Girl, Go to Church
During college, a lot of people use the excuse of “college” to not go to church. Some of the specifics I’ve heard are, “I don’t want to feel convicted while living my college life,” “Once I’m done with college, I’ll have more time for God,” or even, “God will understand why I don’t go to church now.” Not only are these excuses I’ve heard from others, but also, sometimes even excuses I’ve used. But, despite the excuses and the peer pressure to not go to church, or having the desire to find a church where you don’t feel convicted, finding a good church while going to college is one of the most important things for developing your faith.
Finding your own church as an adult is a real test of discernment. It’s a way to step into your faith and learn how to listen to the discernment the holy spirit gives you. Choosing a church can also oftentimes be a part of a reaffirmation of your faith. When you have to make that step in choosing a church, you have to prove to yourself that your faith is yours and not your parents' faith. When you decide to go to church in college, that is YOU making the personal choice to develop your faith, discernment, and trust in the Holy Spirit. It’s a chance to step out from the guidance of your parents and maybe for the first time, make your own decision regarding your faith.
I was so blessed to grow up with parents that were very clear about what a church should teach. I also attended a church that always was strict about teaching the biblical word. When I went to college, I didn’t step away from what my parents had taught me, but I did get the opportunity to rely on my relationship with God and the Holy Spirit to lead me to the right church.
My first experience choosing my own church was in junior college. I was grateful I was on a livestock judging team that valued their faith and the time they spent at church, but there was one problem. The people on my team who went to church chose a church where they described it as “I like going there because I don’t feel convicted about how I am living my life.” While I wanted to go to church with my team and be involved with the after-church brunches, this comment left me with the feeling that this church would not be the right decision for me.
I ultimately decided that my first Sunday morning in El Dorado, Kansas would be spent at First Baptist Church of El Dorado. I learned from this experience that a good indicator of what a church will be like is how the congregation treats their guests. After church, I was approached by an older woman who told me I should stick around for the young adult Sunday School class. That day they were talking about the biblical definition of marriage, a topic that for some reason that I will never understand, has become a point of debate in a lot of churches.
From that first class, I learned that the church was firmly rooted in the word of God. Later, I also realized how many things went right for me that day. I don’t mean by chance; I mean God orchestrated the situation. I didn’t have to go to church the first Sunday I was in Kansas, but I felt like it would set the foundation for my time there. I didn’t have to go to the early service, I could’ve gone to the later service and not gotten the opportunity to go to Sunday school, but I was bored and ready to do something that morning. If I didn’t go to Sunday School that morning, I might not have known beyond a shadow of a doubt that this church was completely biblically based. But God knew.
God knew that my first experience picking a church needed to be clear. God knew that he needed to give me a path where I felt comfortable returning to a biblical church. God knew that as a young Christian, I needed a church that would keep me grounded during two of the most difficult and influential years of my life. God knew.
“Ask, and it shall be given to you, seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”
Matthew 7:7-8
Going into college, I was seeking to find a good church. I didn’t know what that would look like, but God gave me the gift of a good church. I believe God will give you the things you need right when you need them. My first time choosing a church, I didn’t know what I needed but God did.
For those of you getting ready to go to college, those of you that may be in college but haven’t gone to church in a while, and those of you that might be moving away from home, I want to encourage you to let God work in your life to find a church. It doesn’t have to be scary or hard, and if you are truly seeking a Godly church, I do believe God will not only give you the discernment needed to find one but will also help lead you to a church that will make you feel like you are where you need to be.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
College shouldn’t be used as an excuse to not seek God, but rather be used as an opportunity to lean on Him while going through some of the biggest changes of your life.
