Society says as young people we are lazy, naive, rebellious, and followers not leaders. The world does not expect much from us as young people and that has transferred over to the church. We are told we need to follow other's examples not be the examples. The bible has very different things to say, and I'm hoping as a young christian myself at 22 years old I can help other young Christians strive to be leaders not followers, to be servants not those who are served, to find worth in God's eyes not the world's eyes. 1 Timothy 4: 12 says, "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."
About me: My name is Caleb I am 22 years old and I recently graduated from Pepperdine University. I am not a young person who has been rejected by society so I am lashing out, quite the opposite. I found myself in college to be a part of the world, I drank, I partied, I went on spring break trips to Mexico, I was in a fraternity, I even modeled professionally in LA for a while. What I realized is that some where along the way I had succumbed to the World's expectations of what a college student should be and put God on the back burner. My mind set was that I had time to be a good Christian and an example when I was older, I realize now that there's no better time to serve God and be an example then the now. I have rededicated my life to Christ and helping young people do the same. I am a pseudo college intern at my church and can't wait to see the way God will challenge me.
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
People always ask me why I don’t date and tell me by not dating around I will never be able to find a spouse or what I want in a girl. This article and answer by Joshua Harris pretty much sum up where I am coming from, and a great starting point for other Christians looking to start something romantic the right way.
In his book, I KISSED DATING GOODBYE, Joshua Harris describes why as a
teen he gave up dating. It was because he believed that dating relationships
are inherently unhealthy. Well, you may ask, “How else do I go about
meeting and marrying the person of my dreams?” Harris, now happily
married, suggests a series of steps that people can take to explore whether a
friendship with someone of the opposite sex should lead to courtship and
perhaps marriage. When we meet someone special, he says, we should first
seek a deeper friendship. Although romance may seem more exciting, “it can
also foster illusion and infatuation, obscuring the true character of each
person.” Instead of dropping regular routines in order to spend time
together, the couple should “find activities that pull [them] both into each
other’s world of family, friends, work, … and ministry.” During this period of
deepening friendship, flirting and “love talk” should be avoided. Both parties
should then consult parents and trusted advisors about the advisability of
moving beyond friendship. These mentors can help ask the hard questions,
like: “Am I mature enough to marry?” “Am I able to support a wife?” Or, “Am
I attracted to his looks or to his character?”
As you consider your choice for a life partner, four “green lights” can help
identify whether to stop the relationship or keep on going. First: Is this
person a Christian? Second: Do you have a realistic vision of what life-long
marriage is all about? Third: Does your romance meet with the approval of
parents and godly friends? If you think you’re ready for marriage, but no one
else does, that’s a red light, and you may need to reconsider. And fourth: Do
you have a sense of God’s peace about your plans? Or do you feel
apprehensive? If all the lights are green, Harris writes, the man should tell
the woman, “We’re growing closer in friendship … and with your
permission, I want to explore the possibility of marriage. I’m ready to be
tested by you [and] your family. My desire is to win your heart.” then a
couple agrees to move forward, they enter into a time the author calls
“principled romance,” the testing and heart-winning stage of courtship. They
ought to look for activities that allow them to spend time together among
family and friends. They may also spend some limited time alone together in
appropriate settings. After that, it’s time to fish or cut bait: To get engaged, or perhaps break off the relationship.
Something my college minister said that I liked a lot was…
When two people get married and become “one flesh” it’s not some weird equation where 1 person plus 1 person equals 1 person, it’s more like your two halves come together and make a whole. You complete each other so to speak, your strengths, weaknesses, passions etc all work together for one life. Your paths come together with one common purpose and you give up half of your life, and gain half of your spouses life.
You commit the same sins all the time when you know better? You try but fall victim to things you are better than? Man, that is a frustrating feeling. I know what I shouldn’t do and the life I want to live, but yet find myself making the same mistakes. I think Paul here is going through the same internal, spiritual battle.
14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[c] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging waragainst the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So tonight I taught college class, and it was mainly a question and answer night. Basically three months ago we started a class entitled “Finding your second Love,” a class designed to explore dating as Christians. I started by asking the same question to the group of guys and girls I separated out,
“What is your biggest struggle as guys/girls in relationships?”
Girls: Trust and maintaining emotional boundaries
Guys: Communication and maintaining physical boundaries
I have to ask what you all would say guys’ and girls’ biggest struggles are as christians in relationships?
P.S. I would like to continue these dating questions once a week or so and see what you guys have to say
A number of you who I have been talking to lately have been having trouble with feeling close with God. To me it all starts with getting to know him and his commandments better by diving it to the word. So I want to do a challenge for 30 days to take the first 30 minutes of your day to read your bible and pray. I hope you guys can join me on this challenge, I’d love to hear about your transformation after you’ve completed this!
