I am a theology student (24), and I come from the picturesque village of Veen in the beautiful province of Brabant. I was raised in a Christian environment, and through my upbringing, I have come to the conviction that the Bible is the Word of God. God’s Word forms the foundation on which I base my decisions. In a time when almost everything is in flux, it provides a stable foundation. Is this limiting? Yes, but in a positive way. I know that God’s will is good, and it is a privilege to live according to His guidelines, which is also the best thing for me. What makes it even more beautiful is that I can know God personally, because He has revealed Himself in His Son, Jesus Christ. In my dedication to Him, I want to live according to His will. I believe that this is not only the best way for me, but also for everyone.
This is why I am part of the USC. I believe that with the Bible as my foundation, I can contribute something valuable to the student council. Today, we live in a post-truth culture, where everyone must be accepted as they are and behave accordingly. Terms like ‘inclusivity’ and ‘diversity’ are often mentioned at our university, but they usually imply that there is no absolute truth or standard to which others should adhere. Without clear boundaries, everyone is left to themselves.
I want to offer an alternative: the good guidance found in God’s Word, given as a privilege and as the best way for us to live. The most important thing is not that we merely accept each other as we are, but that God accepts us. He does so when we follow His will, revealed through the knowledge of Him in His Son, Jesus Christ.
Precisely because God is there for everyone, I do not want to close myself off to people who think differently, but instead, I want to be open to dialogue, in line with VU founder Abraham Kuyper. In particular, I want to focus on discussions about education, my area of interest for the coming year. I hope to encourage mutual acceptance and freedom for one another, especially from my Christian identity. I look forward to good encounters, meaningful conversations, and a positive impact on education at the VU.