This is a fictitious but funny story --
A Navy SEAL was attending some college courses between assignments. He had completed missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. One of the courses had a professor who was an avowed atheist and a member of the ACLU. One day he shocked the class when he came in, looked to the ceiling, and flatly stated, "God, if you are real, then I want you to knock me off this platform. I'll give you exactly 15 minutes."Hindi madali maka encounter ng isang professor na hindi lang nagdi-disagree sa faith mo but is also antagonistic. Although that is not a very common phenomenon and I agree na may nabuo talagang “atheist professor myths” na nagpe-perpetuate ng maling fear that when you go to college you will regularly encounter combative atheists professors, yet I think it is worth addressing din dahil sa marami na ring testimonies ng mga Christian students na malimit nagi-grieve sa nangyayari. Ang atheist professor myth ayon sa RationWiki, isang website na hindi friendly sa Christian belief ay isa daw na,
The lecture room fell silent. You could hear a pin drop. Ten minutes went by and the professor proclaimed, "Here I am God. I'm still waiting."
It got down to the last couple of minutes when the SEAL got out of his chair, went up to the professor, and cold-cocked him; knocking him off the platform. The professor was out cold. The SEAL went back to his seat and sat there, silently. The other students were shocked and stunned and sat there looking on in silence.
The professor eventually came to, noticeably shaken, looked at the SEAL and asked, "What the hell is the matter with you? Why did you do that?"
The SEAL calmly replied, "God was too busy today protecting America's soldiers who are protecting your right to say stupid shit and act like an asshole. So He sent me."
- urban legend, often told through chain emails, in which an atheist professor attempts to disprove the existence of God and is subsequently embarrassed by a wise Christian student in front of the whole class
Ang concern ko lang is baka sa sobrang maging stressful para sa isang estudyante na may background sa mixed martial arts at medyo madaling mapikon ay baka mapaaway lang siya tulad nung Navy SEAL sa anecdote sa taas.
Joke lang.
Actually we have better intentions than that. We will deal with the issue of not only reflecting on this problem but also provide guidelines how to make the most out of this difficult situation for God’s glory.
I am denying God when I don’t defend Him in a classroom, where the professor is at that moment denouncing Christianity, because it is a Christian’s duty to give an answer.This argument came out in an interview I conducted with a college student named René in preparation for my radio apologetics broadcast at 702 DZAS’ Tanglaw sa Landas ng Buhay. She said the following about her philosophy and archaeology classes,
- [Ang concern ko ay yung] Religious stance of teachers and students: Marami akong subject na maraming teachers and students na hindi christian. Most of the time the prof would denounce God and the students would agree. I never nodded or went with the flow, but I kept quiet. I started doubting if I was really a true Christian. Was I denying God by being silent? But I was also scared na baka may masabi din akong mali.
This scenario has been a recurring issue in many Christians in college. Bestselling author Prof. J. Budzidewski shares,
- One day a student approached me after class. She seemed to be close to tears. "In lecture today, you mentioned that you're a Christian," she said. "I've never heard that from any other professor, and every day I spend at this university, I feel my faith is under attack.*
At times the assault is subtle. Author Doug Britton the following story that happened to his wife when they were still in college,
- When my wife Skeeter and I attended the University of California at Davis, she took an English class in which she was told to read the Gospel of John and write an essay identifying and analyzing John’s main message. Although not a Christian at the time, she quickly grasped that John was writing about Jesus Christ and his offer of salvation through faith in him. ❡ However, she also saw that the professor rejected this message and was looking for a different answer. Although she knew she wasn’t being true to what John wrote, she wrote an essay on “love” and received an “A.”†
In the film God’s Not Dead, a student named Josh Wheaton experienced a combative class environment when his anti-Christian professor attacked his faith in Christ.
These are scenarios that provide the context for the concern of many Christian students in college. For René a combative class environment affected how she viewed her identity as a follower of Christ. It would have been easier, I suppose, if such antagonism would not happen because she would just continue to be a good student minding her grades and disovery of knowledge and wisdom. But now, she would have to deal with an issue that seemed alien to the concerns of her class.
How does a Christian student deal with this type of situation?
First of all, let me propose a counter argument --
I am NOT denying God when I don’t defend Him IMMEDIATELY in a class where the professor is denouncing Christianity because although it is a Christian’s duty to give an answer, a Christian is also admonished to be quick to listen and be prepared to give an answer.Before I make a comment on my counter argument, let me just give a preface on the nature of "giving an answer" or apologetics. This is nudge that René feels -- the nudge to defend the case for Christianity.
