To those who'll go out #1
I had it in my heart to share a few things with the matrics of the school I minister at concerning the transition from high school to university, but things didn’t work out as I planned, so I’ll use this platform to share my heart and hope it gets around.
This is also just in case your mamma and papa forget to sit you down before you leave…a few important things to remember when you’re Christian and independent.
1. Tell them all
It’s so important that everyone know that you’re a born-again Christian. We all know and love Matthew 5:14 but I like verse 15 more.
“Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.”
Put your light on its stand when you get there, don’t be silent about your true identity, let it be the first thing people know about you. They may forget your name, but don’t let them forget you’re Christian. I don’t mean this in an arrogant manner, but I’ve learnt that this helps so much when you’re tempted to do wrong a few months later…you’ll remember that they know that you’re Christian, so it’s kinda like you’re building a hedge around yourself.
One may say this is simple, but trust me, as one who’s been there, I know the challenges of making yourself known as a Christian in a new place with new people who can be very hostile towards your beliefs. I had my first year a bit easy, it was only occasionally that my house mates would come for that ‘God doesn’t exist’ debate. In my second year, I received the shock of my life when I learnt that one of my housemates was gay, and was quiet outspoken about his lifestyle and religious beliefs. It was a challenge every day to proclaim the truth of the Bible in an environment that was the exact opposite, I was the only one in the house who saw a problem with it. One Sunday my housemates decided they’d come to church with me. It was a disaster. For some or other reasons, there were a lot more other gay visitors that day, and the pastor must have sensed it cause he touched on the spirit of homosexuality during the service. I was crucified that evening, told just how judgemental and ‘wrong about God’ we Christians are.
That’s another thing, people will label you: “holy-than-thou” “judgemental” “goodie-two-shoes” etc. (they come up with new ones every year, it’s hard to keep up). Don’t let any of this bother you. People can’t change who you are, only you can, so march one regardless of the comments made by spectators. And remember, the One you’re following was hated too, you’re partaking of His sufferings. John 15:18-19 settles it – “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the word, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”
You’ll meet and maybe live with atheists, drunkards, homosexuals, fornicators, proud abortionists…you name it, tertiary’s got it all. Love them, it’s your duty, but be careful not to fall in love with the sin and lies they live in. Let your light shine.
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5
This is also just in case your mamma and papa forget to sit you down before you leave…a few important things to remember when you’re Christian and independent.
1. Tell them all
It’s so important that everyone know that you’re a born-again Christian. We all know and love Matthew 5:14 but I like verse 15 more.
“Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.”
Put your light on its stand when you get there, don’t be silent about your true identity, let it be the first thing people know about you. They may forget your name, but don’t let them forget you’re Christian. I don’t mean this in an arrogant manner, but I’ve learnt that this helps so much when you’re tempted to do wrong a few months later…you’ll remember that they know that you’re Christian, so it’s kinda like you’re building a hedge around yourself.
One may say this is simple, but trust me, as one who’s been there, I know the challenges of making yourself known as a Christian in a new place with new people who can be very hostile towards your beliefs. I had my first year a bit easy, it was only occasionally that my house mates would come for that ‘God doesn’t exist’ debate. In my second year, I received the shock of my life when I learnt that one of my housemates was gay, and was quiet outspoken about his lifestyle and religious beliefs. It was a challenge every day to proclaim the truth of the Bible in an environment that was the exact opposite, I was the only one in the house who saw a problem with it. One Sunday my housemates decided they’d come to church with me. It was a disaster. For some or other reasons, there were a lot more other gay visitors that day, and the pastor must have sensed it cause he touched on the spirit of homosexuality during the service. I was crucified that evening, told just how judgemental and ‘wrong about God’ we Christians are.
That’s another thing, people will label you: “holy-than-thou” “judgemental” “goodie-two-shoes” etc. (they come up with new ones every year, it’s hard to keep up). Don’t let any of this bother you. People can’t change who you are, only you can, so march one regardless of the comments made by spectators. And remember, the One you’re following was hated too, you’re partaking of His sufferings. John 15:18-19 settles it – “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the word, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”
You’ll meet and maybe live with atheists, drunkards, homosexuals, fornicators, proud abortionists…you name it, tertiary’s got it all. Love them, it’s your duty, but be careful not to fall in love with the sin and lies they live in. Let your light shine.
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5
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