Although it’s always been a natural time for young Christians to explore and leave the reservation, so to speak, the numbers seem to indicate now that more Christians are walking away and staying away longer than ever before.

Coming from the president of the Barna Group, these observations certainly deserve our attention. In chapter two of the book, he argues that three key words characterize the ways in which current culture has made major shifts: Access, Alienation, and Authority.

But what I find supremely interesting are the images which are used to illustrate three main categories of young church dropouts: Nomads, Prodigals, and Exiles.

In the discussion of Nomads, Kinnaman describes “the most common category of dropout—the spiritual nomad, the wanderer. For these young adults, faith is nomadic, seasonal, or may appear to be an optional peripheral part of life. At some point during their teen or young adult years, nomads disengage from attending church or significantly distance themselves from the Christian community.”

For many in this category, leaving the church wasn’t so much an intentional decision but more of a “slow fade.”  (The title of another good book on the subject by Chuck Bomar, Reggie Joiner, & Abbie Smith).

Prodigals are the most deliberately non-Christian group but also represent the smallest category. Many of these claim to have “moved on” from Christianity or see their de-conversion as an experience of freedom.

The last group Kinnaman describes are the Exiles. As the biblical metaphor implies, these young Christians are struggling to live out their faith within the context of a new cultural landscape. They may feel alienated or isolated from the Christian community (church) they grew up with but are hopeful about finding new ways of Christ-following which make sense to their communities and careers. They often feel a little lost, not sure where they fit in terms of the traditional church.

In my own context of ministry (the University of Cincinnati), I encounter quite a few  Prodigals and enjoy conversations with that group but I find the Exiles particularly interesting and most willing to integrate their faith and leverage their lives for the good of others (service, evangelism, etc.) In my mind, “You Lost Me” is such a critical book to read and respond to because these Nomads and Exiles, in particular, can play a critical missional role in reaching others.

One of the chapters discussed maturity from the context of Colossians 1:28 and I was reminded of the significance of my own calling to disciple college students. Some scholars believe that Paul was addressing an early form of Gnostic heresy in his letter to the believers in Colossae. The problem was manifesting itself in a false dichotomy between average and elite Christians. (Get a quick overview of Gnosticism here).

I find that this particular heresy continues to be quite rampant in Christianity today. Many believe that there are varying degrees of Christian commitment which are acceptable to God and He doesn’t actually require holiness or “perfection” from everyone. But Paul sends a kill shot right into the heart of this heresy when he reminds the Colossian Christians what he is all about:

“Him we proclaim, warning EVERYONE and teaching EVERYONE with ALL wisdom, that we may present EVERYONE mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.”   Colossians 1:28-29 (ESV)

The Greek word for maturity or perfection is teleios and shows up 19 times in the New Testament. Whenever it is used, there’s a comparative not an absolute sense of the word which is in play. A mature/perfect disciple is NOT absolutely mature/perfect without any further room for growth but mature/perfect in comparison to a newborn…or a spiritual infant. So the implication is that Christian maturity is an expectation of a disciple (“radical” as Stott points out in the root sense of the word).

In the context of campus ministry, this goal or calling can be quite challenging because of the complexities, transitions, competitive demands which characterize the average college student or young adult. However, that could be said of high school students and senior citizens just depending on the day. The deeper challenge is helping a student have a grander vision for their own spiritual journey than occasional church attendance or participating in a weekly fellowship/bible study. Following Christ demands a singular focus and commitment which leaves many Christians occasionally saying “Lord, Lord…” but mostly living for “Me, Me…” (Matthew 25:44)

With more in mind than just publicity, I share a similar post today.

Although I’m often conflicted about maintaining a program or event with all its administrative and logistic baggage, I am also compelled to provide a consistent opportunity & place for students to gather, worship, study the Scriptures, experience community and hospitality.

JOURNEY = a common metaphor for the spiritual life.

Jesus called himself the “way”…odos in the Greek (pronounced “hodos”). It’s the origin for derivative words such as odometer and exodus (“a way out”). So the discipleship component of our gathering is all about being FORMED into the likeness of Christ as we join Him on the Kingdom path.

Speaking of FORMED…that is the ‘curriculum for Christlikeness’ we’ll be engaging along the WAY. You can download the accompanying prayerbooks here or find out more about FORMED here. You can also “like” FORMED on facebook and be part of the community engaging this material and mission.

