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“JESUS! JESUS! JESUS! JESUS!”
“Yo, dude! You gonna turn some water into wine?”
“My cup ain’t overflowing ‘cuz you ain’t doing no miracle!”
“If I pass out, just raise me like Lazarus . . .”
Stupid idiots, you tell yourself. They’re so drunk, they think they’re talking to Jesus. There’s no Jesus at college parties.
Is Jesus even in college?
This morning, you wake up at 6:30 to eat breakfast before class: a stack of pancakes as tall as Dirk Nowitzki! You eat so much, another bite and you’ll explode! But you smell the bacon on your plate and can’t resist. Now, your stomach aches and all you want to do is nap.
You’re so lethargic from a huge breakfast, you almost miss your 9 a.m. biology class. Right on the dot, your professor begins her lecture:
“Today, class, we will discuss Darwin’s theory of evolution–why we must accept the natural development of life through time without a supernatural intervention as factual, even though we don’t know all the answers.”
After biology, you skip lunch and head to the gym. You put your earbuds in, hop on the treadmill, and run to the beat of the music. What are you listening to? Explicit song lyrics about drugs and sex and violence.
At 8pm, you get ready for a party. You-know-who’s gonna be there, so you gotta dress cute and forget the modesty!
By midnight, you’re a little tipsy. But you’re not drunk like others are, which means you’re not fitting in. You contemplate whether you should continue drinking when a man comes over and introduces himself as Jesus. Initially, you thought alcohol had inspired all this talk about Jesus, but you know it’s Him because three major behavioral differences make Him stand out:
Is Jesus even in college?
1. He’s not interested in cliques or blending in with the crowd.
When students at the party offer Him beer and drugs, He says no.
“But, bro, it’ll really boost your reputation. You wanna fit in, right?”
No, He doesn’t. Jesus doesn’t rely on alcohol or drugs to socialize, and He doesn’t want to change who He is so He can fit in with what others deem fun and cool. He finds confidence in knowing Whose He is–God’s only Son. Those who believe Jesus is their Savior can live knowing they are God’s broken and beloved children.
2. Need an Uber driver? Call Jesus.
Whether for school, work, parties, or something else, Jesus knows the right turns to make because He is the Way (John 14:6). He won’t ever block you no matter how many times you call, what kinds of paths you’ve taken, or what state (sober or not) you’re in. When you pray to God, He has you on caller ID and is available 24/7. At the party, listen to the words He puts in your heart. He’s not saying you can’t have fun–He wants you to enjoy life and wants to wrap you in His abundant peace! Forgoing the red solo cup lets you live under His influence.
3. He does what’s right and brings others with Him.
Jesus sees every person at this party and weeps. He knows what the Bible says:
- “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. . .” (Eph. 5:18).
- “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character'” (1 Cor. 15:33).
- “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).
- “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings” (1 Peter 5:8-9).
He weeps when He sees us suffer, when we stray from God’s perfect path. He extends His hand to every person at the party because He loves that person enough to want to help that individual live his or her best life to the fullest potential, which He knows isn’t in how many Jello shots one can consume.
Finding Jesus and His followers in college is like playing a game of Where’s Wally?. You might think a small liberal arts school would facilitate the search for a Christian community, yet we worry what others will think if we disagree with professors or students or simply just say His Name.
Have you ever wondered why God chose to send you to Austin College? He’s given you a small corner of the earth to share His love for us and let His light shine through! If one person speaks up and moves to the offensive side of Christianity, others will, too. Jesus made Himself known at the party, and He wants to walk with you as you experience Austin College and navigate college temptations.
Whether you’re at a college party or somewhere else, look for opportunities to be like Jesus. When in doubt, bring Jesus out–His resolute faith in God, a willingness to follow Him by letting Him take the wheel, and His great compassion. Then, ask yourself:
“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10).
This article was inspired by Erin Adams, senior and co-president of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF). All Bible verses are from New International Version.
