Spreading themselves thin: A deception of college-aged believers
I have noticed that college aged believers have a tendency to be less focused on the local Church than they are on their ministry.
They try to be involved in as many areas as possible, spreading themselves very thin. They feel as if they are strengthening the Church, but often they are weakening it as they neglect the needs of their Church for an opportunity to have more attention.
Giving their money to causes, neglecting the ministry of their Church.
Sometimes they are not even partners (members) of a Church.
Their loyalty often being to the Passion Conference (or some other popular gathering) which occurs once a year.
An example worth following
There is a girl in our community named Lacy Gatlin. Lacy is an extremely passionate and devoted follower of Christ who is also very talented/gifted.
Lacy is involved in several ways in the community and uses her gifts to strengthen other Churches.
But, she is completely faithful and loyal to Emmanuel Baptist Church (my second favorite church in Crestview). She only helps in other Churches on Sundays that she is not being asked to be in her church. She is plugged into community and has people who hold her accountable in her Church. She is submissive to the leaders of her Church.
This past Sunday, she played guitar and drums at Mosaic, and after she was done breaking down, still attended her Church.
Not weakening the Church by spreading herself too thin, but using her gifts in other areas when her Church does not need them and with the blessing of her leaders.
So College-Age students
If you want to change the world the way God said to do it. Commit to a Church; Serve, give and growth there. Then think about other opportunities to serve.
I see a lot of this too. We have so many para-church groups on the WVU campus that many of the students who are following Christ are not part of a church at all. It’s hard to get them to understand the importance of the local church; both serving in it and growing through it.
In fact, total surrender of Ones life to Christ has to include all the mandates the Bible sets forth in the New Testament .. including : ‘Do not forsake the gathering of yourselves as some are accustomed to doing…’ Real growth and spiritual gifts can be excersised in a corporate church atmosphere so the entire body is blessed .