Recently, I was asked by one of my pastors if I knew what the Greek word ekklesia meant, and quickly I thought: yes, the gathering of believers. He then told me to do a quick word study.
I found that ekklesia is more than just a gathering or assembly; it’s a calling out for a purpose. This makes the command to “go make disciples” make perfect sense (Matthew 28:19-20). My assignment is to teach at the university; my purpose is to live as a “called out one for a purpose,” to be a representative of Christ to every student and colleague I encounter.
A Place of Peace
During my commute to campus, I have started taking time to pray for my students, the classroom, and myself. The content varies, but there are a few things that I always pray: “Lord, let my classroom be a place of peace for those who have no peace and a place of joy for those who have no joy, not because of me, but because You are with me.”
And then, because I know my great ability to sometimes say more than I should, I always tag on something to the effect of “And please don’t let me say or do anything that would hurt my witness or hinder any of my students from finding You.”
All Truth Comes from God
Since I’m teaching at a public university, I always ask the Lord to help me be winsome in speech. I’m not sharing passages from the Bible. However, I believe that all truth comes from God. So if I’m sharing a true principle about how humans make meaning and interact, I wholeheartedly believe that God can use it to draw searching hearts to Himself.
For example, I invited a guest lecturer to share about culture and his experience growing up in the segregated south. He’s a believer, a teacher for the state, and a local pastor. At the end of the presentation, we had a Q&A and out of all the questions that students could ask, I was shocked by these:
How do you know what Truth is?
How can I have a relationship with God?
The discussion that ensued was amazing. It led to a discussion of how to find eternal life and opportunities to counsel students through difficult life situations.
Hungry for Truth
I think it can be easy to feel like people don’t want to hear anything “religious” (and that is true for some). However, I was reminded there are some students who are hungry for truth and the real life that can only be found in Christ.
As a believer who is privileged to be in contact with this impressionable population, I feel obligated to plant and water seeds of truth so that others can be called out of darkness just like I was. Whether it’s simply talking about culture, giving a gracious extension, or loving my students, I know God wants to use me as He calls me out for His purposes.
