The world today seems to be increasingly messed up. When it comes to younger generations, it is easy sometimes to give up or just give in to apathy or complacency. As Baptists we are really not doing them any favors and actually may be doing great damage to both their future and our own students.
Here are four things that we tell ourselves that really are not helpful. We could do better.
“I am just glad that they go to church.” It is a great thing if college students go to church when they go away to school, but that doesn’t make them a Christian nor does it mean that they are really following Christ. They could just be going because of a habit you instilled in them as a child. Churches have plenty of cultural Christians.
Ask your student about his or her involvement in the life of the church — Bible study and mission. Look for evidence of them seeking after God rather than attending a service. There are three areas that you can encourage them in. All believers need to be a part of a small group that studies the Word together, prays together and serves on mission together. Are they investing in the church?
“Well, at least they are not ________.” Just look around you and on social media you can see that our culture has embraced a lot of activities that are not beneficial for a Christ-follower. When parents send their student off to college they often reflect upon the poor choices that they may have made when they were in school or maybe even in their life.
Norvell
In the end, it is tempting to say, well “God will work it out” or “I can’t protect them anymore.” Don’t give up so easily. Today we see that many people no longer return to church after they marry and settle down.
You need to demonstrate and encourage them to do activities that are life-giving and not destructive to their life in Christ. Life is more complicated and some decisions related to drugs, alcohol, sexuality and experimentation have repercussions that are irreversible for this generation. Still God is forgiving and you should be as well. What are they doing that is beneficial to their walk with Christ?
“They are so busy I don’t want to ask them to lead or volunteer for church.” Yes, students are busy, but over the years I have found two things: Students make time for what they want, and if you try to clear a space for them to rest, they will fill it with something else. A part of this age in life is to learn priorities.
Students usually prioritize in two ways by either going with the flow or going with what has the most meaningful fun. These may not be the best ways, but that is often how they operate. Therefore, don’t be afraid to ask them to do meaningful things and try to make them fun. If you don’t ask them, someone else will and many non-Christian groups are great at recruiting these days.
Oh, and one more point — they may not be responsible, organized or even motivated yet! That is why you should ask them, then help them. Responsibility will come when they see the difference that they can make. And don’t be afraid to ask them to do the hard stuff, but make sure you check in with them breaking the work into doable tasks. Are you asking them to serve?
“I don’t understand young people these days.” Well, you are in good company because sometimes they don’t understand each other or themselves either.
This young generation in many ways is a giant experiment. They have communication overload, social media fatigue and more mixed messages shouted at them every day than ever before. They feel the weight of many burdens placed upon them from big things, like world issues, to the smallest choice like deciding what products to buy related to cancel culture. That is a lot of pressure.
Think of yourself as a missionary to them. You need to study their culture, put yourself in their shoes, learn their language and show them compassion instead of contempt. Are you being a missionary to your young people? B&R