The Christian Duty of Apologetics
It is understandable that a Christian would consider defending the faith because it his Christian duty. This duty is a mandate from 1 Peter 3:15 “[B]ut in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”
The Greek word for “to make a defense” is the word apologia from where we get the word apologetics. Apologetics means to give a reasoned defense of the faith. I think every Christian should aspire to grow in this duty in the same way a believer would aspire to grow in Christian duties such as prayer, study of the Word, fellowship, etc.
It is a necessary outcome for a Christian that once she finds the truth, she will defend that truth from falsehood. It does not only happen in Christianity but in all of life. For example, your little sister kept yelling at your house “1+1=3.” As an adult who knows the truth about this, you will try to correct her. It is just innate to human beings to correct falsehood with truth.
And so, a professor who would spew falsehood about Christ, God or Christianity will really catch a Christian’s attention and the desire to correct seems an inviting response. There is a passion for desire captured in 2 Corinthians 10:5 “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” The Greek word for “destroy” is a word used in the taking down of buildings. Other English translations use a more structure-related aggressive word: “demolish.” This is why I think many Christians feel anger and resentment at times plus the desire to say something back.
Given that and considering the situation a student like René may find herself, let us look into the wisdom of Scripture to guide us on how to respond to this situation.
Being Quick to Listen
It is wise to be quick to listen and slow to speak. James 1:19 says “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”
A combative classroom is a good context for this verse to apply. When your faith is being maligned and God slandered, “be quick to listen and slow to speak and slow to become angry.”
An anti-Christian professor provides a good training for Christian students to understand from where people are coming. Try to understand the anti-Christian argument of the professor. Try to determine what is his claim and if ever you would ask questions, make it about clarifying his claim and support, not defending your view. This way you set up the conversation with a virtuous mind or an inquiring mind. You would want to hope that your teacher would appreciate your question because you are listening to him.
An argument has two parts: a claim and a support. A claim is a claim of reality. Your professor is trying to assert something that he thinks is reality.
However, it wouldn't be an argument if he just claims something because an argument must have a support -- a substantiation of his assertion about reality. A support answers the question, "What reason do you have for me to believe your claim is true and real?"
"Argument requires justification of its claims, is both a product and a process, and it combines elements of truth seeking and persuasion," according to Ramage et al, in Writing Arguments.
If we are in this mindset, we are now in a good place to be trained in to identify an argument.
- What is the claim of the argument?
- What is the support of the claim?
To “be quick to listen and slow to speak and slow to become angry” is not to deny Christ, but actually to witness to the truth of God’s revelation. Moreover, taking time to listen to your professor will give you deeper understanding and learning from the reasoning of other people. James Hoskins concludes in his fine blog over at the Christ & Pop Culture website these statements,
- [T]he most valuable thing I learned from my philosophy professors—besides how to think critically—is something they did not intend to teach me. Through my interactions with them, I learned first hand that the Christian doctrine of common grace is absolutely true. God has revealed some truth to every person. Therefore, we can learn something from everyone; even people who believe the opposite of what we do. Thinking we can’t learn something from unbelievers not only causes us to miss out on some deeply enriching relationships, it also ensures we won’t learn anything.‡
To respond doesn’t mean to respond immediately. Try to listen. Anyway, if you train yourself in 4H Apologetics, you might even have an opportunity to present personally a cogent response to his belligerence against Christianity.
Being Prepared
1 Peter 3:15 says, “[B]ut in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”
Notice that phrase “to make a defense”? The Greek word for all four words is ἀπολογίαν (apologian) -- a word I discussed earlier from where we get the word apologetics. Also, I have pointed out earlier that this is a Christian duty.
However, I hope you will not miss something -- apologian is modified adverbially by “always being prepared.” The Greek word for “being prepared” is ἕτοιμος (hetoimos). This adverbial phrase functions as a manner or means for the main verb “sanctify the Lord.” So in its full sense it can be translated in Filipino as, “Pakabanalin mo sa iyong puso si Kristo bilang Panginoon sa pamamagitan ng pagiging handa sa pagbigay ng dajo;am.”
There is a time for preparation. That word hetoimos was also used in 1 Peter 1:5 and there it was talking about Jesus preparing for something that has not happened yet.
There is always a time to prepare for something to be built, like building a house. Proverbs 24:27 says, “Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house.”
At one time, the Bible teaches that it is wise to hide when there is danger, “The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.” (Proverbs 22:3).
