It’s that time of year, graduates all over the country are looking forward to the end of their high school days and the start of their “grown up” life. Be careful what you wish for. Watching our graduates commissioned yesterday reminded me what awaits  them. 

Many Christians find their faith challenged for the first time, sitting in some philosophy class, as a professor starts to poke holes in what they believe. A startling number of them will watch everything they thought they believed crumble in front of them.

Why? Well, I can only speak for myself, but I don’t believe we are prepared. While I didn’t necessarily have my faith rocked while in college, I definitely wasn’t prepared. I think we try to make it too difficult. 

 …Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have…  (?1 Peter? ?3?:?15? NIV)

Where a lot of students (Christians) make their mistake is in trying to win an argument, or prove the Bible, or change someone’s mind. Leave the changing to the Holy Spirit. All we are called to do to give a reason for our hope.

Life causes us to doubt. But the foundation of your faith is not your personal experience. It’s better than that. We take the Old Testament seriously because Jesus did. We take Jesus seriously because of the resurrection. We take the resurrection seriously because Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, Paul, and James took it seriously.

This is something I was recently reminded of while listening to a message from Andy Stanley. Check out http://preparedseries.org to hear more.