There is a difference between saying you are a Christian and really living it out. The moment you become a Christian, you accept Christ into your heart and are born again as a new person. This day begins your new life. As a Christian, you should turn away from sin and live apart from the world. The Bible tells us that if we do nothing to stay away from sin, then we are deliberately turning away from God. 

Living separately from the world as a college student can be very difficult, even at a Christian university. Just because you go to a private university does not mean that everybody who goes there is a Christian or lives like one. There will be times when your friends are doing something that you don’t think abides by the Bible, and you’ll have to choose whether to join them or say no. Nobody wants to be left out of a fun activity, but if it’s not honoring to God, we are called to remove ourselves from it.

James uses very intense language in this verse, but it is very much needed. Most pass off their ungodly actions as okay because they turn to God in every other area or repent each time they sin. But the point of being a follower of Christ is not to live exactly how we were before we became Christians and repent every time we sin, but to make an effort to obey God’s word and despise sin.

Even though living to glorify God makes sense, how exactly are you supposed to live separately from the world in college? 

Here are some practical steps to live out your faith in college by being different from the crowd:

• Prioritize spending time with God every morning: When we start the day with God, we are more likely to act according to the Bible, with the correct mindset, instead of being consumed by the world and having a self-focused mindset
• Find a community or small group on campus: Joining a community that has the same priorities as you and can help you stay accountable, can really help you stick to the path God wants you on.
• Set clear boundaries for yourself: When it comes to social gatherings that go against how God tells you to live, you need to set that clear boundary that you won’t cross, no matter who is going or how much you want to go. You need to be able to stick to this and know that you are doing the right thing.
• Choose friendships that lead you toward God rather than away from Him: Choosing the right friends to associate with can mean that you won’t be tempted to live in sin because they aren’t either. If you are constantly turning down going places with your friends because it leads to sin, it might be time to reconsider the type of friends you want to have. Surround yourself with people who will lead you to God, not pull you away.