Should students follow their dreams?
‘March to the beat of your own drum’ is an encouraging mantra, isn’t it? Being true to yourself and your own desires is a familiar attitude in our current culture. In case you didn’t deduce from the provocative title, David DeYoung’s Do Not Be True To Yourself propounds the opposite advice: ‘Do not follow your dreams. Do not march to the beat of your own drummer. And whatever you do, do not be true to yourself.’ If you think that this is unnecessary hyperbole, well, DeYoung agrees, defending his choice as a desire to be heard through the cacophony of media always surrounding us.
No one can deny that we are living in an increasingly confusing society. It tells us that what we believe about ourselves is the ultimate truth, and no one has the right to challenge it. But DeYoung reminds us that if this were true, then we must also believe that ‘our instincts are never self-deceived … our desires are never self-centred, and … our dreams are never self-destructive’. Which, as Christians, we know isn’t true because of the fall. Held together by an exultation to serve God faithfully, this little book contains five chapters filled with countercultural advice on how to prepare for, and ultimately live, our best lives in such a society, both for our benefit and for the glory of God.
This book is largely aimed at those who are leaving school and are facing an abundance of life-changing decisions. Chapter 2 in particular presents an incredible challenge to those entering higher education, asking if they’re simply copying the Christian behaviours they’ve seen in church and from their parents, or if they’re truly seeking to pursue Christ with their whole selves. If someone you know is entering this stage of life when many are prone to wander, and you want to help guide them in their newfound independence, then this book would make a thoughtful gift. It reads like a parent’s advice to their child. It must be noted that it does largely focus on those heading into higher education and may not be a great fit for those choosing to go a different route.
That being said, this book holds wise, biblical counsel that is timely for all of us ‒ whether we’re leaving home for the first time, looking to move house or deciding on a new job, we need to consider the motivations behind our choices. There are many milestones faced by young people that make them a natural target for this message, but even as someone who graduated university a few years ago, it is still a poignant challenge. Instead of putting our desires at the centre of our lives, DeYoung is urging his readers to keep God there. Pretty sound advice that can always bear to be repeated.
The mark of a good Christian book is that it should be filled with Bible references. DeYoung does not miss the mark here. Particularly touching was an exploration of the poetry of the Psalms, with applicable truth eloquently extracted. Several Bible characters are also brought to vivid life, helping the reader to relate to their stories, whether they’re being told as a practical warning like Esau’s ineptness or as inspiration from heroes of the faith like Eric Liddell. With appropriate modern references also littered throughout, the theology presented retains a feeling of relevance.
At only 80 pages, this pithy book neatly fulfils its purpose of encouraging us all to seek Christ, as well as provoking deeper thinking and evaluation of our current choices. Taken from commencement speeches to teens about to leave school, it’s no surprise that DeYoung’s tone is casual and conversational. With clarity and pastoral love, DeYoung succinctly calls a generation of Christians to summon the nerve to reject the spirit of the age in favour of the courageous Christian faith. These short-form chapters also lend themselves perfectly to returning to portions that hit home to meditate on further.
The closing chapter widens the scope of the book. Yes, it’s important to charter our lives according to the Bible and be vigilant of worldly influences, but all of this advice is futile without true salvation. Simply going to church, believing in God and the Bible, and loving your neighbour all mean nothing without salvation. DeYoung reminds the reader that, like the scribes in Jesus’ day, you can have all the impressive credentials and make all the right statements, but if that’s all you have, you won’t inherit the kingdom of God. This discourse lends itself wonderfully to being a tool for evangelism within the younger generation.
As Christians begin their journey to independence, a gospel-centred truth needs to be their guide. This is such a guide: ‘a motivational, biblical call to serve God faithfully’. Self-actualisation is the theme of today’s society, but DeYoung shows, through the truth of Scripture, that we won’t find ourselves by looking inward but instead by looking at Jesus. This is a much-needed antidote to a self-obsessed culture, showing us a Godward way forward out of secular man’s focus on self-glorification.
Review by Kyria Smith
Kevin DeYoung (PhD, University of Leicester) is the senior pastor at Christ Covenant Church in Matthews, North Carolina, and associate professor of systematic theology at Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte. He has written books for children, adults and academics.
Together Magazine
Together is the Christian resources magazine for the UK, with stories of what God is doing across the church today, book reviews and publishing industry news. Subscribe now at www.togethermagazine.org.