A moment for courage and clarity

Guarding the gospel in our colleges is not optional. It is obedience to Christ and love for the next generation. The pressures are real, but the promises of God are greater.

Scripture is not decoration on campus life. It is the foundation and the standard. “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth” (John 17:17). If colleges drift from the Word, they drift from Christ.

The Word at the center

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16–17). Institutions are only healthy when Scripture governs belief, curriculum, policy, and practice.

The Bible is true in all it affirms—historically, morally, doctrinally. The God who speaks does not stutter. “The sum of Your word is truth, and all Your righteous judgments endure forever” (Psalm 119:160).

Mission drift is real

Drift often starts quietly. A softening of language. A new definition of “academic freedom.” A shift from pleasing God to appeasing accreditors, donors, or cultural gatekeepers. “We must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away” (Hebrews 2:1).

The assignment is steady: “contend earnestly for the faith once for all entrusted to the saints” (Jude 3). We guard without grimness, but with joy and resolve.

- Subtle steps toward drift:

- Ambiguous mission statements that de-center Christ and Scripture

- Doctrinal statements recast as “historic” rather than binding

- Faculty hires who “personally” believe orthodoxy but refuse to teach it plainly

- Student policies rewritten to mirror the culture’s moral script

- Chapel and discipleship recast as optional inspiration rather than formative obedience

Guardrails worth building

Convictions need structures. Good people and good intentions are not enough. Put weight-bearing guardrails in place.

- Nonnegotiables for institutional fidelity:

- A clear, public, and specific doctrinal statement, including biblical authority, the gospel, creation, sin, atonement, bodily resurrection, and Christ’s exclusive lordship

- Annual, unambiguous confessional subscription by trustees, administrators, and faculty

- Hiring, tenure, and promotion tied to doctrinal fidelity and fruit, not only credentials

- A biblically aligned code of conduct for all, with restorative discipline

- Chapel, small groups, and local church partnerships that disciple, not entertain

- Regular theological audits of syllabi, readings, and campus programming

- Board policies that place faithfulness above reputation, revenue, and rankings

Convictions in the classroom

Truth belongs in every lecture hall. Faith-and-learning integration is not a sprinkle; it is the recipe. “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17). That means syllabi, sources, and outcomes all serve Christ.

We prepare students to resist counterfeit wisdom. Cite Colossians 2:8, and then teach them how to recognize and refute any ideology that rivals Christ. Pair rigorous scholarship with robust theology. Equip them to be salt and light in their professions.

- Practices that keep Christ central:

- Require a sequence of Bible and theology courses for every major

- Include confessional statements on syllabi with practical implications

- Train in biblical worldview analysis across disciplines

- Establish faculty mentoring for doctrinal and pedagogical integrity

- Assess learning outcomes for spiritual formation, not merely content mastery

Hiring, tenure, and governance that protect

Trustees, presidents, and faculty are shepherds, not mere managers. “Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers” (Acts 20:28). Governance must be confessional and courageous.

Tenure policies should preserve truth, not shield error. Require alignment with biblical doctrine in hiring, peer review, and renewal. “Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching… Guard the treasure entrusted to you” (2 Timothy 1:13–14).

- Build a faithful leadership framework:

- Board members vetted for church membership, doctrinal clarity, and backbone

- Standing theology committee with authority to review programs and people

- Confessional interviews, not only statement signatures

- Annual training in biblical doctrine and contemporary cultural challenges

- Clear processes for addressing theological deviation with due process and speed

Student life that disciples

A college forms habits for a lifetime. Discipline done in love is discipleship. “A little leaven leavens the whole batch of dough” (1 Corinthians 5:6). Policy signals priority. Community standards should reflect Scripture and lead students to Christlike maturity.

Holiness and hospitality go together. “Speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15) means we are gentle and firm. James 1:27 calls us to purity and mercy. Shape residence life, athletics, and student orgs around obeying Jesus.

- Discipleship priorities:

- Daily Scripture engagement across campus rhythms

- Gospel clarity and repentance in chapel and counseling

- Standards on sexuality, alcohol, integrity, and speech that mirror God’s Word

- Trauma-informed care that never trades compassion for compromise

- Deep local church involvement and membership pathways for students

Funding, accreditation, and the cost of fidelity

Money and recognition test motives. Title IV funds, grants, or accreditor expectations must not rewrite mission. Better a smaller faithful college than a larger compromised one. “The fear of man is a snare” (Proverbs 29:25).

Plan deliberately. Build reserves, diversify revenue, and pursue accreditors who respect religious freedom. When required to choose, choose Christ. “From everyone who has been given much, much will be required” (Luke 12:48).

- Wise strategies:

- Legal counsel to protect religious liberty in policy and contracts

- Financial models that reduce dependence on restricted revenue

- Accreditation engagement that asserts confessional rights early and often

- Donor education that funds mission, not mission drift

- Contingency plans for adverse regulatory shifts

Biblical clarity on humanity and sexuality

Genesis 1:27 is not negotiable: “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them”. Marriage, chastity, and the goodness of embodied creation must be taught and lived.

Policies on pronouns, facilities, counseling, athletics, and employment must reflect truth and love. John 8:31–32 anchors freedom in reality: “If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”.

