Why Christianity Makes Sense in College

Note: If you’ve been keeping up with the King’s Hill blog, you know that I’ve been writing a blog series on how Christians are called to date well to the glory of God. This blog, however, I’ll be taking a break from that series to specifically write to the college student on why Christianity makes sense even amidst all the distractions one faces in college (though not exclusive to college students!)—especially as thousands of them descend upon our city the next two weeks.

One of the things I often joke with my wife Madelyn and my friends about is that I have long wished that I could take another math class. It’s been years since I’ve taken one, and I covet those people who have furthered their education in the field. The reason for me is simple: I really love it when things make sense. Math makes sense to me. There is a numerological reality behind the way that things come to be. I hate living in ambiguity. This can sometimes frustrate those closest to me because (given enough time around me) you’ll notice that anytime a question is asked of me I don’t typically give a direct answer. I usually like to explain why I think something I think (even if it’s as simple as why I’d like a picture to be hung at a certain place on our wall … shoutout my wonderful wife). I have historically not done well with feeling things deeply. Rather, I want things to make logical sense to me. And, while this may come to a surprise to you, this is one of the reasons why I’m a Christian—and why I believe that for my more intellectual friends out there and college students who will step into our city these next few weeks—you should really consider how compelling the claims of Christianity are.

Moral relativism (meaning that morality could be subjective) has long been known to have its flaws. It’s under that very framework that the Nazi regime or many other past genocides could be the outcome. It’s also under that framework that people typically express that they will only believe something if it can be empirically proven (proven by observable realities). The issue is that that very claim cannot be empirically proven. Moral relativism doesn’t make sense to me. So, we’ve got to have some kind of framework for that sense of morality. But I’m sure you’re well aware that’s not convincing enough to prove Christianity true.

I will spare you the countless rejections of other faiths in favor of Christianity and rather get straight to the point of what is the most convincing element of Christianity for me: And it’s the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Given the staggering historical evidence, the compelling arguments made by the gospel writers themselves, and even some extrabiblical accounts, it’s almost impossible to deny that Jesus Christ existed. That’s not up for debate. What is up for debate—and the real empirical evidence we’re all looking for—is if Jesus did truly rise from the dead. Undoubtedly, and drawn from many of those same sources, it’s clear that he actually did rise from the dead, and that for me is enough to prove Christianity true.

However, what my longing for math classes and even my logical understanding of Christianity fail to compellingly present is something that is experiential. Philosophers like Charles Taylor have argued that there’s this deep human longing in all of us to experience (what Taylor calls) moments of “fullness.” All of us—deep inside—we don’t just want something to logically make sense. We also want something to affect us, to move us. And this is also exactly why Christianity is so compelling to me. Because it doesn’t just give you some historical facts to agree with. It gives you a compelling story of a real God that longs to draw you up into that very story. It gives a reality that is so compelling its entire goal is to change you from the inside-out (Romans 8:29). And so, especially for those young college students out there trying to “figure out” these next few years and what you want to give your life to, I want to leave you with my case for the compellingness of Christianity, and for why I think you should follow Jesus.

Reason #1: Christianity brings deep satisfaction.

C.S. Lewis famously quipped that the world is “far too easily pleased.” We delight in things far too weak in their delightability. In the spirit of the blogs I’ve been writing on dating, consider the longing we all have to love and be loved by someone. Especially as a student, some of you have come to this city hoping to find true love. At the very least, you’re hoping to find some new friends that will honestly care for you. However, delight in another person ultimately, and you’ll be left disappointed. Not to mention, the other person will be left with a burden too big to carry. No human being can love you ultimately as you long to be loved. 

Only in Christianity, however, do you find the reality of Someone who can love you maximally, and, in return—if your love is in Him—you will never exhaust his delightability. Joy in Him is inexhaustible. This is why the Bible claims something so bold as “...in [God’s] presence is fullness of joy,” (Ps. 16:11). In Lewisian language, you will have the ability to be pleased maximally. And, to quote another famous Christian, Augustine, “...Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee.”

This is why for King’s Hill College this year, one of our values is that we really want college students to be “For the King.” Because in a world of so many things that you have offered to you that you can champion, we want students to champion the One that can always be championed. 

Reason #2: Christianity invites you into real community.

In a similar way to our desire for satisfaction and intimacy, Charles Taylor remarks again that every single one of us have this deep sense to be connected to a transcendent community. This is the reason why when we were growing up we consistently heard lines like “We all want to be a part of something bigger than ourselves.” We all want to be welcomed. The issue is that we’re also all (in Taylor’s words) buffered. We keep our distance from others because the communities we’re apart of typically are self-gratifying and end up being quite draining. Or, on the other hand, we put ourselves out there, only to learn that people can’t meet our expectations (and we can’t meet theirs). In our pursuit and desire to be welcomed and accepted, we end up feeling rejected and turned away.

Don’t get me wrong, the church is no perfect institution that solves these issues completely. I know there are those who have experienced deep “church hurt,” and have been left feeling the effects of this reality, and Christians must take these claims seriously and with much care. Some of you have been burned by bad theology and bad methodology. But what all people must understand is that, in the words of one pastor, the church is not a mansion for the elite. Rather, it is a hospital for the sick. The church is a place in which the broken and the poor are welcomed, not the self-righteous and self-sustained. And, in a miraculous way, it is that reality that makes the Christian church so compelling. Because, in Christianity, I’m not welcomed on the basis of what I can offer the community. I’m actually welcomed despite what I can’t offer God or anyone else!

So, if you’re a skeptical college student, I’d challenge you to try out the local church—and maybe God will develop in you a heart to be “For the Church” (another one of our college ministry values this year). We believe it’s through these deep relationships (like ones found in Life Groups) that you have the opportunity to become someone who thrives in college and in their relationship with Jesus.

Reason #3: Christianity gives you immense purpose.

Finally, (although there are numerous other reasons!) one of the most compelling reasons Christianity makes sense is the purpose that it offers us. Whereas most of the voices we hear in our culture preach to us things like “love yourself” and charge us to “live your best life,” Christianity is drastically counter-cultural. In reality, Christ actually calls Christians not to love ourselves but to deny ourselves in pursuit of others on the outside. Christianity is incredibly purposeful. The entirety of our mission in life has been transformed such that everything we do—albeit education or law, medicine or tech—is now for the sake of God’s Kingdom advancing on earth.

This is why our third college ministry value is that we want every college student to be “For the Campus & City.” Because we believe that during this season of college, God has placed you at your campus to renew and revive it for the glory of King Jesus. What would it look like to not just be a Berklee student, but to be a Berklee student that wants to see other Berklee students come to know Jesus? What would it look like to think strategically for the mission of God about your club you’re a part of on campus at Northeastern? These kings of things are what it means to let the mission of God drive your life, that you might have purpose to the fullest extent.

Now, this list does not exhaust the reasons that I see Christianity as compelling. But it’s a start. And I’d challenge you (whether college student or not) to consider these things and to explore the depths of the Christian faith. Pick up a bible, or come to church this Sunday. Who knows? It might just do more than make sense.