Being a Christian in any space in this day in age can be difficult. In fact, Christ never guaranteed ease on this journey, but He did say He would be with us always. It can be difficult to hold fast to that when you hear a professor or classmate proclaim something you know is not true or even personally call you out, but in those moments, it is important to remember God’s promises and remember that we do not stand alone but with God.

I have been in the situation where I’m sitting in class and all of a sudden, my teacher or classmate says something against God or Christianity. I’ve also walked into class with acute anxiety because my professor had already made their feelings clear about my faith and my God. If you’re anything like me, initially, finding yourself in a situation like this is nerve-wracking and you freeze with no idea what to say or do in that moment. However, fear not!

Collected from our community with a few additions from yours truly, here are tips and words to the wise on how to navigate a worldly institution as a spiritual being with pride and peace without ever having to feel as though you’re compromising or doing a disservice to what you know is true right. The tips are as follows:

1. Find an on-campus community and a church. Finding a community does not substitute church fellowship or a church community. Having people, be it on or off-campus or are seeking to live for God is essential to our growth as Christians. Iron sharpens iron and being in the company of likeminded individuals can only make better our faith, but that should be in addition to our church family and community, not in lieu of. (See Hebrews 10:25)
   
2. Have a scheduled quiet time with God. Beginning and ending our day in prayer and devotion with God is not the only way to be in tune with Him, and it will place your mind at ease. Reading God’s word and meeting Him in prayer are so essential and it is only by spending time with Him that we can better know God, recognize us when He speaks to us and be afforded the joy and peace that comes from abiding in Him. Sometimes, we don’t even have to come before Him and say or do anything, but if we find a place to meet him, wherever that is, with a contrite heart, close our mouths and open our ears, He will not only meet us, but speak to us, as well as lead and guide us. (See Psalm 119:105)
   
3. Be okay with being the outcast. You may experience fomo. So, this one is a little more subjective. Initially, not doing what everyone else on campus is doing can feel a little unnatural, and people may even chide you simply because you’re different and don’t live and act as they do. But as we mature and seek God all the more, the fear of missing out definitely lessens. Or at least, it has for me. People always assume that to be a Christian means to be deprived, when in actuality, our new nature gradually just makes certain things less appealing. So it is not that we’re missing out but rather, those things of the world are no longer desirable to us, which is good, because it means we are dying to our flesh and living in our Spirit. But if you do experience fomo, if you do feel left out, seek God that in Him you will not be an outcast, but His child and loved unconditionally. (See Matthew 4:4 and 1 Peter 2:9)
   
4. Stand firm in your beliefs – even when they’re unpopular.  Speaking up in the classroom can be intimidating, especially if you’re outnumbered, but remember that you are not the first and certainly won’t be the last. We get intimidated because we delude ourselves into thinking we are on our own when God is abiding within us. The same power that God used to raise Christ from the dead lives in us. Plus, just as everyone is free to say whatever they want without fear, so are you. (See John 15:18-19)
   
5. Speak up against anti-Christian professors. We are never in any place randomly. Initially, when we hear a professor say something anti-Christian, a shock goes through our system, but more often than not, we are in that room to say what no one else will and to ultimately, be an ambassador for Christ and we cannot do that in silence. (See 1 Peter 3:15)
   
6. Lead with love. We are never wrong for defending the Gospel when we hear it being defiled or misrepresented, but equally important to what we say is the manner in which we say it. Just as Christ spoke in love, regardless of his audience, Jew or Gentile, we are to do the same. People don’t always disregard our words because of what we say, but because of how we say it. People will not be accepting of what we say or the God we serve anyhow, but we must ensure that if they do find fault in our words, it is not because of our delivery, but rather, the truth you speak, in which case that is between them and God, not you. (See 1 John 4:8 and 1 Corinthians 13:1) 
   
7. Be humble in your approach. This can be applied to test-taking strategies. Remember not to let any grade define you. There is always another opportunity and even if there isn’t, let no number or letter determine how you perceive yourself or your value. As it relates to your faith, remember that there was once a time where you were like those who sat in your class or your professor, in need of the light and in need of exposure to the truth. So when you speak, as led by the Spirit and not your flesh, leave judgment and arrogance and extend grace just as God does to us daily. (See Romans 12:3)
   
8. Cast out any and all fear. Oftentimes when we approach situations like these, we forget we are not alone, which is why it is so important to seek God and engage in daily devotion with Him (refer to tip 2), so we are always clear on where our power and our words are coming from. And when our flesh attempts to overtake us and prevent us from speaking up, let us abide in God that He and His love will abide in us, as His love, which is a perfect love, casts out all fear. The Bible tells us in 365 ways to fear not, so for every day of the year and thus, our lives, we have God’s living, breathing word reminding us that He is with us all times and thus, there is no reason to fear. He is greater than our fear and any individual, professor or otherwise, and situation we encounter.(See Isaiah 41:13)
   
9. Don’t worry about the response. After speaking up, this might actually be the hardest step to come to terms with. As humans, we have a natural desire to know if any of what we said has resonated or impacted the individual, but it really isn’t our business. God does the increase. Our only responsibility is to be obedient to the Spirit as it speaks to us and God takes care of everything else. We never know how we are being used exactly, just that we are being used, which is a blessing unto itself. The rest is above our paygrade so to speak. (See 1 Corinthians 3:6-7)
   
10. Give yourself grace and time. We find ourselves at the end and this is the most important tip in my opinion. Please, don’t read all these tips and beat yourself up because you didn’t know what to say, because your anxiety got the best of you or because you sat through class and didn’t say anything. The beauty of God is that He never gives up on us and always gives us another opportunity to do better and be better. All of us are on different journeys in our faith, but if we ask God and trust Him, He will give us the boldness we need at the moment we need it. But all in good time.