If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. -John 15:18
High school is almost always portrayed as a place where you have to fit in. The clothes you are wearing, who you hang out with, how you act, and how you talk are all very “important” in high school. Now imagine following Jesus through all of the “expectations”. It can be very hard to do this, to really follow Jesus and live through Him. It feels almost like you are making yourself a threat.
When I came back to school this past year, I experienced just that. Over the summer, I had recommitted my life to Jesus and was living for Him. I was spending my summer praying, going to church and youth group. I became a youth leader. I was reading my Bible a lot, and I surrounded myself with fellow Christians who not only believed the Word, but lived like the Word. People always talk about a “Jesus glow,” and if I am being honest, it is real. While I was not perfect, because no one is perfect, I got my confidence and smile back. When I returned to school, I faced a lot of challenges in my new “light”. Some of the friends that I had known for years began to shut me out. They began to distance themselves away from me because I was sharing my faith with them in school. I was not the old Olivia. I was not interested in the same things as my friends, I did not talk like I used to. I did not like the jokes they made, and this made me different. Being different is one of the scariest things that you can be in a public school.
After experiencing all of these things, I went to church and asked my pastor for help, and he told me, “Jesus knows your future, He has it planned out. Sometimes He will make you go through things to get to that future. Sometimes Jesus gives us a clear path, but most of the time we have to go the hard way to really see things for what they are. You have to realize that it is hard for young people your age to live their lives for Jesus like you do. You are doing a hard thing by living for Christ. And you have to share that love with others.” I, as a young Christian, I realized that my generation is hungry for Jesus, but many are not following Him. When asked if he thinks it is harder to live out faith today than in past generations, Pastor Jeremy Jones, Pastor of Cornerstone Community Bible Church, responded, “I think every generation has their own unique set of spiritual challenges. Genuine faith, a real disciple of Jesus, is rare today. Much of Christianity has been watered down or lost altogether to a shallow society that doesn’t have time to read an old Bible or pray.” While it is sad, this is true. Most people, including myself, find themselves scrolling on their phones instead of opening their Bibles. I often find myself lying in bed suddenly remembering that I did not read my Bible that day, and, to me, that is the worst feeling. Pastor Jones continued, “Most churches are in decline, attendance is down, desire for the Lord is almost unheard of. Much of the Bible stresses the importance of one another, helping and sharpening each other’s faith, and because the church is not what it could be from that standpoint, living out our faith is more difficult because many Christians feel alone in their walk.” Hearing this reminded me of a Verse, Proverbs 27: 17, As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. We as Christians have to come together to share the Good News. This could be leaving Bible verses on someone’s car, praying for someone at school, or even just spreading the Word.
Many teens are embarrassed to share the Gospel and be loud in their faith. They are scared of what other people will think of them or if they will get in trouble. Pastor Jeremy was asked what advice he would give to young Christians who feel embarrassed or isolated for their faith at school or online. “Jesus sees you, and He knows your hurt, pain, and loneliness. Jesus can sympathize with us because he experiences all of that, more all the way to the cross, where he was murdered for us. Rejoice that you are counted worthy to suffer for Jesus. Acts 5:41.” It is important that we as Christians recognize Jesus was sent to Earth to live a perfect life, then to be betrayed, tortured, mocked, and killed and hung up on a cross, just so that we are forgiven. Jesus literally wore our scars. Oftentimes, I hear people say that the church hurt them or that religious people hurt them, and that is why they do not follow religion anymore. But they have to remember that the church hurt Jesus first. Religious people beat and whipped Jesus. He was the first one to succumb to their hate.
I know from personal experience that some non-believers see Christians as close-minded people who just will not hear out the other side. I can tell you, at least for me, this is not true. I have had kids at school come up to me and want to talk about religion, and I welcome them with open arms because I was once in their shoes. I asked Pastor Jones how Christians can show the love of Christ in a world that assumes believers are hateful or closed-minded. He said, “We must walk in the Spirit of God, and He will give wisdom, love ,and grace as to how to show the love of Christ. We must speak the truth BUT do it in Love Eph 4:15, for if we do not, we are just a loud irritating sound 1 Cor 13:1.” I love how Pastor Jones backs up his reasoning with the Word. It just shows that he does not respond with feelings but with facts.
It can be hard to see your future, but as a Christian, I do not worry about my future, for I know that it is in His hands. I wish I had built my faith in junior high because then I would have so much more knowledge I could share with my fellow students. As a youth leader, I learned that I do not know everything about my religion, but there are kids at my youth group who know so much more than me. I have realized this is because they built their faith at a young age. I asked my youth leader, Melissa Martin, how building faith in junior high and high school shapes who students become as adults. She responded, “To build your faith in junior high or high school to me is such a mature, grown-up thing to do. I did not do that as a kid, and I see my own children with so much knowledge! It is so rewarding to start with reading your Bible every day or Bible journaling or even Bible study, but getting into the vibe will make life just make more sense by giving you knowledge of the word, but also a moral compass. Let your light of Jesus shine upon others!” I know that I have learned so much from Melissa, and I truly do look up to her as a youth leader.
I hope that at least one student will read this article and want to know Jesus. I hope one student will read this article and would want to have a conversation about their faith and about Christ. It might cost friendships, your comfort level, or your reputation, but that is the sacrifice we have to give. If Jesus died on the cross for us, then we can be left out. Just remember the approval from others is temporary, but the love of Jesus is forever.
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’
And I said, ‘Here am I; send me.’- Isaiah 6:8
