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Continuing from yesterday’s encouragement about how we teach, train, disciple, etc….
God is bigger than our hearts, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. So we have to help students understand that nothing is ever right simply because it is “obvious” or because it’s “common sense” or because it “feels right.” We have to help students connect to the biblical whys, or we’re establishing a pattern for deriving righteousness from other sources (internal or external, but not biblical).
Example: You organize some amazing college ministry service projects, but you never actually teach service from a biblical point of view.
Example: You take students out on campus to share Christ, but you don’t ever share why we evangelize.
Example: You tell students not to have sex with each other, but you never share the biblical why (or why not, in this case).
Of course, we will have much wisdom to offer and motivation to give. The point is that somewhere in the midst of all our teaching, students have to learn to connect the dots between what they do and what God Himself has said.
If I urge students to actions that are good and right but don’t actually connect those exhortations to the biblical whys, I’m (first) setting them up for legalism.
Sure, I might be teaching students to do things that are truly right and good. But if I’ve motivated with simple “You should” or “That’s what Christians do” reasoning, ultimately someone else (including just their own minds) could come along and suggest something that goes beyond God’s law… saying “You should” or “That’s just what we do” without ever backing up the demand with real truth. And the minute our students’ demands on themselves or others go beyond God’s law and God’s wisdom, they’ve stepped into the world of legalism.
Further, a second danger is setting students up to use themselves as the standard. This problem arises when we use words like “obviously” or appeal to students’ own “common sense” or natural desires – even if what we’re urging them to do is right and good. Suddenly, they’re only really listening to their own understandings… and while today their understandings might lead them toward righteousness, that’s not nearly always the case.
And eventually, somebody else (or their own understanding) will say…
- “Obviously, people have no choice about how they’re born.”
- “Clearly, a good God couldn’t be that way.”
- “It’s only natural to do this.”
- “Obviously there are many possible truths about this.”
- “Clearly this teaching is more spiritual than what you’ve been taught before.”
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One of the several ways Eugene Peterson’s Under the Unpredictable Plant impacted me in regards to college ministry was by highlighting the importance of the everyday… including the everyday tasks, the fodder for so many of our to-do lists, the rows of have-tos or need-tos that can simultaneously overwhelm and depress me.
In the book, Peterson describes a dream in which he discovers a friend has written a best-selling book. He continues,
I left the telephone booth, went back into the bookstore, and bought a copy of Geri Ellingson’s new best-seller, Lists. I opened it and started to read. It was a compilation of lists. That’s all, lists. Grocery list, laundry list, fix-up list, Christmas card list, bill-paying list, shopping list. No text, no narrative, no explanation, no commentary – just lists.
When I woke, I knew immediately the meaning of my dream: lists are best-seller material. In my hurry to recover the essentials of spirituality in my life – a sense of the presence of God, a spacious leisure for savoring grace – I had thrown away the raw material for it, my list. The items that I thought were interfering with the holiness of my vocation were the very materials of its holiness.
Leading a congregation in worship was glorious – this weekly gathering of hungry and thirsty people around the bounteous mysteries of Word and Sacrament. But telephoning a couple of forgetful sinners later to straighten out a misunderstanding on the nursery schedule was a triviality I resented.
Teaching university students was a high calling. But getting the grades to the registrar’s office was an irritation.
Writing a book was satisfyingly creative. But getting the manuscript packaged and mailed was beneath the dignity of my office.
Praying for God’s healing and love was a priestly honor. But listening to the whine and resentment of an unattractive man was something I was going to delegate to my deacons next time around.
And then the dream showed me that each of these items was best-seller material – grading exams, standing in the post office line, putting up with the inconvenient emotions, telephoning forgetful mothers.
In my last college ministry position, I kept a regular to-do list. Only at the top, I titled it “Eternal Too-Do” – to remind myself that all these “basic” things were, because they were very much a part of my calling, eternal too.
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For the past several years, I’ve chosen to generally have a weekly Sabbath – a full day of rest, trusting that God can accomplish more in six days than I can in seven. As best I can figure, that seems to have always been the intent of the Sabbath rules and principles: trust and obedience about what we do and – on the Sabbath – kinda what we don’t.
Whether that’s your conviction or not – and with a full recognition that “Sabbath” might look different for everybody – I hope you do indeed have a chance to rest more than is comfortable sometimes. Just like giving should probably take us past our “comfort zones” on occasion, so should other areas of obedience.
College ministers need rest more often than they take it – or at least that’s true for certain personality types. (I need rest plenty these days, which is why it’s on my mind!)
So as summer’s upon us, it might be a good time to pray this one through, develop some habits, and usher in a crazy fall semester with a willingness to rest trustfully (if you haven’t been already). Do you trust Him to accomplish more in your campus ministry in six days than you can in seven?
