3 Big Benefits of Christian Education

What Does Authentic Christian Faith Look Like?

While there are many ways to describe authentic faith — social justice, integrity, service, love — one is indisputable: 1 Corinthians 10:31 tells us, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

Whatever we do — personally or professionally — we do for the glory of God. This is non-negotiable if we want to live out our faith. So, how can we, as Christians, get equipped to glorify God in a Monday morning staff meeting as authentically as we do in a Sunday morning service?

One way is to integrate Christian principles from the very start of our professional preparation – to learn the job and how to navigate it ethically at the same time.

In today’s competitive job market, there’s little debate regarding the value and importance of a college degree. A study from the Pew Research Center found that college-educated millennials are outperforming their less-educated peers on nearly every economic measure — and the disparity between the two groups is only growing.

But for students who see themselves as Christ-followers, the goal of higher education isn’t simply to gain knowledge or a land a high-paying job. Rather, it’s to become equipped with the tools needed to evaluate the world through a biblical lens and advance the Kingdom of God.

Many Christian students go to college at public universities and immerse themselves in Christian communities like Cru or InterVarsity. These are vibrant ministries that connect with students, helping them grow and develop spiritually while they study in secular academic settings.

For other students, Christian colleges and universities provide unique opportunities to examine, evaluate, and understand the world through the truth of the Bible.

While the “perfect choice” for your college decision depends on a variety of factors, here are three reasons to consider a Christian education:

1. Christian Colleges Approach Every Discipline from a Biblical, Christ-Centered Worldview

When every class, lecture, and issue is framed through a biblical lens, you are given the opportunity to see how each aspect of life — from biology and chemistry to art and history — is woven into the tapestry of God’s perfect plan for His creation. Education that integrates Christian faith with academic excellence provides solid, Bible-based answers to the skeptical questions of this day.

A 2016 report from the Pew Research Center found that nearly one-in-five Americans (18%) raised as Christians or members of another faith now have no religious affiliation. When asked why they no longer identify with a religious group, respondents’ answers included: “Learning about evolution when I went away to college,” and “Lack of any sort of scientific or specific evidence of a creator.”

Many secular educational institutions teach a narrow view of certain disciplines, particularly the sciences. While a growing body of evidence challenges long-held scientific theories about the origin of the universe and supports scientific evidence of a creator, most schools do not acknowledge it or teach from it.

In comparison, many Christian universities teach all of the available theories and allow students to evaluate the evidence themselves. This equips students with both the subject matter expertise and the critical thinking skills to stand out among future peers, and it broadens their horizons.

What you learn, study, and absorb impacts your worldview. By presenting academics through a Christian worldview, faith-based colleges and universities are able to equip you with the knowledge, values, and skills you need to thrive in your future profession.

2. Christian Colleges Encourage Students in Their Faith While Promoting Academic Excellence

According to a study from Campus Renewal, roughly 70% of Christian college students going off to college end up leaving their faith during their first year on campus.

One of the main reasons so many freshmen drop their faith shortly after entering the campus gate is because “the church as a whole has had no way of intentionally connecting students to Christian communities before they begin college,” and this leaves “hundreds of thousands of students’ faith up in the air during the most important transition of their lives,” the Campus Renewal study reported.

College is a common time to wrestle with the doubts, fears, and questions that inevitably come with living a Christian life. While secular colleges often ignore or are not equipped to address such questions, Christian schools provide a place to explore them in a safe and thoughtful environment.

When students are taught how to think critically about relevant questions — from evolution to end-of-life and LGBTQ issues — and apply biblical truth to them, they are able to responsibly engage with culture while giving a well-thought-out reason for their beliefs.

And because most Christian colleges require faculty and staff to sign a statement of faith before accepting employment, you’ll have opportunities to learn and be mentored by older, wiser believers. Additionally, many Christian universities provide chapel services, dorm Bible studies, small groups, prayer walks, and other resources to help you grow in your faith.

Most importantly, Christian schools provide excellent community, making it easy to find friends with a similar worldview and lifestyle who will affirm your faith, pray for you, and help you grapple with a variety of issues from a Biblical perspective. College is a time to deeply nurture and develop your faith — not treat it as an afterthought.

3. Christian Schools Provide High-Quality Education and Can be More Affordable than Secular Counterparts

Christian colleges offer quality academics. Not only are its faculty members dedicated to integrity and hard work, but Christian colleges also usually offer smaller class sizes than their secular counterparts, allowing greater student/teacher engagement. Perhaps that’s why Forbes found that of the best-ranked 130 schools in the U.S., 25 are Christian.

Amid soaring student debt nationwide, the financial cost of smaller, private universities is a legitimate concern for many students and their parents. However, such colleges often offer more types of financial assistance, allowing them to be comparable in price — if not cheaper — than their larger counterparts.

A study from Philadelphia-based consulting firm Econsult Solutions, Inc. analyzing the significant economic impact of Christian higher education in the United States found that the student loan default rate for graduates from the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) institutions is 6.3% — nearly half the national average, which is 11.5%.

Because many Christian colleges have a strong network of alumni, you’re also in an overall position to find a job in their chosen field after graduation.

For many Christian students, college is more than just earning a degree; it’s a time to grow mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Christian colleges provide excellent community, an education that incorporates faith into academics, and the opportunity develop Christian thinkers who embody a Gospel witness to a watching world.