2.8 = refers to 1 Thessalonians 2:8 in which Paul encourages and reminds the Thessalonian Christians, “We loved you so much that we wanted to share not just the Gospel but our lives as well.”

Hospitality is more than serving coffee and pastries. It’s about blurring the lines between kin and foreigner. It’s a recognition that we are all pilgrims journeying towards some purpose or end. In Christ, we have been brought near to God. Though we were once considered estranged enemies of God, because of Christ…we are children of God. How great is that kind of love? The scandalous love of a Father for his prodigal child?! The whole paradigm of the Gospel is reconciliation…God extending gracious hospitality to His creation. So we who have received this grace and blessing are called to be people of grace and blessing to other “foreigners,” pilgrims, college students…whoever. And as Paul indicates, sharing the Gospel is about sharing life…not just information or some magical salvation prayer.

JOURNEY 2.8 then is about embracing the call to follow Jesus within the context and ethos of hospitality. It’s designed to be a welcoming environment but especially suited for students who want to be transformed by the Word/words of God in order to transform the world.

As I had lunch with one young freshman girl and her parents, I was reminded of all the little questions and concerns that parents have in the process. And for many parents who have raised their children in a particular faith environment, one of their greatest concerns is whether their student’s faith will grow or be dismantled during these all-important course-setting years of campus life.

I often try to encourage parents. There’s a healthy and natural process that most college students go through which usually involves deconstructing the faith & value system they were raised with in order to reconstruct the faith and worldview which they can own from this point forward.

That’s why I believe my calling is so significant…to come alongside of college students and walk with them through this process. It’s not my intention to prevent students from asking the tough questions or even laying down their faith for a time. I’m sure it can unnerve parents a little to hear me say that (which is why I usually don’t say it quite like that), but in the long run, the journey towards a fully integrated life and faith is just as important as the destination.

That’s what I’m doing whether I disciple students one-one-one or facilitate a similar experience in community (Journey 2.8). If I can help a student engage that process and plug into a healthy faith community (church) during their years at UC, I believe they will actually be transformed by Christ and prepared to transform the world.

First of all, he looks like he could be in one of my campus bible studies, right?! But that’s pretty exciting when you think about God’s ability to use anyone who is completely committed to the Gospel and pointing directly to the Glory of God.

There’s so many great things to extract from Platt’s challenge but I want to focus on one particular topic or issue within the context of campus ministry.

In Chapter 7 as he is discussing faith as a matter of truth rather than taste, Platt asserts “I think that each of us tends toward either intellectual or practical universalism.”

What does he mean by this?

If we are intellectual universalists, then we don’t really believe the truth claims of Christianity to the extent that they apply to all humankind. Therefore, someone’s faith is more about their own upbringing, culture, personal preferences, etc. The American notion of the equality of individuals has been applied in such a way that we treat truth claims equally as well. So perhaps the greatest enemy of the Gospel within our current context (in this country but especially on the university campus) is pluralism and religious tolerance.

(Photo: This is the image that pops up on Wikipedia when you search/explore Christian Universalism. I call it super-friendly Jesus)

The practical universalist may believe that the truth claims of Christ in Scripture are true…that Christ is indeed necessary for salvation, but live life on a daily basis as if that were not true. Instead of following Christ’s mandate to make disciples and take His message to “Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the word” a posture and lifestyle of silence is assumed, never proclaiming the urgent Good News about Christ.

I am still processing some particular bits of theology, doctrine, and mission from Platt’s writing but the way in which he peels back some of the cultural veneer and varnish which we have added to the Gospel and Christianity is compelling. He ends the book with an invitation to conduction a one-year “Radical Experiment” and I am considering what that will look like for me, my family, as well as for some college students at the University of Cincinnati.

We shall see.

What’s the plan?

Should I do this event?

How can I engage more students?

What new strategy do I develop this year?

What night should that new bible study be on?

How do I get students plugged in to a local church?

Where are all the resources going to come from financially?

And the more I think about it…the more I could let my mind frantically wander along similar distracting trails.

But thankfully I’m revisited with a moment of clarity…what often seems like spiritual affirmation regarding my calling. I talk about it briefly in this video.

For many college students, this is already their first or second week of classes. The University of Cincinnati perseveres with the quarter system for another year, so we have a few more weeks before the campus is fully inhabited and functional again.

