A Striking Thought

Well, I've been here in college for about 2 weeks now. Things have been very fast, very fun, and highly enjoyable. I've met some awesome people, and I am really excited to see what things God shows and teaches me over the next four years.

However, there is something I have already realized since I've been down here, and it's something that I believe many people are having a problem with as well.

As I've spent the past two weeks here in Tuscaloosa I've encountered a plethora of people from all sorts of religious backgrounds. Some are muslim, some are undoubtedly Buddhist, and there are some that are as religiously stale as they come. The bulk of the Tuscaloosa crowd, however, would claim to be Christian. Now, I realize that some people have different outlooks on the Bible and things of that sort, but recently I have been very disturbed by what I've seen. Countless numbers of these people claim Christ as their savior, yet display no fruits of the spirit. How am I supposed to know that they are a Christian? By the way they "religiously" attend The Well on Wednesday nights, in what looks like an attempt to "make things right," before they kick-off the party scene on Thursday night and get plastered with their friends? That is NOT the vibe I wish I was getting from many of these people.

I know this may sound a little "harsh" , if you will, but I don't mean this in a judging way. This is just something that erks me to the fullest extent. How can you claim Christ and then go out and live like this? Are you really telling me that you think it is PERFECTLY ok to go out and play some beer pong and get plastered, and then come back home and sleep it off, and wake up and do it again until Sunday. On Sunday, you wake up and go to church and feel bad about yourself, and leave feeling like a better person. Then, on Wednesday you go BACK to church and feel even worse about yourself, and have a good time getting closer to God....for an hour. Then, on Thursday you throw Christ to the backseat, and let your sinful desires take over. It's a disgusting cycle.

Note -- I am not singling out anyone. I can say these things based on friends I have back home, and people I have encountered and know.



So, as preturbed as I am by this, I have realized where I fail. I absolutely cannot stand people who live like I just decribed, yet I claim to be a Christian too. I, scratch that, WE should be going out and ministering to these people. Showing Christ's love to them day in and day out. Could it be that the reason they act that way is because they have not surrounded themselves with Godly friends to help keep them accountable? Probably so!

This campus is on fire. However, it's not on fire for Christ, it's on a sinful rage, and it's overwhelming. The row I live on, the people I go to class with, the friends that are in my study groups -- it's all around me.

I've made many mistakes in my life. I've also seen my fair share of mistake-ridden people turn into God-fearing men and women. People who have lived their life with Christ in the backseat, and with the world at the wheel. People who don't understand the full meaning of the statement, "Be in the world, not of it."

So I end my rant on this note. Which Jesus do you follow? If Ephesians says to imitate Christ
Then why do you look so much like the world? My Jesus bled and died for my sins. He spent His time with thieves, and sluts, and liars. He loved the poor and accosted the rich.
So which one do you want to be?


I want to be like my Jesus.


Prayer: Dear God, I pray that you would take hold of my life and make me more like you. I have a desire for these people that don't know you, and are stale in their walk with You, to come closer to you. Please use me in their lives. Use me on this campus. I want to be able to leave in 2013 knowing that I made an impact for You in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Guide me, and show me your will, but above all else, be GLORIFIED, in all that I say, and in all that I do. In Your Holy name,

Amen.