This is part 3 and the conclusion of a series of posts on education. Part 1 & 2 focused on my educational experiences. Part 3 concludes with delving into considering college for young ladies.
What are the important things to consider when making further educational choices? Is college the right pursuit for a young lady? When evaluating these questions for yourself or for your children, please prayerfully consider these thoughts that I have gleaned as I have studied the Word and other resources. I don’t assume to know what God might have for everyone, but it is important to weigh each decision with much prayer and evaluating what the Bible has to say.
Is the truth upheld?
The ability to study and learn is such a wonderful gift the Lord has given us. It is a powerful tool that can be used for evil or good!
I know there are many godly universities out and that is why it is important to evaluate whether the school is upholding the truth of the gospel. I am thrilled to see universities like Patrick Henry, Hillsdale, and many Bible schools that are standing strongly upon that truth. I commend them for their efforts!
The Bible says clearly in 1 Cor. 15:33, “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good morals.” And in Psalms 1:1-3, “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night…” For us to assume that an ungodly environment will not influence us would be a foolish assumption.
Voddie Baucham, Jr. in his book, Family Driven Faith, gives this challenge:
“Solomon tells us, ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge’ (cf. Job 28:28; Psalm 111:10; Prov. 9:10; 15:33; Eccl. 12:13). In other words, our educational choice has to be based on the fact that God cannot and must not be ignored in the process. Any educational system that denies the existence, preeminence, and primacy of God is in violation of this biblical principle and is detracting from, rather than contributing to, the discipleship process [of our children].”
There is definitely a place for being salt and light and ambassadors of the gospel, but consider Luke 6:40, “A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.” This is a question to ask, who do you want yourself or your children to resemble?
Consider Your Motives
Was I going to school just so I could feel good about myself? So I could be successful in the eyes of the world? Those were the struggles I went through. What might be your motives for pursuing higher education? This is something to prayerfully consider. How might going to college help or assist you if, Lord willing, God calls you to be a wife and mother?
Being a wife and mother requires many skills, as it is a full time job. Some of these skills could be learned in college (nursing, children’s education, etc), but most are learned at home, through hands on education, under the tutelage of a mother or a godly woman in your church, or through wonderful books and resources. They no longer teach home economics in school unfortunately. If God might be calling you to the mission field, what skills could you learn that would be beneficial overseas? Medical, dental, teaching, etc. The important thing to consider…how will this help in preparing me for the direction God is calling me? Let every decision be seasoned in prayer!
Pursuing further education is a wonderful pursuit, but what is the best environment to pursue it in?
Remaining Under Her Father’s Roof
Due to a young lady’s vulnerability and being the weaker vessel (it is the biblical truth whether we like it or not), I consider the best option for her to be able to live at home, if all possible, if she chooses to study outside the home. This would mean choosing a local college/university. This allows her to be under the protection and covering of her father and mother. I understand this is not possible for every young woman, nor is every young woman coming from a Christian family that values this. It would just be the ideal from my experience.
Serving Your Father & Family
Staying at home is not limiting at all, but rather provides wonderful opportunity for a daughter to serve her family and others. Serving her father is one of the best teaching grounds for a young lady to learn submission and training that will one day, Lord willing, transfer to a husband.
She can seek out how she might serve to further his vision (whether it be working in his business, serving in ministry together, etc), which in turn will equip her with skills that will serve her husband and his vision in the future. For one, I was given opportunity to learn book keeping skills to serve my dad’s business, which could be helpful in the future for my husband’s business.
Cultivating Skills
As I mentioned previously, I do believe it is important to have skills that could earn a living if it were necessary, for her to work on from home, or on the side once she starts her own household, but it remains the husband’s responsibility to be the provider for the family. The Proverbs 31 woman had many skills she sought to use from her home to earn income. All young ladies should be cultivating these skills (sewing, teaching, etc). The ideas are endless.
Study from Home
The opportunities to study from home are endless as well (distance learning), and should be considered as another viable alternative. Continue learning by all means! Education is a gift, but to assume we can only pursue it through college is a lie. I am always learning, always reading…strengthening my homemaking skills and being prepared and aware of our culture so I might be prepared to relate and share the truth. There is so much more freedom here in the home!
Seek to Serve
Lastly, consider how you can invest your single years for the service of others and ministry for Christ’s kingdom! There is ample opportunities to minister in your communities, churches, and even internationally. Many ideas that I participated in during my single at home years were volunteering at my local Pregnancy Resource Center, participating in mission trips, leading a young ladies bible study, etc.
It is truly valuable to take it all to the Lord in prayer, while seeking the wisdom and advice of other godly men & women in your life! This is controversial topic, and you will find different positions on this, and both options have their benefits and disadvantages…but prayerfully consider what God would have for you!
“Whatever, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” – 1 Cor. 10:31
I would love to hear from others who have pursued alternative education options, pros and cons…please share!
