{"id":3182,"date":"2017-01-19T05:19:59","date_gmt":"2017-01-19T11:19:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/justandsinner\/?p=3182"},"modified":"2017-01-20T19:51:58","modified_gmt":"2017-01-21T01:51:58","slug":"can-christian-schools-shine-doubling-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/justandsinner\/can-christian-schools-shine-doubling-world\/","title":{"rendered":"How Can Christian Schools Shine in a \u201cDoubling Down\u201d World?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"The
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. \u2014 John 1:5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Post by Nathan Rinne<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

It has become a \u201cdon\u2019t back down, double-down\u201d world.<\/p>\n

Many increasingly feel like they are being pushed too far. The \u201cother\u201d is more so all the time\u2026 and there is felt to be little truth in them. As time rolls on we seem, as Charles Murray has put it, to be \u201ccoming [further] apart\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"No!\"
No!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tomorrow, several lawmakers plan on boycotting<\/a> the inauguration of the President of the United States. In like fashion, pro-life woman, out of step with modern feminist ideology, are being excluded<\/a> from participating in the Woman\u2019s March on Washington. Many on the left also wish <\/em>that they could boycott Peter Thiel<\/a>, whom they consider to be insufficiently gay or not really gay at all. And among calls for government and big business-assisted action<\/a>, more conservative reporters and news organizations were basically identified as a contagion to be isolated by the New York Times<\/em> already in last November<\/a> (right before<\/em> the election of Donald Trump) for producing \u201cfake news\u201d (see my own analysis on the \u201cfake news<\/a>\u201d issue \u2013 in short, \u201cselective reporting\u201d is a common human practice).<\/p>\n

I am therefore not surprised when a Pew<\/em> study shows that those who are \u201cconsistently liberal\u201d in their politics are much more likely<\/em> than those who are \u201cconsistently conservative\u201d to \u201cdrop a friend\u201d<\/a> because of politics.<\/p>\n

But politics, as we Christians know well, it is not all there is. For we know of the news that is really important and interesting. That is, the good news that Jesus Christ is the light of the world \u2013 the light no darkness shall overcome!<\/p>\n

And now is the time for the church to shine!<\/p>\n

This doesn\u2019t mean that we can avoid \u201cdoubling down\u201d ourselves. It means that we \u201cdouble down\u201d in a peculiar kind of way, a way that is distinct from the world around us. \u201cRepent!,\u201d in fact, is the language of love. Unlike many harsher phrases, it, even if it is said badly, must not mean \u201cto cut-off\u201d or damn<\/em>. No. It must look to unite all things in Christ (Eph. 1:10).<\/p>\n

So how, in particular, can Christian schools continue to remain Christian, looking to be that shining city on a hill (no that is not America!) that Jesus spoke of?<\/p>\n

\"And,
And, perhaps, all in the name of evangelism? No!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

First, we need to realize that, generally speaking<\/em>, we really are much more eager be kind and patient with those we disagree with than they are us.<\/strong> When people say we are being unreasonable, mean, harsh, demeaning, close-minded, intolerant, etc. \u2013 and that they are even thinking about \u201cunfriending\u201d us \u2013 we typically want to know just what we are doing wrong. Truly saddened by their evaluation, we want to listen. We don\u2019t want them to feel \u201cunsafe\u201d around us!<\/em><\/p>\n

But we cannot be so blissfully unaware, so hopelessly na\u00efve<\/a>. Rather, because it is the truth which frees us, we need to be \u201canxious for the fray\u201d \u2013 loving them by anticipating their moves and planning ahead. After all, when it comes down to it, there is nothing less safe than being outside of Christ and His love<\/em> \u2013 and hence, His people, His beloved bride, His church.<\/p>\n

This leads to the second answer, which is the main one<\/em>: to realize that the positive message we proclaim \u2013 Jesus Christ and His death and resurrection that saves from sin, death, and the devil \u2013 is a treasure beyond all human comprehension.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Not only does the world not even begin to realize this<\/em> \u2013 the bride of Christ itself, the church, does not even understand just how good this message is. Just like Jesus\u2019 twelve disciples were perpetually clueless and of little faith, the same holds true for us!<\/p>\n

And, perhaps, sometimes it takes outside voices to help us see this\u2026 Teaching an introductory class to Christianity at Concordia University \u2013 Saint Paul for six years now, I\u2019ve been blessed to interact not only with students who are Christians, but also those who are nominally Christian, Jewish, Mormon, Muslim, animist, black, white, gay, lesbian, agnostic, and atheist. Given the fact that I try not to water anything down \u2013 teaching about both God\u2019s law and gospel<\/em> \u2013 what I hear from many of them has often surprised me.<\/p>\n

In sum, I see, from unsolicited words that I have received (they are<\/em> required to do two-sentence journal entries about anything they want<\/em>), that God has made many of them see more clearly\u2026.<\/p>\n

Just a few examples from the last year<\/em> <\/strong>(here<\/a><\/strong> is a more complete list of quotes I published yesterday)\u2026.<\/p>\n

A married atheist-lesbian student wrote to me: <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI have a greater understanding of the salvation Jesus gave when he offered his life as payment for sin. Most importantly, I have a greater respect and admiration of Christianity and the hope and positivity it offers.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The first week, knowing full well where I stood, she said this to me:<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know for sure if my religious beliefs will change, but I know the Bible has enriched my life. To me that is a good enough reason to keep pursuing it. Thank you for offering this course with such grace and honesty.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

One of my Jewish students, recalling the required church-visit assignment<\/a>, noted the following:<\/em><\/p>\n

Going to this service was quite an eye-opening experience. Reading the Bible over the past few weeks has been interesting, and reading the commentary in the NIV study bible even more interesting\u2026 However, hearing the Bible verses, teachings, and lessons from the Church was a whole different experience, especially when you add the community aspect. I can now see why the Bible states that Church is so important. These words could not be more true: \u201cfaith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ\u201d (Romans 10:17)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

An animist student writes: <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAs someone who knew nothing about the religion, it continues to interest and provide me with a different perspective of certain situations whether around the world, or here at home.\u00a0 What has st[]uck out the most with me is the love God and Jesus has for human beings\u2026 I enjoyed the class and learning about the Christianity faith! \u00a0Thank you!\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And then, getting away from all of this \u201cidentity\u201d stuff, there are also these general reactions (again, all of these are unsolicited comments from the past year):<\/p>\n