Students. I was one. I am one. And no, this blog is not one of those, “I will be a student for the rest of my life” type of blogs, but about being a real student. It’s about being a real student, a real student with homework, a backpack, a packed lunch, and a paper due next week.
But what do I think when I look at other students around me. What are the observations that I make? What are the thoughts that flash through my mind? Well, this blog is not about seminary students, we’ll save that one for a later time. But this is about the students I minister to in youth and college ministries. I am around them, I talk to them, and at one point I was one. If there’s anything I know, it’s being a student. For the sake of time, I’ll limit my discussion to high school kids.
Based on my observation high school has become so competitive. So competitive that I believe it is detrimental to a believers spiritual health. Kids today are encouraged by teachers and yes, even parents, to pursue academic excellence at any cost. Let’s get it straight: I am not against academic excellence, I am against academic excellence at the cost of forfeiting the Lord.
Students today are looking to fill their college applications with high SAT scores, extra-curricular activities, AP classes, and awards. High school has become an Olympic event with the gold medal being the acceptance to a prestigious college/university. What troubles me most about this is the high school student’s abandonment of loving the Lord. Kids are forfeiting bible reading, accountability, discipleship, and the like because they do not contribute to their college application. Even some students who are involved in ministry only do so to add to their college application.
As a response, it is difficult to watch. There is a reason why Christians are to profess Him as Lord (Rom 10:9), there is a reason why He asks us to deny ourselves and take up our cross (Mk 8:34-38). And that reason is because He is worth it. Christ can satisfy in a way that no college, degree, job, income, status, or material possession can. Christians are called to be excellent, but never at the expense at following the Savior. Paul was content in rich circumstances and poor circumstances because his contentment did not lie in what he had, but who he had, Christ (Phil 1:21, cf. 4:12-13).
These are just a few thoughts and observations. Hopefully soon I’ll be able to follow up on some thoughts on college students (I think the situation regarding college students are much worse).
“If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angles.” Mark 8:34-38)
In Christ,
Mark Pakingan
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
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