Responsibility.
It has increasingly become a dirty word for this generation of students.
I posted a some reflections back in February where I began thinking about the impact that the 'emerging adulthood' phase of life might be having on our work and ministry with college students (you can find them here and here).
Central to our struggle to draw students into meaningful, long-term, relational ministry might very well be this element of responsibility.
We know that students - most of whom are out of their parents sight, and immediate influence, for the first time - NEED to be challenged to take on more and more of life's responsibilities as they join us on campus community... BUT we also know that one of the key characteristics to this 'emerging adulthood' phase of life is an unwillingness to step into the new, adult responsiblities that accompany all of the new, adult freedoms.
So my question for us is this: to what degree are we calling our students into new levels of personal (and communal) responsibility?
The collegiate years are supposed to be some of the most formative of life. Students are in transition, and learning how to take on significant levels of responsibility is one of the ways through which I believe God wants students new new growth and formation on a variety of levels... Our are ministries designed to help students accomplish this?
Do we encourage students to get their hands dirty, with God, in shaping of who they are becoming?
OR, do we unintentionally (or even intentionally) send them the message that God is at work and will do what He wants... just go about living as you please?
Do we encourage, or fight against, the current trends in culture that encourage to do whatever FEELS right, or best, for them - without much though for how it impacts others - and ultimately, themselves.
Does your ministry use the "R" word?
If so, how?
