Not Isolated

God does not call us to withdraw from this world, but He does enable us to reject the philosophies of this world. We are called to insulate our hearts without isolating our lives. Philippians 3 states:
18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame--who set their mind on earthly things.
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

We have not been taken up into heaven - yet.  When we were saved, our spiritual citizenship changed, but our physical location did not. So we are here on Planet Earth in order that we might be living witnesses for Jesus Christ.  There will be interaction with people who don't know Him and exposure to worldly ideas. But, we are called to reject the ideas and temptations of this world, but we still are directed to engage with and impact the world - for Him.

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It is commonly said that we are "in" the world, but not "of" the world. Jesus taught in John chapter 17 about this "other-worldliness." He said, regarding His followers:
14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.
16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

It is no secret that there are concerns in the realm of higher education, especially for Christians who might be considering a secular university - or even one that wears the "Christian" label, for that matter.  And, it has been documented that a number of schools that were originally founded by and/or associated with the Church no longer hold to those principles.

Even in the midst of what some might perceive as a highly secularized atmosphere, there are Christian students at Harvard Law School that are pursuing God.  A CBN News story highlighted some law school students who are experiencing the presence of the Lord.

The story notes:

Law student Matt Chun, Ph.D., said he was "pleasantly surprised" to learn how vibrant the Christian community is here.

He says, "It's been incredibly encouraging for me being involved with Christian Union, small groups and even going to church with my classmates, and going to prayer in the mornings," and added, "It seems like there's Christian programming almost every day and tons of ways to get plugged in and involved..."

Bible study leader Justin Yim said, "We know that God is not dead at Harvard, and we see God moving powerfully, and we sense, if you speak to some of the other campus ministers on campus and some of the students – there's something happening underneath..."

The article goes on to say:

Yim says the Christian presence is not out of character here.

"When you think about the history of Harvard University in and of itself, that it started out as a place where men were trained for the Christian ministry, right, so it is hearkening back to its original roots," he said.

"So we know that God has worked here before, and we know that God is working," Yim continued.

The article also notes that:

Christians at Harvard Law School can also find support through the Program on Biblical Law and Christian Legal Studies. According to its website, the program integrates law, leadership and life, built on a foundation of biblical wisdom and truth.

"It's that combination of teaching and scholarship and also building up and discipleship of believers who are here," Jon DeWitt, a third-year law student, told CBN News. "It's just been very encouraging."

Another student who was featured in the article, Marianna Marques, had attracted attention earlier this year through a Christ-honoring blog post, according to Faithwire, which reported in February:

Marianna Marques, a student at Harvard Law School, recently published a stunning blog post on the university’s website about her incredible journey with God.

And because of Marques’ candidness and bravery, prospective students at Harvard were treated to something one doesn’t often encounter on an ivy league website: a compelling testimony filled with faith, hope, and the redeeming power of Jesus.

“At a young age, I gave my life to Jesus Christ. At age 13, while I was reflecting on my life plans, I heard God’s voice (in my spirit) for the first time: ‘Those are your plans for yourself, not Mine,'” she wrote. “Although God says in Scripture that He has a plan for each of us, I hadn’t consulted Him as I had developed my own. I hadn’t trusted that His plans would bring me satisfaction — I lacked faith and wanted control.”

Marques continued, “But in that instance, I decided to trust Him and to surrender my plans.”

The Faithwire story also states: "She said she anticipated some pushback but has had a 'lot of positive reactions' to her article. Either way, though, she knew beforehand that, no matter what, God — if He wanted it to be so — would allow her story to be told."

I am reminded of the story of Kelly Monroe Kullberg, who has been a guest on The Meeting House in association with her work with the American Association of Evangelicals. Her website, "Finding God In..." states that she...

...edited and co-authored the bestseller, Finding God at Harvard, by asking forty (40) Harvard Christians to share their personal stories of coming to faith in Jesus Christ, the One for whom Harvard was founded.

She then invited students and scholars to explore the world’s hardest questions together in relation to Christ, in the Veritas Forum (Veritas.org), now in two hundred (200) universities in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Asia. Her sequel, Finding God Beyond Harvard: the Quest for Veritas, is a kind of adventure memoir diving deep inside the ideas and campuses of secular universities and cultures.

So, you might have colleges and universities who are apparently closing the door to a Christian worldview, but there are Christian students who can bring Christ in - and are doing so. Those who choose to go into these secular venues can make sure that they are staying grounded in the Lord and in fellowship with other believers.  Many ideas that are contrary to Biblical truth are available, but each of us can choose to stay true to the Scriptures. 

Fact is, we are sent into the world.  You have students who simply do not choose to go into Christian school situations. Most employees are not sent into Christian companies.  We are to be in the world, but not of it.  We cannot completely isolate and insulate ourselves from interacting with people who don't know Christ - we are instructed not to be stained by the world. 

We just have to be aware of the contrary winds that are blowing and make sure that we are doing what it takes to withstand - to study and meditate on God's Word, to be devoted to be a strong witness for Christ, and to make sure we are engaged with other believers who can lift us up and encourage us in the Lord.