In the world, but not of it

“Hang out with non-Christians, hang out with non-Christians, hang out with non-Christians!” encouraged departing senior Dan Nordyke at one Christian student organization’s senior farewell barbeque in the spring of 2006.  As a first-year student listening to the parting remarks of seniors, well seasoned in campus ministry, I did not fully understand the profound wisdom Dan had purposed to impart to future “generations” of Christ-following students.

I do not now claim to fully understand this wisdom, but I have since come to appreciate much more deeply the value of stepping outside of the “Christian Bubble” in college.  I hope to expedite the process for you here.  That established, please, do not take my word for anything written in this article.  Ask God to teach you, and search out the scriptures on your own to make sure you’re getting the truth.

Most Christians agree that living a Christ-centered life is significantly easier with other Christians, and rightly so.  This is a biblical concept.  God created us with the ability to support and encourage one another, and our ability to be relational people is a beautiful gift from Him.  (Check out Hebrews 10:24-25.)  Please make sure that you are regularly encouraging, and being encouraged by, fellow Believers (Hebrews 3:13), especially in college, as your worldview is shaped and/or challenged by everyone and everything.  (Here I insert a shameless plug: Be involved in a Christian student organization on campus!)  Also, and even more importantly, please regularly spend time with the Lord in prayer, in the Word, and in living life such that everything you do is an act of worship (See 1 Corinthians 10:31.).

Now that we have that established, I’ll get to the point.  The various relationships that are so pivotal in our Christian lives should not be limited to friendships with Christians.  I believe that often times when we consider being in the world but not of it, we become so wrapped up in being “not of this world” that we forget to be in it.  In John 17, Jesus prays for His disciples.  After He acknowledges, “they are not of the world,” He does not pray that God would take them out of the world!  In fact, He says, “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one” (John 17:14-15 NIV).

Further, in Matthew 28:19, Jesus told His disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations,” (NIV).  When Jesus came to show us how to be in this world, how did He make disciples?  He spent His life with people.  He talked with them, ate with them, traveled with them, ministered with them, etc. Please note that these disciples were not stellar religious students; most were uneducated people, social outcasts, and people whose messed-up lives were transformed by Christ’s love.   (Try Matthew 9:10-13, Mark 2:13-17, and Luke 5:29-31 for starters.)  If we want to be like Jesus, maybe we should try to emulate His social patterns.

As you embark on this new adventure called college, or pick it up where you left off after your last semester of classes, I exhort you to seek out friendships within, as well as outside of, the Christian community.  Please prayerfully consider where God would have you involved on campus.  Here are some ideas to ask Him about if you’re stuck.  Get to know your neighbors.  Go to some events.  Join a student organization.  Hang out with your roommate.  You don’t have to do everything.  Just love Jesus and be faithfully involved where He asks you to be.