There is also something that needs to discuss about the claim of the argument. It is not clear in the Bible that a person will always deny God when a Christian suspends defense. One backs away also for the purpose of assessing and preparing like the king in Luke 14:31 "Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won't he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?”
As soon as you get the assurance of knowing the argument of your professor, you can prepare by following the next H in 4H which is “Help.” In this section you will answer two questions:
- What is my counter-claim?
- What is my support to this claim?
Attend a regular local 4H gathering where we demonstrate how this is done. “Help” tries to engage the instruction of 2 Corinthians 10:5 “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” Here you will try to research and reason as a response to your professor’s argument. You can also find in 4H Apologetics some ways you can turn this doubt into understanding the drama, doctrine, doxology and discipleship found in Scripture by going through the remaining H -- “Heal” and “Honor.”
It takes preparation to do apologetics for the benefit of both your objector and yourself.
GUARD YOURSELF AGAINST MAKING YOUR OWN IDOLS
Idolatry is a serious matter in the Bible. The Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology explains,
- Idolatry is a major theme of the Bible. It challenges God's sovereignty and attempts to offer an alternate explanation to the issues of life. But Scripture not only records people's failures; it also records the hope of repentance. In his mercy God raised up men and women who challenged the faulty theology of the community. Admonitions are laced with appeals for repentance, reform, and restoration, one indication being the elimination of idolatry. To serve other gods is to forsake God; to eliminate idolatry is a sign of return. Paul's commendation to the Thessalonian believers emphasized their turning from the service of idols "to serve the living and true God" ( 1 Thess. 1:9 ).§
In his bestselling book Gods At War, Kyle Idlemam explains,
- Idolatry isn’t just one of many sins; rather it’s the one great sin that all others come from. So if you start scratching at whatever struggle you’re dealing with, eventually you’ll find that underneath it is a false god. Until that god is dethroned, and the Lord God takes His rightful place, you will not have victory.║
While the “most prevalent form of idolatry in biblical times was the worship of images or idolsthat represented or were thought to embody various pagan deities”¶ but it is of a different form. Usually they are concepts of God that make up our idols.
An idol is a false representation of God. God provides for us the language to represent Him in the Scripture, but we are also, what John Calvin calls as, an “idol-making factory.” We confine God with our man-made ideas of who He is. The most difficult point of this is when we are led unknowingly to the making of these idols. Frustrations, angers, etc that make us characterize God as Someone less.
Let’s return to the argument to which we are responding --
I am denying God when I don’t defend Him in a classroom, where the professor is at that moment denouncing Christianity, because it is a Christian’s duty to give an answer.
An idol, or a false representation of God, that might be created with this argument is a god who is a tyrant; a god who is always stalking you with a wooden ruler ready to slap your hands when you don’t raise your hand to oppose an anti-Christian professor. While testing His child is within the power of God to do, I do not think this reduction is adequate. Yes he is a God of laws, but that’s not what God is just all about. He is also your Father who concerns Himself not just by testing and disciplining you, but also by sanctifying you in patience, learning and listening among others.
While we are concerned with our obedience when we think we can obey God in only one way concerning an issue we are facing, at times we just need to see areas of obedience that would develop a more God-glorifying response.
RC Sproul explains,
- God certainly cares about our following His commandments. Yet there is more to the story that we dare not forget. God gave laws such as the Ten Commandments in the context of the covenant. First, God was gracious. He redeemed His people out of slavery in Egypt and entered into a loving, filial relationship with Israel. Only after that grace-based relationship was established did God begin to define the specific laws that are pleasing to Him. I had a professor in graduate school who said, “The essence of Christian theology is grace, and the essence of Christian ethics is gratitude.” The legalist isolates the law from the God who gave the law. He is not so much seeking to obey God or honor Christ as he is to obey rules that are devoid of any personal relationship.#
Let’s pick up this discussion by studying that verse from the book of Proverbs 24:27 that says, “Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house.”
The wisdom is, according the Benson Commentary,
- Use both industry and prudence in the management of thy concerns, and do every thing in the proper order. First, mind those things which are most necessary, cultivating the ground, and furnishing thyself with cattle, and the fruits of the field, which are needful for thy subsistence; and after that thou mayest procure such things as are for ornament and comfort, such as the building of a convenient house.**
In the situation where an anti-Christian professor is very combative against Christianity, it is always best to consider this situation as complicated. There are many things you might consider in responding to this situation.
You can make grades a consideration. You still do not know how this professor will respond to you if you combat him back. I have heard of numerous stories where the professor takes the challenge personally and reflect it on the grades of the students.