Okay, so I’m commenting a year later but that’s because I’ve been going back through older posts. I’m so glad to have read this one! I am certainly a lone voice in my world shouting that college isn’t everything and isn’t for everyone. I spent 6 years at 4 different schools (and we won’t attempt to count all the majors) in attempt to discover what in the world I’m to do with life. I recently pulled out of a nursing program I was halfway from completing because the pull between satisfying the world’s expectation for me and the Lord’s direction for me was too great. My weeks consisted of tears for months as a result of this struggle. The day I dropped out from pursuing the world was the day my happiest days in years began. The second day afterwards my husband said to me. “I’m so glad to have my wife back.” THAT made not having that college degree or meeting those expectations entirely worthwhile. I can’t begin to advocate enough for a personal evaluation prior to entering college. In fact, I personally think a year or two after high school for exploration is invaluable time that for some reason isn’t looked highly upon. God has an individual plan for each of us. For some it is indeed a college degree and career. But for others we must find the courage to step out and follow our own path. When we do, we find absolute peace and comfort in our mighty God! Again, thank you for discussing your own education record and for the immense encouragment!
Hi Lindsay (we share the same name! haha)
I am a 19-year-old christian girl who is a sophomore at ASU studying Education. I struggle with this issue IMMENSELY, because while I would love to become a certified elementary school teacher and I am learning a lot about child behavior while going to college, ASU is obviously NOT a christian institution and my professors have challenged me on my christian beliefs many times. I only chose to come here because of a great scholarship ASU gave me. My parents are recently divorced and not very strong christians and live 2,000 miles away (they are in WA, I am in AZ), so I have no choice but to live in the dorms, which I hate. My boyfriend and I, who have been together for 2+ years, feel called to be married but I feel pressured by the world to finish college first so I can “achieve something” before being married. But this is such a worldly idea.
From reading your blog I have gathered that being a homemaker involves so many skills, knowledge and practical smarts (in the areas of cooking, cleaning, finances, decorating, etc.) that I am shocked that our society doesn’t consider it worthwhile or ambitious to desire to become a wife and mother. What could be more ambitious than influencing generations of people for Christ!? I have told this to my mother, and she is a bit of a feminist and thinks that I am being brainwashed by my boyfriend to marry him, but really I am trying to follow God’s call on my life. It is ironic because she said that staying at home and raising my brother and I were the best years of her life.
I really have no idea whether I will finish college or not. On one hand, I have received a full scholarship and I don’t want to waste it. I am a good student who makes mostly A’s and a few B’s. On the other hand, I feel that my growth is being stunted spiritually and that these upcoming years (I don’t graduate til Dec. 2011) are a waste when I would rather be doing other things (like getting married, having an apartment with my husband, and following in the footsteps of the Proverbs 31 woman). I have already made one step in this direction by switching my major to education, whereas last year I was studying journalism which is a profession where you are expected to completely abandon all ideas of being a stay-at-home mom or even getting married because it is SO demanding. But I still wonder if I should drop out altogether. Obviously, I need to pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit, as these are huge decisions that will affect the rest of my life.
I really enjoy your perspective and I have already learned so much from reading your blog
My dear friend, I definitely understand your dilemma. I would strongly encourage you to take it to the Lord in prayer. He knows what is best for you! My first thought is that a major like education is very beneficial for your future, if you plan to have children and teach them (especially if you want to home school). It would be a huge blessing to have that knowledge. Honestly, I wish I had a little more knowledge and training myself. I don’t think it is totally necessary, but if you are halfway there and have a full scholarship…I would lean towards sticking it out. If you were racking up debt, that would be a different story. I definitely encourage your high calling to be a wife and mother…I would strongly encourage you to devote every free moment to cultivating those homemaking skills. Do you have a good church in your area? Now more than ever you need to surround yourself with solid Christian friends and even godly older women that you could ask to mentor and train you. Seek out those older women that could fill that gap that your mother did not fill. Being a keeper of the home is definitely a full time job and one that I would encourage you to prepare for. I don’t know what is best for you…but I do know that we serve a Sovereign Awesome God that loves and cares for you! He has opened up these doors and scholarship for you, you are still young, do what He calls you to do with all your might (whether that be continuing or discontinuing), and you won’t regret it. Pursue what gives you peace. You just have to be on your guard against the desire to careerism and the world will try to pull you down into its mold. Stand strong for the Lord! Stick to your convictions. Don’t stop praying! May the Lord bless you with His direction.
Thank you so much for your great and godly encouragement and advice
You have a very busy life taking care of your husband and two young kids so I thank you for taking the time to respond to me! I am definitely leaning towards finishing my education to become a teacher, I feel that God is speaking to me in numerous small ways, including your response. I have no doubt that being a teacher will provide invaluable wisdom once I have my own family one day 
As for my boyfriend and I, we are still planning on being married, most likely within the next year or 2, and I am still working on trying to convince my family that being married young or being a stay-at-home mom aren’t bad things, especially if its what God has called me to do.
I will continue to be a reader of your blog!
Thanks again, Lindsay
I just found your blog, and wanted to say how thankful I am for your willingness to share your own stuggles. It is encouraging to know that others have had the same concerns that I am dealing with now. I’m 19 years old, graduated in 2008 and have been living at home, though not with a content or cheerful attitude.
I have been realizing how skewed my motives have been, even in the young ladies disciplship group I’m leading. I am so selfish, and mainly act out of fear or guilt, wanting to please other people and feel good about myself.
