“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity” – 1 Timothy 4:12
Students have an opportunity to stand out (for the right reasons) in everyday life as they courageously follow God. You can set the pace. You never know who may be watching. The question we all need to ask – young or old – is what will they see?
Theology is just that – thinking about God. And yes, it matters. It is about knowing and loving God; and there is no higher goal than that. Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NIV):
23 This is what the LORD says:
“Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom
or the strong man boast of his strength
or the rich man boast of his riches,
24 but let him who boasts boast about this:
that he understands and knows me,
that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,”
declares the LORD.
“Disregard the study of God and you sentence yourself to stumble and blunder throughout life, blindfolded, as it were, with no sense of direction and no understanding of what surrounds you.”—J.I. Packer
Scientific naturalism is the view that “the physical cosmos science studies is all that exists” (cf. J.P. Moreland). This worldview assumes that only material stuff exists (e.g., physics and chemistry) and that science is the only source of knowledge concerning the world; everything else is mere conjecture. The implication of this view is that there can be no human soul or immaterial objects/persons like angels or God. The supernatural is excluded by definition. Plainly stated: there is no spiritual reality in this world or the next. The grave is all there is.
This is a major worldview in America today. In order to be a good ambassador for Jesus Christ, we must understand the worldviews that are vying for the hearts and minds of this generation.
It’s time for students to head back to school. Whether they are heading to high school or college, help them face the opportunities and challenges of following Jesus in today’s world by giving them a copy of my book, Welcome to College: A Christ-follower’s Guide for the Journey.
What people are saying:
“Wow! What a book! Quite frankly, this is the book I’ve been waiting for the last forty years to give to college students. It is the single best volume I have ever read for preparing students for how to follow Jesus and flourish as his disciple in college.” — J.P. Moreland, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University
“Jonathan has both the intellectual resources as well as the practical experience to provide an effective students’ survival guide to university life. I’m impressed with the wide array of issues he discusses, from intellectual challenges to financial problems to sexual snares to getting enough sleep! All this is done in easily digestible bits for the student on the run.” — William Lane Craig, Theologian and author, Reasonable Faith
“Reading this book is like having your own personal mentor and friend to guide you through the rough rapids of college life. College is a great experience, but it can also be faith-shattering if you are not adequately prepared. This book is perfect for the high school senior who is curious about what college life will be like. It is also helpful to the college student who is dealing with the day-to-day challenges and questions faced both in and out of the classroom. — Mark Schmahl, Pastor of Student Ministries Believers’ Chapel, Murfreesboro, TN
“This book will prepare anyone who is either enrolled in college or is planning to go to college for the daily challenges Christians deal with on campus. Jonathan Morrow is aware of the real college world and is dead-on with his excellent insight.” — Blake Smith, Junior, Texas Tech University
“Unpacking biblical truths, Welcome to College is a treasure book of wisdom that will literally save lives and help build a culture of life.” — Kelly Monroe Kullberg, Author, Finding God Beyond Harvard: The Quest for Veritas
“Whether you are an incoming freshman or upperclassman, Jonathan provides straightforward, practical insight for dealing with current issues regarding living the Christian life on campuses everywhere. Not only is this a great read, but you will find a place to turn to when questions or struggles show their face.” — Taylor McCabe, Junior, Baylor University
How does a Christian think about ethics? How can we make thoughtful, biblically informed decisions about:
If you are not sure how to answer these questions or are not convinced that the Bible has / should have anything to say about, then you need to have this book on your shelf.
On a personal note, Dr. Scott Rae was one of my professors in graduate school and he is the real deal. I have huge respect for him. Also, this book is very accessible. There is no better introduction to Christian ethics out there.