After taking a class called “The Life and Times of Jesus,” Doug’s faith was like a flickering candle. His heart had once been burning with an intense fire for God. Now he was afraid that the fire might go out. Doug didn’t know what to trust. How could he believe in the Bible after he was taught it was inaccurate, self-contradicting and unreliable? And if he couldn’t trust the Bible, then how could he know anything for sure about God or Jesus?

Doug came to me asking these questions. But what he was really asking was, “Should I even believe anymore?” I began to point out reason after reason why the Gospels and the Epistles are reliable. I offered Doug other explanations for the contradictions his professor pointed out. I explained how the ”inconsistencies” between the different Gospels demonstrate authenticity rather than error. Finally, I pointed him to resources which are much more knowledgeable than I am, and we agreed to read them together.

Re-igniting Doug’s faith was not instantaneous, like turning on a burner, but God has been carefully fanning the flame. Slowly the Lord has restored Doug’s faith in the Bible and in Jesus Christ.

Students often have their faith shaken at the University of Buffalo, but that is precisely why I encourage students to go to a secular school. It is healthy to be exposed to these questions, wrestle with them and find answers. What makes or breaks a students’ faith is whether or not they have a support structure to help them wrestle and think. I encourage Christian students to take these challenging classes with two or three peers and to use Christian resources to find answers to difficult questions. Then, when those same questions hit them later in life, they will be prepared. Doug’s fire is still burning because he had a group of peers and mentors to help him on his spiritual journey.

—Brian Tofflemire is on InterVarsity staff at the University of Buffalo (NY).