I’m not saying that your testimony is less important than your grades. What I’m saying is that there are other ways you can protect your grade by being objective to your professor, and not make this into a personal slug fest. Like I said above, this scenario may actually be beneficial for you as a student since you will be trained to listen and understand, thus giving you the opportunity to reflect on an issue that is integrate in the mind of the professor.
Do not risk your grades for this scenario. Instead recuperate it so that it will be advantageous to your learning experience. As Scripture says, you must be “slow to become angry.”
You can make your Christian testimony as a consideration. We had one student attending Ratio Christi that shared to us a situation that he regretted. He debated his professor in class and he was visibly angry. Not only did the professor lashed on him, he also lashed back. What he did was he dropped the class. Later on some of his classmates made fun of him as “the angry Christian.”
When you are in this situation it is best to see yourself not only as a student but the Lord’s servant. 2 Timothy 2:24 says, “And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.” Scripture also adds in Philippians 4:5 “Let your gentleness be evident to all.”
You can also put your parents under your consideration. If you have parents who are all out to support you in being pugnacious in the classroom, then good for you. But not all parents are like that. Some of them just try hard just to put you to school to give you a good future. In engaging unprepared to slug it out to your professor, you might jeopardize your parents chances of seeing you learn and secure your future. Remember that I am not saying that you shouldn’t respond to your professor; what I’m saying is to be prepared and carrying with you the wisdom of what we have been discussing here so far.
Below is my rules of engagement for Christian students who are in a classroom where a combatant atheist professor at the moment is ripping Christianity. The memory aid is CLAPCLAP.
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT: PREPARE YOUR WORK, THEN BUILD
- Concentrate. Create a focus. Understand why you are there in the classroom. The goal is to build learning. So anything that happens inside the classroom should recoil to this orientation. When you do this you would not get lost in the emotions of the class.
- Listen. Listen to your professor and try to determine his claim and the support to his claim. And like what the verse said earlier, be “slow to anger.” If you are courageous enough ask him for clarification, but do this with a lot of respect. 1 Peter 3:15 closes the verse with “do this with gentleness and respect.” When you ask him in class, be respectful by saying, “Sir, I am very intrigued by what you said I was wondering what made you conclude that Christianity is that way?”
- Approach. When the class ends, approach him and thank him for entertaining your question. Introduce yourself as a Christian and tell him that what he said made you think and will probably think even more.
- Pray. As soon as you are out of the class consider praying to God for your professor and the argument that he raised. Pray also that God will give you the wisdom to deal with the issue. Also, you need to see this opportunity to minister the gospel to your professor. Share your feelings to your Christian friend, and have your concern be prayed over at church by writing it in the prayer request slip at church.
- Connect. Research. Reconnect. Reflect. By reconnect I mean try to get in touch with people who can help you prepare a response.
- Level. To “level with someone” means to “speak frankly and openly to someone” Once you get the answer hopefully via 4H set an appointment with the teacher and level with him personally. I hope your professor will appreciate this more than engaging him in a public disputation in a class. Filipinos generally, most especially to persons of authority, have a very important affinity to their amor propio or self-esteem. If you confront them in public that eventually leads to their shame, that might create a ripple effect to your overall course grade.
- Appreciate. It is always good to bid your professor an appreciative comment for the time and learning you got from him.
- Pray. After the encounter continue to pray for your professor.
May God use your efforts to minister to your professor.
(C) Photo Credit
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* J. Budziszewski, How to Stay Christian in College (TH1NK; first edition (June 1, 2014), 12.
† Doug Britton, “Be Prepared for Some Teachers to Attack Your Faith: Learn to Carefully Evaluate What You Hear,” in Tree of Life (website); accessed at https://www.dougbrittonbooks.com/onlinebiblestudies-cultureandsocietyinfluences/bepreparedforteacherstoattackchristianity/; accessed on September 11, 2017.
‡ James Hoskins, ““God’s Not Dead” and the Angry Atheist Professor: That Was Not My Experience,” in Christ & Pop Culture (website); accessed at https://christandpopculture.com/gods-dead-angry-atheist-professor-experience/; accessed on September 12, 2017
§ Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, sv “Idol, Idolatry”; accessed at http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/bakers-evangelical-dictionary/idol-idolatry.html
║ Kyle Idleman, Gods at War
¶ Ibid
# RC Sproul, “3 Types of Legalism,” in Ligonier Ministries (website); accessed at http://www.ligonier.org/blog/3-types-legalism/.
** http://biblehub.com/commentaries/benson/proverbs/24.htm
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