Spotting red flags early

Address small cracks before they become collapses. Do not normalize the abnormal.

- Warning signs:

- Sidelining Scripture under the banner of “dialogue”

- Calling sin by softer names

- Turning diversity offices into doctrinal authorities

- Outsourcing core programs to partners without shared convictions

- Faculty or staff who refuse to affirm biblical sexual ethics or evangelism as proselytizing

- Chapel speakers who contradict the college’s statement of faith

Partnering as churches, parents, alumni, and donors

Christian colleges do not stand alone. Churches commend and correct. Parents and alumni ask for fruit. Donors fund fidelity.

Stand alongside leaders with encouragement and accountability. Expect Matthew 28:18–20 to define outcomes. Ask for evidence of conversions, baptisms, and disciple-making, not just enrollment growth.

- How to help:

- Pray specifically and consistently

- Visit campus and read syllabi

- Fund scholarships tied to mission outcomes

- Serve on advisory councils with pastoral conviction

- Celebrate courageous decisions publicly

Standing firm with grace

We are not anxious. Christ is Lord on campus. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). Stand firm and hold fast to what you were taught (2 Thessalonians 2:15).

We speak the truth with tears and tenacity. Our aim is faithfulness to Jesus, love for students, and the advance of the gospel to the ends of the earth.

Teach students that God’s world and God’s Word agree. Genesis 1–2 is real history. Anchor biology, chemistry, and environmental studies in creation, providence, and teleology.

Equip students to analyze competing models. Train them to handle data, methods, and metaphysics without bowing to naturalism. Proverbs 1:7 belongs in the lab: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge”.

- Lab-level commitments:

- Affirm God’s direct creation of humanity in His image

- Expose philosophical assumptions behind “methodological naturalism”

- Highlight Christian scientists who unite rigor with reverence

- Stewardship and dominion teaching that honors the Creator

Sexuality, identity, and institutional integrity

Policies must say what Scripture says and help people live it. Uphold chastity outside marriage and covenant fidelity within. Teach that body and soul are united gifts, not raw material to be remade.

Counseling should combine compassion with clarity. 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 matters on campus: “You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body”.

- Policy essentials:

- Pronoun and name policies that align with biological reality

- Housing, athletics, and facilities based on created sex

- Counseling that calls to repentance and offers gospel hope

- Employment expectations that model biblical holiness

Race, justice, and Christ-centered unity

Pursue justice without embracing ideologies that deny sin’s universality or the cross’s sufficiency. The gospel reconciles sinners to God and one another. Teach history honestly and hope fully.

Scripture calls us to bear burdens, repent of partiality, and seek peace. Frame diversity offices and programs as ministries under biblical authority and the local church, not substitutes for them.

- Healthy pathways:

- Courses on biblical justice and church history across cultures

- Repent of partiality where found, practice tangible reconciliation

- Mentor pipelines that develop diverse, doctrinally faithful leaders

- Reject frameworks that redefine guilt and grace apart from Christ

Online expansion, OPMs, and mission risk

Rapid growth through online program managers can dilute doctrine. Guard curricular control, admissions standards, and faculty oversight. Own your content and outcomes.

Partnerships must affirm your confession contractually. Measure success by discipleship and doctrinal integrity, not only credit hours.

- Safeguards:

- Mission clauses in contracts with termination rights for theological breach

- Faculty of record employed by the college and confessional

- Shared data agreements that protect student privacy and pastoral care

- Regular audits of partner marketing and messaging

International partnerships and interfaith pressures

Global opportunities can open doors for the gospel and tempt compromise. Do not trade clarity for access. State plainly that Jesus is Lord and Scripture is final.

Train teams to navigate local laws wisely while retaining theological integrity. Daniel’s resolve and Joseph’s wisdom both matter.

- Practical steps:

- Pre-partnership theological alignment review

- Contingency plans if legal constraints force silence about Christ

- Chaplaincy and member-care for expatriate faculty and students

- Clear guidelines for interfaith events that keep the gospel explicit

AI, data, and the image of God

New tools test old truths. Use technology to serve learning, never to replace human formation. Guard privacy, resist plagiarism, and keep pedagogy personal.

AI policy should flow from a biblical anthropology. People are not machines. Formation demands presence, virtue, and worship.

- Policy anchors:

- Transparent AI use policies in syllabi

- Assessment designed for integrity and real learning

- Data governance that protects students as neighbors

- Faculty development on wise, bounded tech adoption

Measuring what matters

What you measure shapes what you become. Track faithfulness, not just finances. Evaluate whether students know the gospel, love the church, and obey Jesus.

“Stand firm and hold to the traditions” (2 Thessalonians 2:15). Build dashboards that keep that command in view.

- Metrics to watch:

- Scripture engagement and doctrinal understanding

- Evangelism, baptisms, and church membership

- Faculty confessional renewals and classroom integration audits

- Alumni fruit in church life, family, vocation, and mission

From foundation to finish

“Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life” (Proverbs 4:23). The same is true for our institutions. Colleges that guard the gospel will give the church faithful pastors, teachers, nurses, engineers, artists, and missionaries.

Christ holds us fast. Build on the Rock, keep the Word central, and labor with hope until graduation day and the Last Day meet.