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The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” (Daniel 6:19-23 ESV)
In many cases, our “foot forward” to those in authority on our campuses is not “O king, live forever!” But the Book of Daniel (as I mentioned yesterday) is an amazing case study of a man who feared God and honored the king (a la I Peter 2:17). Yes, he shared about his God and was not shy in following Him… but he “packaged” that divine obedience with human respect as often as possible.
(Notice he begins above with “live forever!” and ends with “before you … I have done no harm,” actually sandwiching his proclamation between statements of fidelity – and that after a night in the lion’s den, which surely is more troubling than getting deprived of our normal spot in the Student Center.)
Does the administration, faculty, and staff of your campus see your campus ministry as a valuable addition to the campus tribe? And do they recognize that you honor their authority?
We will offend. But let it be, as far as depends on us, that they “shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless [they] find it in connection with the law of [our] God” (Dan. 6:5).
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Sometimes it’s just helpful to have a pile of ideas or resources to think about in regards to college ministry – especially as we enter the summer and start thinking (or continue thinking) about next school year. (Meanwhile, some of us – including many church-based college ministers – are jumping right into their “second college ministry” with summertime students.)
This small pile of ideas, links, and thoughts comes directly from my amazing time with the BASIC College Ministries leaders at their Propel conference this week. I wanted to give everybody those same things, as well as provide an outline of my talk – which obviously provides a whole “pile of ideas” itself!
So here you go. Hope it’s helpful.
- Simple Church. I brought up this great book several times to help college ministers think through the “path of progress” they’re providing for / expecting of their students. Though it’s written about churches, it’s easily “translatable” – and profoundly helpful for us.
- The Books of Daniel and I Peter (and probably Esther, too). These all came up in the context of how campus ministries live “under captivity” (or something like that). How do we work, serve, witness, and thrive within a campus tribe that may be not only indifferent to our message but even concerned about our methods? These books of the Bible answer this question differently than popular Christianity and even some college ministries do.
- The Dip. This came up a couple of times, especially in the context of newly forming college ministries. Are you prepared to do what it takes to establish a long-lasting and long-effective campus mission? And have you considered all the options for the scope of your ministry – including not aiming for a traditional, full-fledged college ministry? This secular (and very short) business book will help you answer those questions.
- CruPress and NavPress both came up multiple times as great places to look for tips on leading small groups (especially the former) and curriculum for small groups (especially the latter).
- Veritas Forum came up multiple times as a great example of an outside group that can be awesome for multiple ministries on a campus to rally around (and thereby unify around). I also discussed Veritas as really helpful for providing Christian forums that can still appeal to a fully secular campus.
- I actually failed (I think) to give most of the group the address for my (free!) ebook. You can find that at www.reachingthecampustribes.com.
Here’s the outline of my two seminars from the weekend. Remember, I was speaking to leaders from multiple church-based college ministries, so these seminars tilt that way. But there’s lots in there that would apply to most of us.
SEMINAR ONE: WHO WE ARE
We Are College Ministers
- we have an awesome and noble calling
- we must be learners (whether our personality tilts that way or not)
- we are missionaries to a specific tribe
We Are Missionaries
- this is difficult
- long-term and short-term strategy is vital
- we should be building toward longevity
- contextualization is fundamental
We Are Part of the Campus Tribe
- we should respect the land we’re called to
- we should love the land we’re called to
- we should connect with life there
- we should connect with and join in with what God’s already been doing there
We Are Sent By a Church
- there are some advantages to being church-based; use them!
- we should share our story and our specific role with our church; help them understand and support us!
- we should help our church own the vision and work toward a long-lasting, fruitful campus mission
- we should consider how we’re shepherding home-grown students – perhaps even first
SEMINAR TWO: (NEW?) IDEAS WORTH PONDERING
- Purpose-based Methods (every time)
- Preparing students for an excellent Transition Out (to the “real world”)
- Don’t be afraid to love your campus
- Don’t be afraid to take a step back and make sure you’re building the best possible College Student Plan
- Don’t be afraid to invent
- Be excited about what you can do
- Learn more about the Millennials (since they’re our mission field right now)
- Don’t be too student-centered (they need adult direction and wisdom)
- Prioritize teaching students to be “great in the basics”
- Get great in the basic skills of college ministry
- What you’re doing – campus ministry – is so very worth it
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Just an encouragement as many of your campuses are entering (or in the midst of) Finals:
Don’t be afraid to show yourself a true fan of academic rigor during this time. Your students will pick up on your cues here (and they probably have all semester). Are they learning to fulfill their calling as students, to work “as unto the Lord,” to be faithful in dying to their natural desires in order to be their actual best? Are they learning those things from you, intentionally?
I still believe that these guys and gals are supposed to be “Christians disguised as college students,” not simply “students who happen to be Christians.” Their spiritual walk takes top priority, and sometimes that does mean making choices that look odd to a secular world – including the secular educational establishment.
But I’ve come a long way since my own college days in understanding that we – as college ministers – need to encourage them to be really good students. And we certainly can’t be known for encouraging laxity in educational rigor, wisdom, commitment-keeping, and academic faithfulness.
