The situation of the Christian college in an age of heightened educational competition, economic stress, and cultural pluralism is discussed. It is suggested that the task confronting the Christian colleges today is the achievement of excellence in both piety, learning, and educational service. After considering the fundamentals of Christian belief and the rule of faith and academic freedom, the goals of liberal education and the thoughts of John Henry Newman, John Dewey, and Alfred North Whitehead are examined. The task of the Christian college is distinguished in terms of cognitive and affective goals, and the cultivation of maturity. Attention is also directed to the Christian college and general education, specialized education, education in values, the functions of the college teacher, the vocation of the Christian teacher, admission policies, student personnel administration, rights and responsibilities of students, the functions of the college administration, the cult of efficiency, the federal interest in higher education, sectarianism and tax support, enforcement of federal regulations in education, ideology in an age of pluralism, the need for the application of a rational method for considering moral and religious questions, and the faith of a Christian scholar. (SW)