Declaring Your Major

Many young people, upon the completion of high school, head off to continue their studies at college.  In the United States, something like 75% of high school students attend some form of college after high school, and the majority have no idea why.  What I mean by this is that many students enroll and begin attending college with no idea of what they want to study or what they want to do with this education upon the completion of the degree.

These students begin their college careers as "undeclared students".  They are students but not following a particular course of study.  So they take classes on writing and literature and science and history and art and math and generally expand their knowledge across the board.  The goal of doing this is two fold.  One, There are a certain number of general classes that are required for all majors and this way when a major is decided upon, the general classes will already be completed.  And two, the hope is that along the way, something will spark an interest and then they will know what the major should be.

But being undeclared can only work for so long.  Eventually they run out of general classes and they need to declare one way or another.  You can't graduate and still be undeclared.  

It's a little like buying a house.  You shop and look at the listings and talk to realtors and visit perspective houses.  But at some point you have to make the declaration.  This is the house that I want to buy, I am willing to pay so much and if the offer is accepted, I am prepared to move.

Or maybe it's like joining the military.  You meet with recruiters, read the information, take the tests, get a physical, and explore potential assignments.  Eventually, you raise your hand and take the oath, or you head out the door for other things.

   

Politicians make quite the show out of their declarations.  You can get on the ballot to run for office by filing a form in the appropriate office, but that's not what they are going for.  They turn the declaration into an event.  There are crowds and speakers and music and speeches.  They want everyone to know that they have begun the next phase of their quest. 

The Christian journey is much like this.  We can flirt around the edges.  We can make commitments in secret and start the transformation, but like looking at houses or taking basic classes, you  get to the point where that has stopped moving you forward.  If you want to take the next step, then you have to declare.  As Christians we need to be willing to say, "Yes, I am a Christian and the world can know it."

In some parts of the world, that declaration comes with great personal risk.  There are places where professing to be a Christian is inherently dangerous.  Not so in the United States.  But still many want to hide in the shadows of the undeclared.  Many of us fear the impact in all of our relationships that would come with openly saying that you are committed to a new way.

Watch this video clip from Pastor Mike.

Christians are called to come out of the shadows.  We are not secret agent Christians.  It is our hope that others will see the love of God through us, but that is only possible to the extent that we declare ourselves openly to be His.