Years ago, one of my music instructors introduced me to the wonders of jazz. I came to love its freedom and improvisation, the varieties that could be played on a basic theme or melody, the give-and-take nature of the ensemble.  But as a musician, I also appreciated the discipline, knowledge, and unity of a jazz ensemble.

Some have the misconception that jazz is music without rules, that musicians just do what they want without regard to the structures that you find in other forms of music. The reality is that this incredible music is made by disciplined musicians who have spent years honing their craft and that it is built on the same musical structures you find in other genres. Though jazz musicians often improvise, it is always done within the “laws” of music. It is their knowledge of the “truths” of music that allows them to play together in harmony and beauty rather than in disharmony and in tones that distract rather than enthrall.

On top of that, they have developed their skills as musicians by hours and hours of practice before they ever hit the stage. Any professional musician would tell you of the hours they spent in secret – practicing technique, scales, etc. They have given themselves to the discipline of learning their craft. And it is those hours of secret discipline that frees them to improvise when the spotlight is on.

Finally, the knowledge gained through experience and the abilities honed through discipline are used in humble cooperation with the others in the ensemble. If the musicians are not willing to “submit” to one another, there would be chaos as musicians played over one another. The knowledge and skill have to be tempered with unity and humility to produce the result that all desire.

The life lived in step with the Holy Spirit is a lot like jazz. There is a need for discipline and structure. There has to be unity. But there is also freedom – an improvisation – to follow the call and leading of the Spirit.

Many, however, think of the Christian life more as a marching band than a jazz ensemble. It is about marching together and staying in step and in line. It is structured and rigid. And though it can be beautiful and amazing, the lines are pretty clearly drawn and everybody knows when you get out of step. It is about making music as a unit and in a way that typically doesn’t emphasize the creativity and uniqueness of the individual. Though there is nothing inherently wrong with any of those things, when those attitudes are applied to the Christian life it can become stifling.

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”   Ephesians 2:10

We need to remember that God has re-created us through Jesus Christ to be works of art. The word translated “workmanship” is poiema, from which we derive our English word “poem.” We are God’s poem, a work of art carefully crafted by his own hands.

Works of art are not mass-produced. Each piece is unique and different from every other piece. As those who work with students, we need to help them recognize the unique way that God has created them and give them the freedom to express that individuality as they are led by the Spirit. Of course, we need to emphasize Scriptural truth and train students in spiritual disciplines, but we must beware of “cookie-cutter” approaches that make students more like us or our religious culture than the work of art God intended.

Works of art are also created for a purpose: To reflect the creator and his or her values and nature to the world in a unique way. Our students need to grasp that God has designed and called them to a unique purpose that is far greater than a paycheck. We need to do our best to stretch their thinking from pursuing a job to living out their unique calling. This generation of Christians is hungry for that message. In a recent interview on Ed Stetzer’s blog, author Gabe Lyons said of this generation.

“(They) are provoked to engage a broken world. Rather than complain, they create. They’re not critics, but creators. They respond to calling where they are…. These Christians aren’t manipulated by a governing thought in many American churches that the truest mission for Christ takes place in ‘full-time ministry’…. Rather, they are enthusiastically applying the good news of Jesus Christ in the places and careers to which they feel called. They believe that true mission is to bring the truth and restoration power of the gospel into the places they are already showing up.”

I believe that one of our major roles as those who minister to college students is to help them recognize the gifts and value they have as God’s re-creative works of art and to help them catch a vision for the unique and critical purpose to which God has called them. Then we help prepare them to respond to that calling as a part of Christ’s body and in a way that reflects their Creator and draws others to Him. When we do these things, they will experience the joy of a life lived in step with the Spirit and the truth of these words by Frederick Buechner: “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”

Questions:

1. How do you handle the tension of teaching the disciplines of Christian discipleship in a way that unique gifts and temperaments of your students? What is the balance between structure and freedom?
2. How can we help students recognize the purpose to which God is calling them? What can we do to help them discover a sense of calling?

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Mike Armstrong has been serving with Christ on Campus at the University of Arkansas since 1982 and has degrees from Ozark Christian College (B.Th.) and the University of Arkansas (M.Ed.). He also serves as an officer with the Association of College Ministries – an affiliation of about 120 campus ministries in the US and around the world. You can email him at mike@christoncampus.org and check out his blog at www.michaelarmstrong.net.

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