I think that motives really is what it gets down to, and that’s why some people can have a wonderfully God-glorifying experiences in college, and others can’t. Even missions work is not exempt from being tainted by bad motives.
Thanks again for your wonderful post! It is helping to change my heart
As a newcomer (and late poster) to your blog, I just wanted to say that I appreciate being able to enjoy uplifting, wholesome, and USEFUL blogs like yours. However, I have to disagree with this post. While I wholeheartedly agree that God has His own plans for each of us, and that college is not for everyone, it is exactly His plan for some of His daughters. I felt very strongly that I was to attend college, and have recently graduated with a Master’s degree. The Lord blessed me with an aptitude and a love for academics, and I felt that not pursuing higher education would be a waste of the gifts He had given. He has told us to love Him with all of our hearts, our souls, and our MINDS, and I believe that for me, college was a great way to love Him with my Mind. Thanks for your gentle approach in addressing this topic!
I enjoyed reading your series of posts, and just wanted to tell you that I am currently going to The Master’s and majoring in Home Economics, which is a huge blessing, the only factor that is hard is the price of a private institution and that I am far away from my family.
http://www.masters.edu/DeptPageNew.asp?PageID=14
I have an 18 year old son and a daughter of 17, we too have struggled with this same topic. I am also not saying that college is not where God can lead some of His children, but I do believe most go for the pressure placed on them by this world. I just felt the need to post in case anyone else may be struggling in this area, but it is a relatively high percentage of Christian students who leave their faith after just one year in college. Please PRAY, PRAY, AND PRAY MORE about what the Lord wants of you, and not what you feel pressured or guilted into. Satan seeks to destroy and I do feel college and public schools are a tool he has used and been utilizing with an enomorous amount of success.
Lindsay, it seems you always post topics that we have questioned ourselves about… Thank you for sharing your heart.
Blessings to you all!
What a great series of articles!!! This is very encouraging, as I am entering my senior year of high-school and have just decided to not attend college. I am looking forward to being able to focus more on my home-making skills, and being able to spend more time serving.
Super post, Lindsay. I have enjoyed and appreciated this series so much! Thanks for doing it.
Lindsay,
I just now read your full series on school – but one thing I noticed is that your post assumes a christian family from home(which makes sense since you are speaking to other believers on this issue). Many many women (including myself) were not brought up in Christian homes, and as such, I don’t know if it would apply that I would need to go to college close by and still live at home. In fact, I don’t think my parents would have allowed it! What are your thoughts on this issue for women who are believers but come from families who are not?
In addition – there are many secular universities that are top in their fields, but obviously don’t come anywhere near supporting a christian worldview – what are your thoughts on a woman who feels lead or is gifted in a certain discipline wanting to further her education at a secular university?
Also – I personally just found living away from home and studying at college (University of Arizona is where I did my undergrad) an amazing experience! I know everyone has different stories of course – and there is no absolute “right way” when it comes to many of these decisions, however, I learned so many things not only from my college education, but also from being “on my own”. I would agree that much of what I learned “on my own” could have been taught to me by my parents, but certainly not all of it (ie: dealing with difficult people, situations with money and apartments and jobs, school and work responsibilities, ministering in a very secular environment, apologetics, and the list could go on and on!)
I would like to note that parents really need to ask their daughters questions like “how will your choice of major and career benefit you should the Lord call you as a wife and spouse?” This question often seems to be missing these days. I see many women torn about their careers (mostly those who I know who are young female doctors) becuase they are struggling with their education and desire as a doctor for example, and also starting to have children and that means deciding whether or not to give up their years spent in medical school and so on. It is not an easy decision, one that might have been spared could questions early on have caused them to realize what being a doctor would mean should they become a wife…
I am also thinking here about how this applies to women whom God may not have provided a spouse for before they have turned 18 and are graduating, and women whom God may never provide a spouse for. A college education for many of these women is crucial, even a seminary education if they are planning to be missionaries (here I am speaking of the international mission board, part of the Southern Baptist Convention, which encourages their missionaries and I think requires for their female missionaries to have seminary classes behind them. My husband’s parents were IMB over 20 years ago, and back then they both had to have a college degree AND a Seminary degree!)
Many single women would be unable to support themselves without a college education. I have many friends well into their 30′s who are single christians and their college education enables them to have a career that is their livelihood. I think this would also be a concern should the husband die as well – for many women would not be able to support their home should their spouse die (especially if they didn’t have a life insurance policy). So – I guess that is actually several different issues, all a bit rambly I will admit – but I am interested to hear your thoughts on some of my comments if you have time ; )
Thanks again for your wonderful blog!
Jenny
Great thoughts! I had never considered or heard of this perspective in high school and beyond but I really believe in it now and want to raise my family with these views! I, too, have been tempted to go back to school to get a “better” degree or a “career profession” since it’s sometimes tiring, even in Christian circles, to feel like you’re not smart or ambitious just because you stay home. But I remind myself that this is my dream job and most women who have to work would LOVE to be able to stay home with their little kids as I do and most importantly I am pleasing God and following Him, not the world.