the one that my friend had in mind. She did think, though, that it would be helpful as she talks with her son about his education.
I am posting it here in the hopes that it will be helpful to others. – Jim Faughn
A “SOPHOMORIC” REASON TO CONSIDER CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
Every year a real “fashion statement” is made. Young people dressed in caps and gowns make their way across some sort of platform and graduate from high school.
What about the remainder of their education? What choices will they make along with their parents about continuing their education?
Please allow me to share with you a very personal reason why we chose for our children to attend a university where they would be educated by our brothers and sisters in Christ. It has nothing to do with the “normal” reasons you may have heard (Bible classes and chapel every day, a higher level of morality, development and enhancement of faith instead of an attack on faith, etc.). It is much more personal than all of that.
I can still remember my sophomore year in college (though admittedly, that memory is becoming more and more faint). It seemed as though all of the “new” of the college experience had worn off. I thought I was going to be there forever. There appeared to be no light at the end of the tunnel.
To make matters worse, I suddenly realized that I needed to be making some real decisions about what I was going to do with my life. What if I made the wrong decision? What if I took the wrong classes? I was haunted by these and other similar questions.
I was in uncharted waters as far as my family was concerned. My father never attended college and my mother only finished her freshman year. As much as I’m sure they cared, they could not really understand my concerns, nor could they really advise me. Even if they could have known all that I was going through, the decision had to be mine.
“But,” somebody may be thinking, “don’t colleges and universities have advisors? Why didn’t you just go to your advisor and get things worked out?” The answer to that question is that at the large state university I attended, I was no more than an identification number to everybody there, including my “advisor.” He or she (I never had the same one twice) would look at whatever courses I had already picked out, compare it with some sort of computer printout, and either sign off on it or make some changes. That was the extent of the “advising” I received.
It has also been a few years now since Donna and I sent our first child off to school. She is now a wife and a mother. In fact, her oldest child is a junior in high school. It will not be that long until he will have his own sophomore year in college.
Even though some years have passed since our daughter was a college sophomore, I’m sure she remembers one experience from that year. I know I do.
I still remember the day. I remember it like it was yesterday.
I was sitting in my office and got a telephone call from her. I could tell as soon as I heard her voice that something was wrong. If you have not guessed already what was wrong, you may just want to reread a couple of earlier paragraphs where I discussed my sophomore year in college. Our daughter was having much the same experience, feelings, and fears as her dad had dealt with years earlier.
My first offer to her didn’t really make a lot of sense, but dads don’t always make sense when one of their children is hurting or confused. I offered to drop whatever I was doing and go to where she was (about three hours away). I wasn’t really sure what I would do when I got there, but I made the offer anyway.
After I had a minute to think, I made another suggestion. I think it made more sense. At least I know that I was pleased with the outcome.
My second suggestion was for her to talk with one of the professors at the school. At that point, he had not had her in one of his classes, nor was he her advisor. He was, and is, her brother in Christ. In fact, all of the instructors where both of our children went to college are brothers and sisters in the Lord. Because we sent our children to a Christian school, I felt that this brother was one of many there who might be willing to take some time with our daughter.
The next time I spoke to our daughter on the phone, she sounded better. I felt better, too, especially when she told me what the professor told her. This may not be an exact quote, but it was something to the effect that: “Anytime you have a problem like this, you feel free to come and talk with me. I’ll advise you like you were my own daughter.”
How do you think that makes a father feel? At that moment, the extra dollars we spent to make sure our children received a Christian education were worth every dime!!
Over the years, that investment has continued to pay huge dividends. Both of our children are married to faithful and dedicated Christian mates. Our five grandchildren are being reared by Christian parents.
Who can determine the value of that?
My dictionary informs me that sophomoric means, “Characteristics of a sophomore; especially, immature and over-confident.” I believe I’ve found another meaning for the word (or at least I’ve made one up).
I believe, too, that I have a very good reason to encourage parents and students to give a lot of thought to going to a college or university where the instructors are faithful members of God’s family. It may make a major difference in your family.
It could make a major difference in your family for generations.
It could very well make a major difference for eternity.
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AUTHOR: Jim Faughn