My own collegiate years are not so far behind that I don’t still remember the excitement, hope, and anticipation I felt at the end of each summer. Of course, the first year of college was the most intense experience of freedom and apprehension. The following years it was more about the hope and determination to spread out the work load, keep up with the syllabus, generate enough income to survive, and take my “social game” to the next level.

Managing any season of life demands a balanced approach but the college student certainly has some unique challenges.

More and more, I see my role as a campus minister covering much more territory than just recruiting students for bible studies. Although I certainly want to get students into the Scriptures and charting a course for spiritual success, coaching them towards a fully integrated and holistic life of faith requires the ability to balance the many demands and expectations they live with daily.

Perhaps one of the best outcomes of my summer has been to recognize some of the imbalances in my own life and establish practices which keep me rooted and restored spiritually. When that rhythm is syncing up the moments of my day, all the other demands and expectations fall more cooperatively into place: relationship with my kids, ministry/work agenda, my own emotional wellness, financial stewardship/decisions, etc.

Apparently, Matthew 6:33 is as true as I’ve hoped it was all these years. “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (ESV)

That verse/passage insists on an adjustment to my definition of “balance” however. And this is perhaps what separates the nominal Christian from one who passionately lives out of a Kingdom worldview. The “balance” I’m speaking of doesn’t mean that one distributes time equally between various compartmentalized segments of your day and time. Rather, seek the Kingdom of God so passionately and ruthlessly that even the combination of all other engagements and distractions fail to destabilize your “spiritual” core. With a strong core, it’s amazing how life becomes more blessing, opportunity, and adventure than curse, obstacle, and/or routine.

This past weekend, I spent about 3 days in the beautiful knob country of Nelson County Kentucky in the monastery of Gethsemani. It’s located about 12 miles south of Bardstown, KY on about 12,000 acres of beautiful land. After talking about a pilgrimmage to Gethsemani for several years, I finally made it down there.

Usually, retreatants spend either Monday thru Friday or Friday to Monday at the retreat house. You need to call several months in advance to schedule a spot in the retreat house. Or if you’re a dude and don’t plan quite that far ahead, you can stay in the “south wing” which is part of the monastic area where they’ve designated a couple of floors for male retreatants. Accomodations (including meals on the weekends only I believe) are offered for a free-will donation which you can tuck in an envelope and leave on your way out or mail to the Abbey.

The monks gather in the Abbey Church 7 times a day for prayers which begins with vigils at 3:15 am. I never actually joined them that early, but I did make it for Lauds at 5:45 am both mornings. The prayer liturgy combined with the sense of sacred space added much to my experience.

During the morning I set off on a couple of hikes and enjoyed absolutely perfect weather for the whole weekend.

As my retreat time came to a close, I sensed that God was teaching me about my need for contemplation, silence, prayer, and a more disciplined life/schedule in general. Returning to the world of common daily tasks, obligations, and routines…I hope to implement a kind of monastic “Rule” for living this Fall. Two days into the new routine, I can say that I’m batting a thousand! 

A View of the Abbey/Monastery from Monks Road

But whether or not a particular schedule is sustainable or not doesn’t change the fact that I need to be much more disciplined and intentional about my daily times of prayer, reading scripture, contemplation, worship, service, etc. With a new quarter of ministry to college students at UC right around the corner of the calendar, I know that my best hope of impacting and influencing college students will be to model a life of faith that demonstrates intimacy with God, compassion for those around me, and authenticity  with students.

As I share this campus ministry update with you, I am enjoying fellowship and training with other campus ministers in my CCO family. Several times a year we come together for training events which always remind me of how great it is to be partnered with a campus ministry organization that is passionate about God’s Word, the Gospel, and seeing transformation in the lives of college students and in our world.

One of the themes which has emerged at our training event this summer is sanctification. Part of being a new creation in Christ (2 Cor 5:13) is engaging the continual process of spiritual growth and maturity. Romans 6 encourages us NOT to live under the authority and power of sin any longer. We have been made alive in Christ. As justified and adopted children of God, Christians should be transformed daily through the finished work of Christ and the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. That is a tremendous truth for all of us to marinade in…college student or not.

As you might imagine, however, the cultural-social-academic-relativistic context in which college students (and most young adults) exist is not conducive to this kind of transformation. That makes it all the more important for college students to engage God’s Word regularly, and participate in a community which celebrates, worships, prays, & serves together (most people call this a church).