pus. In November, 1970, the Day of Prayer was characterized by students going into the homes of faculty and staff for breakfast, followed by a time of devotions and prayer. Then everyone converged on the Campus later in the morning for a special assembly. The day was closed with a time around the Word of God and the Lord’s Table. These are the meaningful events in a Christian col lege’s spiritual life. You will also be interested to know of Biola’s concept of outreach. A Christian college should be involved in reaching others for Christ. At Biola and Talbot we are vitally con cerned with presenting the Gospel wherever possible. We are thrilled that our students are interested in being involved in service for Christ right now. There is a variety of ways in which this is done. We have an innovative approach through a wrestling team that uses this means to gain added empetus for Christ, the Lord Jesus Christ. Through our Psychology Depart ment we have a counseling program dealing with troubled youth who tel ephone a special number and relay their problems. They are talked to about their difficulties and the way in which Christ can meet their needs. No matter what is done, students have come to realize that our only foundation is the Word of God, pre senting the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. What makes a Christian family? Is it the acts of the individual mem bers of that family? In Ephesians 2:9 we find it is not our works or attitudes. “For we are His workman ship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Salvation is entirely the gift of the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:8,9). The works we do reveal a new crea ture in Christ showing forth His han
diwork in our life as we reach others. We do not become a Christian by working our way into an acceptable position before God. It is only and entirely by faith in Christ. Interestingly, today, we place a great deal of importance upon dress and personal styles. But is a family Christian because of the way the members dress or comb their hair? Not necessarily so. God does not look at the outside of an individual —He looks upon the heart (I Sam. 16:7). A believer is a Christian not because he acts in a certain way, but it is a matter of a heart condition. Does a person become a Christian because he has a specific doctrinal statement? It must be far more than that. A mere head knowledge will never bring eternal life. James 2:19 reminds us that the demons also be lieve. But by no stretch of the imag ination could we imagine them as having salvation through Christ. The devil knows full well who God is yet he works contrary to the Lord’s sovereign purposes. Belief or a men tal consent is not sufficient to make one a Christian. I Peter 1:18-19 tells us that it is not through silver and gold that we were transformed and made new creatures in Christ. It is only through the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. As President of Biola, it would be very difficult for me to attempt to participate in the administration of this school on anything but a Chris tian basis. We can only face our problems and opportunities in a Christian manner, based on the Bible as our guide. To turn to the Word of God is really the genius, the distinc tiveness, the uniqueness of a Chris tian college. Other things are indeed important, but nothing compares to the relationship between the indi viduals in an organization, and those individuals’ specific relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ.
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