Something we read and talked about tonight in college class…
Before we get into the specifics of what’s right to wear, what’s wrong to wear, what looks modest, what looks immodest, we need to lay a foundation. I’ll tell you the starting place for all of us has to be answering this question: “Why do I live”?
What is my purpose in life? You know the answer: to glorify God. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” That’s a foundational principle in life and we should come to the place where we can say, “My purpose in life is to please God rather than to please others.”
We have to come to the place where we recognize that our ultimate purpose, our supreme primary purpose for living is to make God happy.
[And] that affects everything about our lives, including this matter of clothing. It affects our motives. Why am I wearing this? Why do I like this outfit? Why do I like this look? Is it because I want to fit in? Is it because I want to be accepted; I want to be cool; I want to be popular?
You see, if I determine to live my life for the glory of God—that will affect why I wear what I wear. It will make me think about what I wear, not just go to the store and pick up whatever is the current style.
You know what it means when we say that Jesus is Lord. It means that God has the right to regulate every area of our lives, including what we wear.
So I want to ask you, “Who runs your life? Who’s your Lord?” Most of us would say, “Jesus is my Lord.” But when it comes down to what you wear, who’s your Lord?
Are you governed by fashion? Are you governed by the culture? Are you governed by your friends’ opinions or are you governed by Christ and His Word? Who is your Lord? You see, you and I are not to be enslaved to anything or anyone other than Jesus—to have any Lord other than Him is to be a slave.
The men and women who have adopted the world’s philosophy of fashion and clothing are not free. You’ll never be truly free until you’re free to do what God wants you to do regardless of what anything or anyone else dictates to you.
I suggested journaling for your future spouse a while ago, and I was just wondering if any of you have been doing it, what have you gotten from it?
I have been teaching Luke every Sunday now for I think 14 weeks. If any of you have taught a class consecutively for this long or near it, you know how monotonous it can get especially when most people in Sunday morning class aren’t paying attention. But while doing my studying like I always do the night before my class, I started reading Luke 12, which is the chapter I am on, and it just hit me hard. This chapter has so many valuable teachings, teachings that are so relevant to a time that is consumed by things of this earth and material possessions. This part of the chapter really sums it up, keep it mind that Jesus is speaking to a crowd of thousands here. It is funny to me how he is addressing the same problems to people then as we are dealing with now.
“Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life[b]? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.
34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
It seems like ever since I have rededicated my life to Christ and tried to live a radical Christian life, I have been torn between being a full time minister or an attorney. I almost felt like ministry was what I had to do, and it seems like a lot of people have that same conclusion. Once they decide to live dedicated lives, or once they are converted, they feel like they need to go into full time ministry, but I actually discourage this unless you really feel like this is where you are called to be. I’ve been reading a book called “Don’t Waste Your Life” by John Piper and he has a whole chapter on this concept.
He says, “The call to be a Christian was not a call to leave your secular vocation. That’s the clear point in 1 Corinthians 7:17-24. Paul sums up his teaching there with these words, “So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.” Paul had a high view of the Providence of God, that God had called unbelievers to positions in life where their conversion would have the greatest impact for God’s glory.”Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him.” (verse 17)
Paul does not mean that changing jobs is wrong in the Christian life- otherwise nobody could become a full time minister except very young people. What Paul does mean is that when we are converted, or rededicate our lives, we should not jump to the conclusion that our job must change. Instead our mindset should be God has placed me here, and I should now bring him as much glory as I can in this job.
There are three pivotal points to Jesus’ time here on earth, his life, his death, and his resurrection. For the most part it seems we remember him for his life and death and tend to forget about the third part, his resurrection, that is until this day. Why is Jesus’ resurrection important? I once had a Christian political theory class in college and the discussion was on Jesus’ resurrection and whether or not it was literal. To me if Jesus’ resurrection was not literal and did not physical happen, this faith is pointless. There would be no proof that Jesus was a deity, or fulfilled the prophecies of being the savior. I could not wrap my head around how someone could say he was not resurrected or reject the importance of this event. To me the resurrection is the part that should stand out the most to us, it is how Jesus conquered this world and Satan, it is how he proved to man that he was the one and only savior, that he fulfilled the thousand of years of prophecies, that everything in Jewish Law and history pointed to him.
1 Corinthians 15:14 “ And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.”
So I challenge you all to remind yourself daily of the importance of not solely Jesus’ life and death, but of his resurrection too and what that meant to us. It is easy to be a Christian on Easter and remember Jesus’ resurrection then, but as Christians this is something that we are called to do daily even hourly!
