People go to Christian colleges for a variety of reasons. They got a scholarship. Their parents went there. It’s in their hometown. 

Attending a Christian college doesn’t mean you’re a Christian. Teaching at a Christian college doesn’t mean you’re a Christian. Graduating a Christian college doesn’t mean you’re a Christian either. 

A renowned Bible school I attended was graduating an increasing number of atheists. The faculty didn’t know how to stop it. Students didn’t care. Professors asked why students weren’t attending church. Many shrugged their shoulders. Some apathetic answers: “What’s the point?” “It’s the same old thing that bothered me about church growing up.” “I already study the Bible all week.” 

We live in a post-Christian society. A school deemed “Christian” one hundred years ago means little for maintaining that honor over time. When it comes to higher education, you’ll have to read beyond the label. 

Don’t shop for colleges as casually as you shop for groceries.  You have to read the ingredients, or as the Bible says, “test the spirits.” 1 John 4:1 “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to know whether they are from God.” When visiting a college, analyze whether you sense God’s presence there! 

• Is there unity among the students?

• Are prayer and worship happening, beyond what is mandated?

• Do students talk about Jesus?

• Do they love the Bible?

• Are students inspired by their lectures?

• Are people depressed or confused or lonely?

Jesus says healthy trees bear good fruit, and diseased trees, bad fruit (Mt. 7:17). At the Institute, we simply call this “the fruit test.” When you’re on campus, pay attention to the fruit in the lives of students and staff. Read the ingredients. Is there joy, peace, kindness? Or is there depression, worry, and divisiveness?

Then recognize: what you see is what you’ll get. A good tree doesn’t bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. The fruit grows from a healthy root system. When we’re talking about spirituality, those roots reflect more than institutional history. The fruit is a sign of identity in the family of faith. 

Go where you see good fruit, not just where the label says “natural fruit flavoring.”

This article is an excerpt from “7 Mistakes Students Make when Choosing a Christian College.” To read the full eBook, subscribe below, and we’ll send it straight to your inbox.