Shining Your Light on Campus: A Primer for Students and their Adults
Several years ago, an office supply store brought amusement to many with a television advertisement depicting two disgruntled children shopping with their joyous father. As the father danced behind the shopping cart, background music belted out the old lyrics, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” It was not, however, the Christmas season when this ad ran; it was back to school season.
In just a few days, most students will return to their educational institutions to again hammer away at mastery of the “three r’s.” For Christians, this is more than simply an opportunity to build knowledge; it is also the opportunity to fulfill Christ’s desire for His people. In His Sermon on the Mount Jesus stated, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16). Christians must be cognizant of the example that they set for their peers and prepare themselves to let their lights shine throughout the school. This applies to Christians of all ages who find themselves involved with school activities.
Peer acceptance is perhaps the highest priority among most students. The fear of embarrassment, “standing out in the crowd,” or in any way drawing undue attention to oneself is a mortifying thought, especially if it means being ostracized from the in-crowd. For young people who have given their lives to the Lord, this may pose a very real challenge. Sadly, schools can often be places where great temptations are placed before young people. An example of this is the temptation to cheat on assigned work. Statistics show that around 20% of students in the 1940’s admitted to cheating in high school, while today over 75% admit to having cheated during these educational years (http://web.stanford.edu/class/engr110/cheating.html). With the staggering number of people involved in such activities, the young Christian may be pressured to allow others to copy answers or may have the temptation to copy answers from someone else. On these occasions, one’s light must shine and reveal the quality of honesty demanded by the Lord. Such occasions might not boost popularity; however, they will have an eternal impact in helping others to better understand the Lord’s expectations.
The proper use of language often poses a challenge for young people and school can be a place where inappropriate language abounds. What is a young Christian to do when the locker room expectation is to allow foul words to fly? What is to be done when one’s peers are constantly taking the name of the Heavenly Father in vain? The answer is to let light shine. Concerning speech, the Apostle Paul wrote, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person” (Colossians 4:6). No matter one’s age, speech should be used in a way to glorify God and to highlight godly character. Young Christians should strive to use only those words that convey purity and deep respect for the Lord. They should never fall prey to the use of profane and vulgar words or those that sound similar to them. While it might not be appreciated at the time, such behavior will glorify God and help others to better understand the respect He deserves.
Moral issues are perhaps the greatest challenge that many young Christians will face. Statistics show that near one-third of American high school students are sexually active. Pornography is often a prelude to such activity, with statistics bearing out that only 3% of boys and 17% of girls have never seen Internet pornography (http://www.covenanteyes.com/2010/08/19/teens-and-porn-10-stats-your-need-to-know/). Being surrounded by such immoral behavior can often bring a young man or woman to give up on godly principles to satisfy lust or to keep from standing out among his or her peers. When this prevailing darkness threatens, the young Christian must remember the words of James: “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father is this…to keep oneself unstained from the world” (James 1:27). As Job, one must make a covenant with the eyes to keep them away from enticing images that promote impure thoughts. As Joseph, one must flee fornication and remain pure in the eyes of God. This is often hard to do when both body and peers are sending a very different message. Still, a faithful young person will be able to overcome by the help of God and allow His light to shine to those who might not understand.
While children face many temptations on the school campus, adults are not excluded from the dangers. In middle- and upper-class American society, parents have become increasingly involved in their children’s education and extracurricular activities. It is often a temptation for parents to fight battles for a child who they believe has been wronged in some way. While on occasion this may be necessary, it must always be approached in a calm and Christ-like spirit. The wise man Solomon wrote, “Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city” (Proverbs 16:32). Temper control allows the light of God to shine not only for the school personnel who may be involved, but also for the child who sees a parent’s godly example. This is also true in the realm of extracurricular activities. Falling victim to overzealousness, some adults abandon self-control at sporting events and voice angry outbursts directed at officials, coaches, players, and perhaps even their own child. When such temptations press, it is important to remember that an outburst of wrath is considered a work of the flesh (Galatians 5:20). No matter how exciting a game may be or how poorly an official calls a game, a Christian may not abandon the godly principle of self-control. One who maintains self-control and a Christ-like spirit on such occasions is allowing both young and old to see the light of God shining forth.
Pursuing education can be a wonderful and exciting time in life. It affords opportunities that are truly once in a lifetime and full of happiness and joy. It also provides a rich opportunity to let others learn of God’s glory and how a child of God reacts to situations where temptations abound. Whether young or old, one’s light must shine on campus and the admonishing words of Paul must be remembered: “That you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15).
