Bright Light: A Lifetime of Seeing God at Work by Harold Ewing Burchett

Author:Harold Ewing Burchett
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Bringing Christ Back Ministries
Published: 2013-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

God at Work on the University Campus

We carried our church’s witness directly to the university campus in several ways. All members of the church who attended area schools of higher learning were encouraged and helped to bear Christian testimony in the class sessions, interactions with fellow students, and even discussions with their professors. Once a week several specially prepared young men and women went into the dorms; Bible studies often resulted.

One professor who chaired a department at the state university was known for his direct assaults on positions held by students who believed in Christ and the veracity of Scripture. An older, mature student asked me how he might give an effective rebuttal. We talked together and came up with a plan, which he set in motion when the next attack came.

Raising his hand for permission to speak, he laid down a challenge before the class to his professor. “Sir, since this is a place of higher learning, we ought to hear the other side put by one who is trained as you are, and then we can make our own decisions in these matters. And I know such a man who would be willing to come to do this.”

The professor did not allow me to attend a class, but he did agree to bring two carloads of students to a restaurant for lunch and debate. I’m sure no one who was there that day remembers what we ate! My opponent was brilliant and more consistent in his agnosticism than I ever expected.

I finally said, “So if I massaged your scalp with a crowbar, you would want justice, even though you argue that there is no essential spirit in a man, only blank matter. Choice is all preprogrammed into each person from his genes and conditioning—is that what you are saying?”

“Exactly,” he agreed.

“Thus you argue your case as an atheist, but you would cry for justice as if you were a theist.” Nothing moved him.

Nothing, that is, until we stood on the sidewalk outside the restaurant, where I commented, “It’s surprising how different things are at your school here from the large university in the South where my brother serves as a dean. Professors and leaders I have met there are solid church members and believers, and they value the Bible.”

“That may be true. I and my colleagues, though, wouldn’t hold a job five minutes in those schools.”

Just what I wanted that circle of eager ears to hear! “Yes, but do you admit that to your students? Or do you lead them to feel that your position is that of all truly thinking people?”

I was invited to one of the frat houses for a debate. This came about at the initiative of their chef, who was a loyal member at our church. In his typical blunt style, he responded to their good-humored taunts about his simple faith with a challenge: “You guys throw big words around, but you need to listen to someone who can answer and silence you. And I know one who can do it—my pastor!”

At that, they invited me to a Sunday lunch with them.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.