Here’s why it’s important to equip them with both evidences and answers to the difficult questions. University campuses are growing increasingly hostile toward evangelical students. A 2007 report by two Jewish researchers found a strong bias against evangelical students at secular universities. More than 1,200 faculty members from 712 colleges and universities were interviewed pertaining to their feelings toward various religious followers. The results were alarming. Three percent of American faculty members admitted having negative or unfavorable feelings toward Jews while 33 percent admitted having them toward Muslims. But 53 percent admitted having negative or unfavorable feelings toward evangelical Christians. The researchers concluded, “Conservative Christians have for some time been concerned about their children’s campus environment. These data certainly legitimize their concerns.”


But it didn’t stop there. To their shock, these Jewish researches likewise discovered that a significant number of American faculty members want Muslims to play a greater role in the American political process while wanting evangelicals to stay out of it.


To me, this suggests we are in much more than a cultural war between political conservatives and liberals. It goes beyond secularism and the religious. On many of our college campuses, it is a war against evangelical Christianity.


I’ve had numerous students from all over North America inform me that professors, on the first day of class, said their objective was to rid Christian students of their faith by the end of the semester. That’s right. The professor openly stated in class that his or her objective was to rid Christian students of their faith within the next hundred days.


Can you imagine what would happen if those same professors had instead asked how many of his or her students were Muslims ... or Jews? They would have been labeled “Islamaphobe” or “anti-Semite” and would soon have joined a number of others in the job market. But faculty members often get a pass if they’re a “Christophobe.”


Some good news is that a large number of Christian college students have a strong interest in apologetics, which is now a necessary component for nourishing students for a healthy faith and continuous growth in a vibrant walk with Christ. Some of these students will become church planters, missionaries, pastors, youth pastors and seminary professors. However, if we neglect familiarizing our college students with apologetics now, will we find far fewer members in SBC churches 20 years from now? From where will our next generation of church leaders come?


So, mom and dad, I hope you’ll accept the challenge to teach your kids how to defend their faith. OM


Michael Licona is the apologetics coordinator at the North American Mission Board.


 


ACTION ITEM:
Visit 4truth.net to find apologetic resources for equipping your kids. Visit onmission.com and watch “What is Islam?” a kid-friendly video about what Muslims believe.


ON MISSION • Fall 2011 35

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