Learning That Truth is Outside Ourselves
Rod Mays is the national coordinator of Reformed University Ministries (RUM) and, with Scott Oliphint, professor of apologetics and systematic theology at Westminster Theological Seminary, the co-author of Things That Cannot Be Shaken: Holding Fast to Your Faith in a Relativistic World (Crossway, 2008).
You and Scott Oliphint both work with college students. What do you see as the greatest challenge to students on today’s campuses?
There’s so much skepticism and relativism and cynicism in the classroom that filters down to the student bodies. Many students are so disconnected from their families, and we see this in behavioral issues—they’re lonely, watching their parents divorce, and prone to binge drinking, pornography, and eating disorders. Students are lonely and depressed, coming to campuses more medicated than ever. This means that it’s a great time to do relational ministry on campus—lovingly talking about truth, the Word, and Jesus.
You and Scott Oliphint both work with college students. What do you see as the greatest challenge to students on today’s campuses?
There’s so much skepticism and relativism and cynicism in the classroom that filters down to the student bodies. Many students are so disconnected from their families, and we see this in behavioral issues—they’re lonely, watching their parents divorce, and prone to binge drinking, pornography, and eating disorders. Students are lonely and depressed, coming to campuses more medicated than ever. This means that it’s a great time to do relational ministry on campus—lovingly talking about truth, the Word, and Jesus.
How is Christianity uniquely equipped to meet the challenges students face on campus?
With Christianity, students don’t have to look inside of themselves for the answers to all the issues. God has given us His Word and His authority. The beauty of Scripture is that it convinces the unconvinced.
Empiricism and rationalism are false ways to find truth. God wants us to feel and think, but we have to put that feeling and thinking through the grid of Scripture. Ultimately, we don’t come to know truth through empiricism or rationalism, but by revelation. The truth is totally outside of ourselves.
How does the campus environment compare to the greater cultural environment?
Through this book, we wanted to help people wrestle through struggle—whether that’s in a classroom, a dorm room, or a workplace. I think the issues people face are essentially the same, whether on campus or in the broader culture. Authority has been a problem since Adam and Eve. In classrooms, the discussion is more intellectual, and in culture as a whole, the discussion is more practical. But I think you see cultural trends occur on campuses first.
What is your personal interest in this book? Why did you and Scott Oliphint feel compelled to write it?
He and I were talking about the basic questions people are asking, especially students: Why am I here? What is truth? What is my purpose?
The five main verses of the John Newton hymn, “Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken,” created a good structure for this book. The five chapter headings provide the basic questions people are asking—they’re all related to things that cannot be shaken. Solid joys and lasting treasures—everyone can say that these are things I’d love to have. Even the unconverted have a sense that things just aren’t right in this world.
How do you hope this book will change those who read it?
I hope they’d know that authority and the gospel is outside of them. We want to clarify the gospel—help people understand what happens in atonement, how we should deal with sin and idols in our daily life. And we want to teach them to use the gospel as a filter for daily life.
How will the world change as a result of the book?
Ultimately, the world would be transformed. That’s the beauty of transformation—it starts with individuals, then families, communities, the culture, and finally, the world. That doesn’t happen through legislation but regeneration—hearts being transformed by the gospel.
As this happens, repentance and forgiveness will become part of our lives, affecting our relationships and how we view others and their sin. We’ll have more compassion, more pity for the sheep without a shepherd.
With Christianity, students don’t have to look inside of themselves for the answers to all the issues. God has given us His Word and His authority. The beauty of Scripture is that it convinces the unconvinced.
Empiricism and rationalism are false ways to find truth. God wants us to feel and think, but we have to put that feeling and thinking through the grid of Scripture. Ultimately, we don’t come to know truth through empiricism or rationalism, but by revelation. The truth is totally outside of ourselves.
How does the campus environment compare to the greater cultural environment?
Through this book, we wanted to help people wrestle through struggle—whether that’s in a classroom, a dorm room, or a workplace. I think the issues people face are essentially the same, whether on campus or in the broader culture. Authority has been a problem since Adam and Eve. In classrooms, the discussion is more intellectual, and in culture as a whole, the discussion is more practical. But I think you see cultural trends occur on campuses first.
What is your personal interest in this book? Why did you and Scott Oliphint feel compelled to write it?
He and I were talking about the basic questions people are asking, especially students: Why am I here? What is truth? What is my purpose?
The five main verses of the John Newton hymn, “Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken,” created a good structure for this book. The five chapter headings provide the basic questions people are asking—they’re all related to things that cannot be shaken. Solid joys and lasting treasures—everyone can say that these are things I’d love to have. Even the unconverted have a sense that things just aren’t right in this world.
How do you hope this book will change those who read it?
I hope they’d know that authority and the gospel is outside of them. We want to clarify the gospel—help people understand what happens in atonement, how we should deal with sin and idols in our daily life. And we want to teach them to use the gospel as a filter for daily life.
How will the world change as a result of the book?
Ultimately, the world would be transformed. That’s the beauty of transformation—it starts with individuals, then families, communities, the culture, and finally, the world. That doesn’t happen through legislation but regeneration—hearts being transformed by the gospel.
As this happens, repentance and forgiveness will become part of our lives, affecting our relationships and how we view others and their sin. We’ll have more compassion, more pity for the sheep without a shepherd.
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