Why is postmodernism a more popular view than Christianity? Postmodernism bucks the system. It is the rebel of worldviews, if you can even call it a worldview. In this age of the emergence of the anti-hero, postmodernism is the ultimate anti-hero. It is the robin hood of worldviews because it seeks to dethrone other worldviews through it's antics that make Christianity and others look rigid, demeaning, and judgmental.
It tugs at the heart of students who are seeking an identity that is different from their past, parents, or region. It entices the student who is seeking an identity for the first time in his or her life. Follow me and be your own person, make your own rules. It takes students from a place of structure, truth, and understanding to a place of uncertainty, "freedom," and self-indulgence. Unfortunately for the student, once he or she follows the way of postmodernism, vision is lost and uncontrollable spiral to nowhere begins.
Dr. Drum tells us that postmodernism is a rearview mirror. It cannot show you where to go. It is only a critique of those that can. Postmodernism is the old men at the barber shop discussing the economy. Their complaints are valid, but they have no real solutions. Unfortunately, Christians have fueled the validity of postmodernism just as much as, if not more than, those who developed the view. Christians do portray faith in Christ as legalistic and a list of do's and don'ts. We are judgmental and exclusive.
So what is our response? How do we show college students that postmodernism is a one way ticket to nothing and Christianity provides true freedom? We get out of our cliques. Stop surrounding ourselves with people that look, act, eat, smell, and think like us. We befriend homosexuals instead of just metrosexuals. We do community with someone else besides just our Christian brothers and sisters. Live the Gospel on the campus without reserve. Yeah...these are generic answers, but I don't know what that looks like for the college minister in Oregon in comparison with the campus minister in Tennessee. Following Christ must reveal true freedom to our postmodern friends who are living in slavery to...well...nothing.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
JOURNALING TOPIC 8-30-10
1.) What area are students hoping to find personal growth, where do they need personal growth, and how can we help facilitate personal growth?
I'm finding this a difficult question to answer because there is not one student that is the same. The Christian student has a completely different perspective than the atheist student as to their perspectives on personal growth. Engineering students might focus on managing their time better as personal growth while communication students consider improving their speech as personal growth. Personal growth could come in the form of better health for the 18 yr old freshman girl while learning to do laundry is the focus of the incoming freshman male.
Although I do believe each student has his or her own perspective of personal growth, I would have to say, at the risk of being to general, that students desire to grow in their independence or better yet, the development of their identity. I believe this rings true for every student from all walks of life. Not one student wants to go unnoticed. Some want to be known for their high school achievements while others want to start all over. Many are seeking to disengage themselves from the identity of their parents while some are trying to establish themselves as their parents' child by following in mom or dad's footsteps.
In my opinion there is a need for the student to not only grow in his or her identity but to grow in the development of that identity. Walking on to a college campus unprepared for the people, pressures, and pleasures that await is like the first day of Intermediate Hebrew. There is nervousness yet excitement for the first day or two, but eventually, the new wears off, friends drop out, and confusion and loneliness set in.
A student must know how to develop his or her identity in college, and that begins, from the college minister's perspective, when the student is in high school. We must make the necessary contacts with youth minister's and church staff in order to begin our relationships with student and their families early. One can prepare the student's through occasional conversations, college prep classes, and gradually weaving high school students into college events as they mature. It might be possible to kill two birds with one stone by having a college student mentor a high school student in hopes of making the transition easier for the high school student and allowing the college student to serve the body of Christ.
2.)Considering the 5 stages of Emerging Adulthood and 4 College Subcultures, how can we gain influence in a student’s life?
Since it seems to be the age of insecurity and selfishness, I would have to say that we gain influence by walking through this insecurity and selfishness with them. It is so easy for us to stand our stage and tell them to get involved with a ministry or church. I have a problem with thinking that just because I've been through it that I must share my experiences and that will surely give them everything they need to know. The one thing I forget is that I am not them and they are not me.
Insecurity cannot be met with commands to do this and don't do that. Insecurity must be met with compassion and understanding of why the student is insecure. Selfishness is not stamped out by telling someone to be unselfish. It takes time to develop those relationships and live out unselfishness in front of the student. We gain the ability to do this by attending their Greek social events, showing an interest in their athletics, and revealing ourselves to be human just as they are.
3.) Name a few significant markers in a student's faith pilgrimage.
For me it was the guy who decided he was going to invest in this sophomore punk that he needed to move in just so he could make rent. He decided not to treat me as financial aid but as someone who needs mentoring and confidence in himself. I hated him for the first three months, but somewhere along the way it clicked that this guy cared that I grew up.
Another huge marker was my first International Mission trip. It was my first time on a plane, first time overseas, and first time in charge. Sometimes you just don't know what you're made of until you allow yourself to be in a situation that is uncomfortable.
I'm finding this a difficult question to answer because there is not one student that is the same. The Christian student has a completely different perspective than the atheist student as to their perspectives on personal growth. Engineering students might focus on managing their time better as personal growth while communication students consider improving their speech as personal growth. Personal growth could come in the form of better health for the 18 yr old freshman girl while learning to do laundry is the focus of the incoming freshman male.
Although I do believe each student has his or her own perspective of personal growth, I would have to say, at the risk of being to general, that students desire to grow in their independence or better yet, the development of their identity. I believe this rings true for every student from all walks of life. Not one student wants to go unnoticed. Some want to be known for their high school achievements while others want to start all over. Many are seeking to disengage themselves from the identity of their parents while some are trying to establish themselves as their parents' child by following in mom or dad's footsteps.
In my opinion there is a need for the student to not only grow in his or her identity but to grow in the development of that identity. Walking on to a college campus unprepared for the people, pressures, and pleasures that await is like the first day of Intermediate Hebrew. There is nervousness yet excitement for the first day or two, but eventually, the new wears off, friends drop out, and confusion and loneliness set in.
A student must know how to develop his or her identity in college, and that begins, from the college minister's perspective, when the student is in high school. We must make the necessary contacts with youth minister's and church staff in order to begin our relationships with student and their families early. One can prepare the student's through occasional conversations, college prep classes, and gradually weaving high school students into college events as they mature. It might be possible to kill two birds with one stone by having a college student mentor a high school student in hopes of making the transition easier for the high school student and allowing the college student to serve the body of Christ.
2.)Considering the 5 stages of Emerging Adulthood and 4 College Subcultures, how can we gain influence in a student’s life?
Since it seems to be the age of insecurity and selfishness, I would have to say that we gain influence by walking through this insecurity and selfishness with them. It is so easy for us to stand our stage and tell them to get involved with a ministry or church. I have a problem with thinking that just because I've been through it that I must share my experiences and that will surely give them everything they need to know. The one thing I forget is that I am not them and they are not me.
Insecurity cannot be met with commands to do this and don't do that. Insecurity must be met with compassion and understanding of why the student is insecure. Selfishness is not stamped out by telling someone to be unselfish. It takes time to develop those relationships and live out unselfishness in front of the student. We gain the ability to do this by attending their Greek social events, showing an interest in their athletics, and revealing ourselves to be human just as they are.
3.) Name a few significant markers in a student's faith pilgrimage.
For me it was the guy who decided he was going to invest in this sophomore punk that he needed to move in just so he could make rent. He decided not to treat me as financial aid but as someone who needs mentoring and confidence in himself. I hated him for the first three months, but somewhere along the way it clicked that this guy cared that I grew up.
Another huge marker was my first International Mission trip. It was my first time on a plane, first time overseas, and first time in charge. Sometimes you just don't know what you're made of until you allow yourself to be in a situation that is uncomfortable.
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