Archive for the 'Gospel' Category

College Students as Exiles

Published on January 2, 2012 by Chris Bean in Calling, Campus Ministry, Faith, Gospel and worldview.

As I was looking back over Steve Lutz‘ recent book on missional college ministry, one particular idea resonates with a challenge I have encountered in my own context of campus ministry at the University of Cincinnati.

During my 15 years of working with high school students as a youth pastor, I know that I was often guilty of making a statement like this: “Be careful not to lose your faith on the big bad campus of ___________.” Beware of Babylon!

And unfortunately, many of our Christian/churched kids enter their college years with an unhealthy temptation to disengage from the campus and culture.

Jeremiah 29 contains a letter written to the exiles who found themselves in a situation somewhat similar to that of a college student. Diversity, pluralism, humanism, a hedonistic culture…there are plenty of forces which seem to work against the fragile faith and worldview of many young Christians. But the surprising word to those exiles via the prophet Jeremiah included these verses:

“Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”

God intended for the exiles to have an impact on the culture around them…to engage it. Instead of fearing the new environment and assuming an isolated and antagonistic posture towards it, the mission of God included prayerfully investing their lives (building houses, families, relationship, influence, etc) in the place where God had positioned them for this season.

I believe God has equal concern for the habitat of college students…universities, dorms, fraternity houses, classrooms, etc.

“We can’t look at college as a rest stop on the way to the rest of our lives. God wants us to engage our mission field.” (Lutz, 57 of College Ministry in a Post-Christian Culture)

Especially when I observe many Christian students at college, I see that they tend towards a couple of mistakes:

  • Seeing the campus environment as something to avoid and by which not to be spiritually tainted
  • Missing God’s mission for their time on campus because they see college simply as the means to their own personal success in life

There’s another way to live and invest the resources of Christ (Gospel, faith, your life) in such a way that our sent-ness results in the welfare of the city/campus.

For those engaged in the field of campus ministry who want to press in a little more on this missional approach, I highly recommend Steve Lutz’ book on the subject. Check this out for a more comprehensive review of Steve’s book from fellow campus minister Guy Chmieleski.

Comments: 0 Comments | Tags:

The Goal: “Perfect” Disciples

Published on November 28, 2011 by Chris Bean in Calling, Campus Ministry, discipleship, Faith and Gospel.

There’s a quick easy read on discipleship by John Stott, which ended up being the first title I tackled during my most recent retreat for study and prayer. Stott called attention to 8 neglected aspects of Christian discipleship. For more information on his book, The Radical Disciple, check out this link.

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)

Comments: 0 Comments | Tags:

Where Hospitality & Discipleship Meet

Published on September 27, 2011 by Chris Bean in Campus Ministry, Coffee and Third Place, discipleship, Gospel and Hospitality.

It was about this time last year that I had a similar post, sharing a bit of a promo for the weekly gathering which I host at the Edge House.

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.

Comments: 0 Comments | Tags: