My school picture from 10th grade
Okay, so I'm a bit behind schedule, like 3 days to be exact. However, I was really struck, and convicted, in the first couple verses of chapter 6. I wish I had been challenged and convicted by other believers in my classes when I was in high school in regards to how I treated a few of my teachers. As many of you know, depending on how much I respected a teacher would determine the level of honor I would show them. And here's the deal, some of the teachers I had flat-out didn't do anything to, what I determined, garner my respecting them. Some told me they hoped I wouldn't be like my older brothers, one told me in front of the class that I'd drop out of college before my first semester was complete and would end up back in Dubuque flipping burgers for the rest of my life. I remember a meeting with my guidance counselor about "career choices." I remember her encouraging me to check out 2 year technical colleges as "4 year colleges aren't for everyone."
But notice, I am the one determining who deserves respect. In the midst of that, I am the one who defines what respect and honor is, how (or not) that honor is carried out, with absolutely no outside truth playing in to who I respect/honor and who doesn't receive it.
Keep in mind, I was a believer in high school, letting everyone know I was going to be a youth pastor. So my witness, in those classes and outside, was less than ideal.
According to Paul, I was under the yoke as a slave to those in authority over me (teachers). I know, I guess Paul was before his time in regards to seeing school as slavery. Anyway, I digress. I totally missed the point. I made a mockery of God and drug the idea of Christian through the mud. How was God glorified when I would eat Ms Milliman's lunch while she was teaching up front? How was God's name made greater as a result of me disrespecting those He put over me? How did other non-beleivers in the class see Christianity as a result of watching my behavior? What did my actions say about my being submitted to God? THEY SCREAMED OUT THAT I WASN'T SUBMITTED TO HIM!!! Whether or not they deserved respect in worldly terms is irrevelant. God says they are worthy of all honor, so I was supposed to honor them.
See, my job in the world is to make God's name look great! And the weirdest thing, is that God's name can/will be made even greater by the honor and respect I give to those "not deserving" of respect. How I respond to someone in authority over me who is exercising power over me rather than love, screams out to them that the power of God in me is more powerful than the garbage they are doing to me.
Teens, look at your life. Does the way you treat those in authority over you make the God be seen for His greatness? Do your actions make Christ-followers look good or not? Can anyone speak AGAINST Christ based on you?
What do you think? Shoot me some responses.
Personally, I don't believe anyone can speak against Christ because of my actions towards teachers, but my actions don't really scream out CHRIST to people either. I am very, very low key at school and say very little throughout the day. Fortunately, I've also been blessed with relatively good teachers. I don't always do well with their teaching styles, but I always work hard to succeed in their class, which I guess glorifies God. There have been times where I've gotten frustrated with teachers and maybe disrespected them a bit, but it's usually not in front of anyone. And my least favorite teacher for about 2-3 months last year, is now my all-time favorite teacher and I've let people who have him as a teacher know just how good he is.
ReplyDeleteHowever, for me teachers aren't the only ones in authority over me. I also have coaches virtually year round in authority and that's where I feel I really make God's name shine. I always listen to my coaches and do what they say. I rarely, if ever, complain about how hard they are working us.I just work my butt off and trust that my coach knows what's best for me.
Pants, way to go! Just a question, to push you a bit, and maybe to make you think a bit further. I noted you said that your actions don't really scream out Christ to people either. Do you think your actions should? What are a couple ways you could grow in that area? How would your witness grow as a result of sharing with people, before they ask, why you are the way you are? I know that it's great to have people ask, but what about those that don't ask? How do they miss out by your actions not screaming out? Oh, and by the way, I'm not attacking, or even saying that you are somehow missing the mark. My intention is to push you a bit! You rock!
ReplyDeleteIsaac T
Well, sometimes my actions scream out CHRIST or at the bare minimum "I'M DIFFERENT". I've been asked why I never cuss. So, I guess to those who are around me more, they can see the difference, but to the casual observer they just see some hard-working geek who is shy. I could be undercutting myself and the power of Christ working in me and through me, but if I were seeing myself in action I don't know if I'd necessarily attribute what I do to Christ. That's probably the biggest problem. It's not so much whether my actions scream CHRIST, it's whether the person watching is able to see CHRIST in my actions. So, I guess my actions should at least scream CHRIST, but I feel Satan has infiltrated so many different areas of teens and public schooling that they don't always see CHRIST screaming at them through others actions. I think that if people were to pay attention, they'd notice a difference and then question why I do what I do, which then leads to me witnessing for Christ.
ReplyDeleteFor the people who don't ask, they miss out in the fact that they probably don't recognize that it is Christ working in me and in other Christians throughout MHS. There are people in the world who will unfortunately be able to truly say on judgment day, "I was never told about You" to God due to laws in their country. While there will probably be others who will say, "I was never told about You", but it was because they had Satan's blinders on and weren't ready and willing to see and hear what Christ had/has to say. Part of it though is also me. Due to me being very low-key I'm not likely to draw attention to myself in any way, which makes it harder for people to notice and ask questions.
DO you think it's your responsibility to be more "high key" so more notice and ask? Is it okay to just keep your nose to the grindstone and mind your own business and hope that people ask? Where's the line of speaking up so others know and tooting your own horn and being obnoxious about your faith? What say you, my man, since this seems to be a two way discussion.
ReplyDeleteA lot of it, I believe, is what you hit tonight, the joy that I have in Christ. As Pastor Ed says, "The bounce in your step and the sparkle in your eye." That's what really will stand out to people, esp considering that school is so monotonous.
ReplyDeletePlus, with the "nose to the grindstone", students will usually notice if someone is being "nerdy" and working hard to obtain their grades considering cheating or slacking off is the way to go these days.
For me, my line is at lunch. I'm more open with the people who I sit with at lunch about my faith. I'm not "the preacher guy" or anything like that, but they know where I stand on things and I'm generally open with my Christian stance on different issues. The biggest thing for me is that I've never really developed friendships at high school, other than some of my fellow runners and almost all of them, if not all of them, go to a youth group already. So, when people say, "bring your friends to youth group", I think 'what friends?' That's kinda how it's always been for me. The few friends I do have at school are involved at youth groups and such. Sadly, I wonder if some of them are getting fed at their youth groups or if they're just "having a good time", but I don't know them enough to judge that.