Texas Wesley United Methodist Campus Ministry

Everyone seems to be into it these days.  People are blogging detailing anything from their newborn child’s every “first” event to travels around the world.  With our new shiny updated website, I thought I would take it upon myself to share thoughts with you from time to time.  Having been a campus minister for several years now, I have seen, heard, and experienced many crazy events that have opened up the world of college students to me.  Living the Christian life in a crazy yet challenging college world has many ups and downs.  Students experiences so much as they attempt to focus on their academics, follow a crowded social calender, and set in for themselves values and lifestyles that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.  Sure, you will change jobs, friends, move from city to city, take up new hobbies and passions, etc.  But from what I have observed, people’s lifestyles and values get pretty well set in during these 18-23 year old years.

So, here are my initial thoughts for you.  This semester we are taking a journey through Ephesians on Thursday Night for Overflow.  The folks in the church in Ephesus have a lot in common with your Christian college student.  They lived in a culture that was mostly counter Christian.  There were many temptations and pulls for their time, energy, and allegiance that would take them away from God more than toward them.  Of course, you know that story from where you are sitting.

Mostly, however, today’s college student can relate to the Ephesians primarily in the lack of confidence area.  You see, they saw themselves as inferior to the Jewish Christians, who had known of the Almighty God for all of their lives.  These Ephesian Gentile (non-Jewish) Christians had been idol worshipers and lived pagan lifestyles.  Now they were trying to get used to following the One God, Creator of the universe.  Worshiping one God was awkward, everyone seemed to “get it” better than they did.  They found themselves slipping back into their old sinful practices.  In fact, they were facing new temptations.

Sound familiar?  I hear from college students that they feel inadequate and less than in their Christian walk.  Someone else can pray better, knows the Bible more, can talk about God more easily, and oh man, if they only knew what I did this weekend.  Many college Christians find themselves living unfulfilled, dissatisfying spiritual lives.

Paul addressed this to the Ephesians in the first chapter.   He lists several truths about anyone who has become “in Chist”–is a Christian, has trusted Christ, has identified with him.  This list includes being redeemed and forgiven, being for the praise of God’s grace, being God’s child, being called to a holy and blameless life, receiving the seal of the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of God’s love and presence.  He concludes the section in verse 13 saying, “And you were also included IN CHRIST when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.”  He wanted to emphasize that these Christians were just as worthy of those who are “superior” to know God and to be assured of his blessings and love for them.

Where do you feel inferior, inadequate, less than?  Ephesians says to you that since you are “in Christ”, your identity is based on who Jesus is and what he has done.  You are forgiven, his child, his presence is there.  Read over chapter one, and claim your identify for who God says you are “in Christ”!