How to Dialogue with Intelligent People and College Students who are Less Likely to be Religious

“Intelligent people don’t simply reject religion because it’s wrong; they reject it because their social environs lead them to think it’s wrong.

We choose which questions to grapple with on the basis of how important they are to us. When society keeps repeating that “smart folks reject religion,” then religion no longer becomes worthy of investigation or adherence. Previously faithful teenagers go off to college, stop attending church and become what “smart people” tell them they should, skeptics.”

Jordan Monge,
Christianity Today, August 26, 2013

Almost nobody makes a conscience decision to not believe in Jesus or the message of the Bible. It happens most often when Christians grow up seeing older Christians not living what they teach, or simply repeating the, “Because the Word of God says so”, line to any question they can’t answer effectively. Therefore, when we begin teaching or discussing a biblical worldview, what we say and how we present truth, takes on added importance.

So, I’ve set for myself the following four criteria for teaching the young men and religious skeptics I meet with;
     • Am I true to the Bible?
     • Am I intellectually honest?
     • Am I gracious in the way I answer others, even critics?
     • Do I live what I teach?