Harder Than I Thought...

Well, I'm all moved in, unpacked, and on my own. My room is all set up, I've bought my books, met my roommates, and taken care of countless details that are apparently essential to college life. My dorm is arranged suite style. There are three rooms in a suite, with a common living room and bathroom. This means that I have 1 roommate who I actually share this shoebox with, and share very close quarters with 4 other girls.

I was very relieved to find that we all get along very well, everyone is nice and willing to work together to make this a pleasant place to live. After we had lived here for approximately two hours we got in our pajamas and sat around for a little girl talk. The subject of religion come up almost immediately. (Interestingly, I was not the one who brought it up.) I listened patiently as these girls laid forth their immensely confused ideas about God and Christianity.

My roommate is a good faithful Christian. She knows she has faith of course, because she has had enough experiences that prove it... She thinks. She doesn't want to read anything on the subject of theology, becuase she's afraid that it will make her question her faith. If she ever has a doubt about her faith, she must not really be saved, right?

Another girl grew up in a non-Christian home. He mom is a member of some strange form of mysticsm. This girl had to find Christianity for herself. I can't remember what the name of her church is, but it broke off from the Mormons in the early 1900s. She explained that the bible and the book of Mormon have equal validity. She then proceeded to tell what a great prophet Joseph Smith was, and she recounted the tale of how he formed Mormonism. Of course, neither the book of Mormon or the bible can be taken literally. Take the feeding of the 5000 for example. God didn't actually create more fish and bread. Its just that everyone there had their own food, but they were afraid to eat it because they thought they would have to share. As soon as the little boy showed he was willing to share, everyone got out their own food and they had a great time.

Another girl is just a good Methodist. Wait no, Baptist. Wait, she's not really sure which one she wants to be. She has no idea what her church teaches, but it doesn't really matter, as long as we all love Jesus right? I asked her if the term Bapti-Methocostalism offended her. She thought it was really funny, since she's not really sure what the differences are.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I didn't know you could pack so much confusion into one room! As I listened I tried to counter these crazy ideas with the true teachings of the word of God. I didn't want to be too antagonistic, at least not on the first night. But I also didn't want to comprimise what I believe, or say that's just what's right for me. By the time we went off to our respective rooms I was quite shell shoked. What can I say to these people? Obviously if I say anything, I will have to take a stand on a very unpopular view. I will have to posit that my view is the only correct one: That we are sinners, and that Jesus Christ died and rose for us to take away our sin. That there is only one way to heaven. That the bible is the inspired word of God. That faith does not rest on any kind of feeling. And that there is an absolute truth.

I'm afraid of what will happen when I start proclaiming the truth. Last night I realized that it is so much easier to just nod along and get along. But affirming these girls in their error will not clear any confusion, it will only cause them to sink deeper. I can only trust in God to guide me and keep me firm as I live here and interact with these people. I also thank God that, even though I will inevitably mumble, speak badly, and butcher my words, He will work through me to do His will. This is going to be harder than I thought.