All Dressed Up!

It is our fault really. I mean people like me who stand up in front of students for a living.... professional christians. For so long we have pounded into students heads... "it is us vs. them, don't give in, just say no, walk away, stay away from the world, stand strong." There is nothing wrong with those things when they are presented in the right context... however, none of those phrases sum up the life that Christ called our students or us to live. He called us to go.

There is a major difference between a student who is trying to live a life that is "not-influenced" and a student who is living to "influence." The two couldn't be more different.

In my favorite movie of all time, Braveheart. There is a scene where William Wallace and his friends get painted up to take on the English. It is their first major battle. William looks at his friends and says, "just be yourselves, I am going to pick a fight." As he leaves, they look at each other and say, "hope we didn't get dressed up for nothing." There couldn't be a better description of American Christian Students.... "all dressed up, with no fight to fight."

Over time, students who are not challenged or released to engage lost friends, dream big, and make an impact begin to wonder what is the point. We sit in bible class day after day, go to youth group, sing the songs, but for what? Soon, the law becomes a set of rules to keep them from messing up, not a set of standards that lead to freedom so they can influence the world. They are bored.. no one has given them the vision that their friends are tired of them inviting the church and dying for someone to invite them in their life!

The second student sees the law as freedom... and standards that allow them to live a life of authenticity.... for influence. They see worship as a time to celebrate what God has done and prepare for what God will do. Bible study becomes the prep for a day on the front lines. Their prayers change... "Lord help me to see these people they way you see them, and respond the way you would respond." All of a sudden accountability becomes something that makes us sharper for influence. We begin to watch one another's back to make sure that we don't fall in battle and lose our influence.

As i am watching our students grab ahold of the life Christ intended for them to live... i have been amazing to see our student ministry become a "movement of influencers."

I challenge you to live a life of influence and stop the defensive Christianity. The world needs people who are willing to Go!