This past week, C. S. Evans came to Redeemer to speak on Soren Aabye Kierkegaard, a Danish novelist who saw himself as a missionary to the people of Denmark. The problem in Denmark at the time was that the state considered itself Christian, with a instituted state Christian church. The people were not living their faith but claimed themselves Christians because they lived inside the state of Christendom. Kierkegaard placed a huge emphasis on challenging people to experience their faith with God and he felt that only through wrestling and struggling through challenges and God's Word do we experience our faith. In this sense, Kierkegaard would be extremely suspicious of Christian schools and universities because in them, people assume that everyone is Christian, and therefore do not challenge their faith. Kierkegaard raises a good point I think, for growing up in a Christian elementary, high school and now university, we automatically assume that everyone is Christian in these institutions, and therefore find it very easy for us to become complacent in our faith. We feel that we can let our guard down and therefore our pressured to act unchristian to "fit in" or be "cool". I find that this is one of the greatest dangers of participating in Christian-based learning institutions. Coming from a background that is very much in favour of our own private Christian schools, it really makes me think if we should even have them. If you look at the Canadian Reformed schools, many of the students in them misbehave more than the public school! The reputation that our schools have in the Christian and outside community is in a sad state - a laughing stock even. And as a growing adult who now is beginning to support our schools and who maybe someday will have children that are expected to go to these schools, this seriously questions whether I as a Canadian Reformed person should support our schools or not. Maybe Kierkegaard is on to something...