After a long day of student teaching, I decided to make a stop at campus on my way home, figuring that a lap around the quad would do my racing mind some good. I passed under a hanging basket by Chamberlain and looking up, I noticed a purple banner upon a pole with the words “Deeply Christian.” This bold statement had me frozen in place as I pondered what it means for Houghton as an institution to claim these words, and what that should look like in real life. It is one thing to say or claim something, but to actually live it out and prove the statement true is a completely different matter. If Houghton is deeply Christian, that should have implications for the daily lives of all its community members. Words have power, and it is important for each of us to understand what it means to claim a deeply Christian identity.
What does it look like to be “deeply Christian” in a world full of compromise and hypocrisy? The Merriam Webster dictionary says that “deep” means “very intense” or “extreme”. So in essence, that banner is saying Houghton has an intense Christianity. Let’s unpack this even more: what is the definition of Christian? In Acts 11:26, the term “Christian” stems from the Greek word for “follower of Christ.” Following Jesus Christ, however, is no simple matter: it requires one’s entire being and life to be surrendered (Matthew 16:24-26).
If we are going to claim to be a deeply Christian college, we need to be acting out this intense, passionate, and disciplined life to the fullest. There should be a longing with every fiber of our being to grow in relationship with the Lord, as we become students of His Word. To fail to live out the claim on that banner would in essence be to misrepresent Christ and risk hypocrisy. This is a risky statement because of all that is at stake: representing Jesus in our lives and as an institution is no matter to be taken lightly. Our Savior is not just some figure we hear talked about from thousands of years ago. His word is not just a Sunday and Bible class accessory, and His commandments are not just suggestions for how to live that we can modify at our leisure. To echo Charles Spurgeon, an English preacher and evangelist, “If Christ is not all to you, He is nothing to you. He will never go into partnership as a part Savior of men. If he be something, He must be everything, and if He be not everything, He is nothing to you”. This quote demonstrates how radical it is to be deeply Christian. It is not something we can do halfway, and I encourage you to let this truth sink into your heart.
I am concerned that Houghton may be leaning towards the side of lukewarmness and compromise. If we claim to be deeply Christian and fail to follow through, this is a serious offense that needs to be addressed. As a 5th generation Houghton student, I have heard since the day I was born about Houghton College. Both my parents attended here, as well as my grandparents from both sides of my family. My grandfather even taught at Houghton as a well respected professor in the math and science department. I have deep roots at Houghton, and I feel very connected to its heritage and story. There are amazing and godly people that I have met and known here. Do not mistake my straightforward talk for not caring about this college. I also do not intend to falsely accuse or judge the faith of others. It is because of my connections to this place and its people that I have concern.
Houghton appears in many ways to live out its Christian name. We have chapel services, clubs that advocate for causes, Bible studies, prayer times, and we say nice “Christian” things. However, I encourage everyone to do some deep soul searching. It may be difficult for us as a college to stand upon the Word of God no matter what, even if means risking losing future students. Yet it is important to stand upon the truth of God’s Word instead of seeking to gain the world’s approval. I speak bluntly on purpose to challenge us as an institution and the body of Christ, for we claim to be deeply Christian. Since our community is the body of Christ, the intensity, vibrancy, and boldness of our Christianity is crucial to following through on our claims of being “deeply Christian.”
Aubrey is a senior majoring in education.