Identifying yourself as a Christian - In the classroom.

If you were like me, you may have gone through your entire undergraduate career and not know of one Christian professor. This is sad, because it propagates the idea that you can't be an educated person and still be a Christian.

It certainly isn't appropriate to take a large amount of class time to share one's faith. However, you can let students know where you stand (thus being honest and revealing your biases) in many ways.

One of the most often used is at the beginning of the semester as you are introducing yourself to the class. For instance, you might say, "I am Professor Smith and will be teaching Econ. 101 this spring semester. I have my Masters and PhD from Penn State and I have been teaching here for 15 years. My wife, Mary, and I have 3 children. I enjoy tennis and boating. My wife and I are actively involved in our church, because our faith in Christ is an important part of our lives."

Some have been creative with remarks like, "I will be available for special appointments any time but Wednesday evenings. That is when we have our church training for the Sunday School class I teach."

And, of course, it is often appropriate to share one's own viewpoint in a discussion inside or outside the classroom.

Remember, if you are fearful about crossing some legal line, it is best to seek good counsel before you take the plunge. All of the ideas mentioned above are certainly appropriate.

Be prepared to be scared to death the first time you let people know where you stand. But don't let fear keep you from letting students know what makes life exciting and meaningful for you.

Scripture: Romans 1:16 - "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek."

Action Point: Look for appropriate places to share the importance of your faith with students and colleagues inside and outside of the classroom.

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