Hey Christian students!
It’s back-to-school season and whether you’re a battle-scarred veteran or the new kid in school, you’re gonna face some challenges bringing Jesus into the environment.
Public school holds many seemingly monumental moments and even greater difficulties.
It’s like a whole world within a building, filled with thousands of opinions, beliefs, groups of friends and mindsets.
Unfortunately, most of the conversations are not concerning algebra equations or reading lists.
It’s daunting to feel all alone in a sea of firmly defined people who will either love you or hate you for your personal opinions and actions.
Oftentimes school is like survival of the boldest and if the boldest people decide that you don’t fit their ideal culture, they make that very known.
How do I know this?
Not only am I a survivor of this system but now that I’m in my twenties, I see that school society is a concentrated version of the greater community.
I know it’s intimidating, but before you enroll in an online only education program, remember what I said earlier…
It’s survival of the boldest!
Sure, sounds good until you find out that the boldest people at your school have an army of bold followers all pointing at you, all because of JESUS.
Seems easier to leave Jesus at home or at church and ensure the attention is not on you.
That’s so understandable!
However, I think we both know that sharing the love that Jesus gave you, with all your schoolmates, will light your heart up more than anything.
Wait, what if I get in trouble for talking about faith in a strictly religion free environment?
Schoolmates ridiculing you is one thing, what if the administration at school takes disciplinary action?
Crazy times we are living in, but let’s face it head on!
Here’s the real question we are asking ourselves this back-to-school season:
Can I Talk About Jesus at School?
How Christian Students Can Share the Gospel.
Short answer: yes, we can talk about Jesus at school!
(Cheers to the first Amendment!)
Slightly less short answer: it’s against most public school policies to preach with intent to convert in America.
As Americans, we have liberties to pray, gather and express worship, which includes different religions and beliefs.
All people have the freedom to go to school without indoctrination.
That being said, the world freely expresses their religions and their faith in astrology, pleasure, money and even their faith that they are the ultimate authority.
We can’t control their bending of the constitution, but we can adhere to the First Amendment and exercise our rights!
God is just and righteous, which means He does not rejoice in our rebellion in any form.
“He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.”
Psalms 33:5 NKJV
Read more concerning what God loves in our post:
What does God Love?
The LORD also encourages us to submit to authority and trust Him, that He is above even the highest power in the world.
“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.”
Romans 13:1-3 NKJV.
More on why The LORD asks us to honor authority:
This is Why God Wants us to Honor Authority!
This Will Change How you View Authority
This is a practice of true faith and trust that God is really LORD!
So, we can follow the law while sharing Jesus!
Remember, survival of the boldest.
Here is where you will be bold while remaining respectful of policy.
“The wicked flee when no one pursues, But the righteous are bold as a lion.”
Proverbs 28:1 NKJV.
Yes, you can be bold about your faith without preaching at school!
This is the key.
Don’t aim to change anyone’s beliefs and don’t use your words to influence people to become a Christian.
You are not held to a quota of conversions and you don’t need to put pressure on yourself to suggest Christianity to each person that you contact.
The best teaching that’s ever been done, is that which has been done through example!
““You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14-16 NKJV.
Think of light!
Light never utters a sound; yet when it is near, it changes the atmosphere!
That’s what we are called to be!
Light in the midst of darkness.
Fun fact about light:
Light draws eyes in its direction!
We were not made to be a clamor to guide people in the direction that they should go.
In fact, if I was in the dark and heard clatter, I would move farther away from it!
Noise for someone who is in the dark, only creates more confusion and fear.
We are called to be light because light brings clarity; it’s not overwhelming or intimidating and eyes are drawn to it naturally.
How can we be light?
By doing a little less preaching about our faith and a little more DOING!
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
James 1:22 NKJV.
Do we need to be perfect?
No!
It’s not about our goodness.
It’s about our faith!
If we truly believe Jesus, it will flow through our actions and good works will be as natural as light beaming from the sun!
Our mouths will move less as our hearts move more!
We won’t even think about if we are doing this Christian thing right, because we will be so preoccupied serving and loving people as Jesus does!
The closer you get to Jesus, the more His light fills you; thus making you a lamp that cannot contain that light!
It will just shine through you!
How can that light actually change the hearts of people at your school?
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.”
I Corinthians 13:1-3 NKJV.
The answer is always:
Love!
That light is the love of God!
It changes everything!
Remember how it changed your life?
Do you recall when this verse caused light to flood your path and brought true clarity to your life?
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16 NKJV.
It softened your heart so why wouldn’t it soften someone else’s heart?
Don’t put so much pressure on yourself to lead people to Jesus.
Just make it your responsibility to follow Jesus closely yourself!
You’re just the lamp, the LORD is the light!
So, just know that if He shines through you, hearts will be drawn in that direction.
You needn’t even preach a word and when you do talk about Jesus, it will be with pure love for people!
Keep in mind…
God’s love for you clearly shown through Jesus was enough for you,
It can be enough for your classmates too!
So, go on and share the gospel, Christian student!
Photo by Liana Tril’
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
