Before I went to university, I made a decision that I was going to tell people I was a Christian. "This won't be easy", I thought to myself, "some Christians are idiots and I am very intelligent." I was a bit arrogant back then. But I made my decision anyway and moved into my hall of residence.

After I had heaved the final suitcase into my room, the bloke in the room next to me knocked on my door. Pleased to meet my new neighbour, I said a very understated "hi mate" so as not to seem too keen. He performed similar greeting ritual and followed it by saying, "I've just had a flyer under my door from the f*#%ing Christians. I hate Christians!!"

In that moment I had a life changing decision to make. I could feel my heart beating as I plucked up the courage to say, "well that's awkward, because I am a Christian...mate." A cringe-worthy silence followed and he said, "fair enough" and we changed the subject. Later that evening the lad moved out of our hall as he said he couldn't live with a Christian.

I was amazed that someone would be so repelled by the gospel. That he would go to the hassle of transferring residence to avoid a Jesus follower. Not even a very good Jesus follower.
On one level I felt bad that he had gone because of me, but this life isn't a popularity contest. In fact, I was better off without him. Out of my seven remaining housemates, two became Christians and one returned to Jesus after rebellious teenage years. As St Paul says in Galatians 1:10, "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." (NIV)

So if you are starting uni soon, already at uni, or just like me and need a bit of encouragement - why not decide to be bold about living for Jesus. Be unashamed that you are a Christian. Be proud to have a friendship with the creator of the universe. And if someone is really offended, let them go elsewhere.