Sometimes, when I find a verse in the Bible, even though I know I've read it on many occasions before, I feel like I've just encountered it for the first time. I had that experience this week, as I was reading 1 Corinthians.
"I urge you then to imitate me" says Paul, in chapter 4 verse 6. What a statement! It got me thinking again, could I say that to someone? Not just to my friends who know Jesus, but also, to the people who haven't met him yet. Does the way I live look like a life worth imitating? Because, as followers of Jesus, I think that we have the potential to lead some of the most interesting lives around.
The student world is full of challenges and opportunities. Recently, I've spent a lot of time working on a new resource called 'University: The Big Challenge'. We want it to provide 360 degree preparation for student life, helping students make the most of their time at university. As we've mentioned many times before, you'll be living with more people at uni, in closer proximity, than at any other time in your life. You have the opportunity to make an impact, to lead a life worth imitating. Sharing Jesus' Good News with a world that's crying out for it. You're a living demonstration of a different story! I do think this story needs to be shared with words, but it's also about our actions, as we demonstrate what 'living saved' means.
After all, as we read in John 1:14 "The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighbourhood" (The Message).
Last week, I was chatting with some people who are starting uni this year. We were talking about how, as Christian's, we don't think it's a good idea to get drunk, and what the value behind that conviction could look like during their time at uni. The challenge is, if not getting drunk just means that we don't go out, and stick around in safe Christian bubble world, or we do go out but harp on about how we don't get drunk, then the life of a Christian probably doesn't look like it contains much worth imitating. Not getting drunk is just the starting point. What if we go beyond the basic behaviour to demonstrate a completely different way of life. What if not getting drunk means you're actually out to put other people's interests above your own? What if not getting drunk is about staying sharp, enjoying who you are without trying to escape from anything, looking out for your mates and other people who might not be having a great time, or find themselves in a vulnerable situation. Well then, maybe the life of a Christian might start to look interesting.
We talk about Club Mission loads and there are all kinds of club outreach type activities going on in churches around the country, but it's a great example of what I'm talking about. It's interesting, because as Christians are demonstrating their different story, people who don't know Jesus are wanting to get involved and help out. They're seeing something that they'd like to imitate. One church in particular has had an incredible response from the Uni's student union. The union has decided to brand an entire event as 'Club Mission' because they've been so inspired by what they've seen the church doing. On a week to week basis, they're also helping out by setting up and resourcing the churches' club mission team: setting up urns to give out free tea and coffee, providing sofas for a chill out space are just a couple of examples. The student union's head of security recently said that "If I had to show someone round the student union, this is the kind of stuff I'd want to show them.". Lives that are worth imitating? Definitely.
As we continue to figure out what living lives as followers of Jesus means in the student world today, let's think about Paul's statement.