Not only will any hint of “academic apathy” on our parts rub off on our students, it will rub faculty and administration the wrong way for sure. And that’s no way to serve our campus tribes best.
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“Topics Worth the Tussle” is a series about themes that might not always receive the attention they deserve – but that can be paradigm-shifting for college ministries and their students. They might take a little bit of energy to worth through – thus the name of the series – but if they’re topics your students need to hear about, it’s worth it!
Go then, eat your bread in happiness and drink your wine with a cheerful heart; for God has already approved your works. Let your clothes be white all the time, and let not oil be lacking on your head. (Eccl. 9:7-8 NASB)
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (I Cor. 10:31 ESV)
For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving… (I Tim 4:4 NIV 2010).
Another topic that takes more mulling than might be first assumed: The “permission” – even the command – to enjoy the world God has given us.
I recognize that some college ministries out there don’t need to encourage their students to “enjoy life” as a general rule; in fact, they need to rein in or redirect their enjoyment! But plenty of college ministries do have students – like I was – who need to hear that glorifying God can happen while eating and drinking, that God even commands us to wear party clothes and cologne in our approach to life (the gist of Eccl. 9:8, above).
But as I think about it, I think both groups – the unwise partiers and the unwisely-solemn – will both be helped by a healthy, biblical Theology of Enjoyment. Or even a Theology of Fun.
Have they heard one? I can’t imagine a more collegiate topic.
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Today’s post starts an occasional series on “Topics Worth the Tussle” for college ministers to consider. They’ll be some passages and biblical topics that seem, at times, to be overlooked or undertaught – but that have a particular importance for college students. And yes, it’s likely you, your students, or both will have to struggle a little bit with these tricky topics.
Whether you teach on these, use ‘em in small groups, or just wrestle with how well your students practice these principles, hopefully they are indeed worth the tussle… for you and your students!
My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins. (James 5:19-20 NIV 2010)
Rescue those being led away to death;
hold back those staggering toward slaughter.
If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,”
does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it?
Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done? (Prov. 24:11-12 NIV 2010)If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother. (II Thess. 3:14-15 ESV)
I recently heard a college minister deliver a message on the use and abuse of the tongue, springboarding from James 3 to discuss several ways college students need to think about what they say.
I so appreciated that he included in his message the clear biblical call to confront their friends as needed. Throughout Scripture, confrontation – including even varying “degrees” of confrontation and separation – is revealed as a required part of true community. Wow.
So if we want to assess the “community” angle of our campus ministries, one question we should ask is, “How ready, willing, and able are our students to confront sin in others’ lives?”
It’s definitely a touchy subject. But I think it’s worth the tussle – and a community that does this well is bound to be a pretty strong college ministry indeed.
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Somehow this didn’t get posted for Thursday, so enjoy – and I’ll post the Fridea on Saturday!
If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. (I Pet. 4:11 NIV2010)
It’s not enough that we raise up college students to witness on campus… lead a small group… pastor a church… teach a Sunday school class. It’s not enough that we catalyze collegians to build houses… pay for clean water… run a non-profit… spend a life overseas.
If we haven’t raised them up to speak… if we haven’t raised them up to serve… from God’s very own supply, in His way, how He Himself would have done it, in ways only explainable as God’s work…
then we haven’t let them fully glorify… fully become “faithful stewards of God’s grace” (v. 10)…
then we haven’t been faithful stewards of God’s ministry…
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Yesterday, I outlined (at length) the Unplanned Mission Trip, an original idea that’s one of my favorites – and one I got to try with a group a few years ago. We called our version the “Mad Libs eBay Road Trip,” and it was a blast. (As linked yesterday, you can read the story from that trip here.)
But that episode will also remind me forever of a vital truth for what we do as campus ministers: Methods only matter when they match particular purposes.
You see, this was one method I dreamed up at some point earlier in my ministry career. Then that school year (2006-2007), as Spring Break drew nearer and I was hoping to take our fledgling college ministry on a mission trip, it became really tempting just to take that fun idea and plug it in. It would be fun. It would probably seem “successful.” Why not just “go with it” and see what happened?
But I have to take my shepherding role more seriously than that.
Even if the Unplanned Mission Trip was a great idea “in a vacuum” or “on paper,” did it match the actual purposes God had in mind… for our group… at that time?
I faced a crisis: Would I “go with my gut,” taking a chance on a truly good idea and praying for God to bless it? Or would I instead labor in prayer and thought, discerning first God’s purposes and then – and only then – deciding my method?
I’m so glad I took the time to ponder, pray, and strategize – and it definitely wasn’t easy to do that as apparent deadlines approached. In the end, it became clear that the Mad Libs eBay Road Trip fit several purposes for our ministry at that point – even more than a traditional mission trip would have. That certainly doesn’t mean our trip was perfect or that my decision was somehow “infallible” or anything. But the whole thing sure did seem to be purposeful, and I could get excited about that.
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