How do you reach someone who doesn’t think they need to be reached?

Better yet, how do you reach them — without offending them — or making them feel judged?

I just finished another semester of teaching an Introduction to the Old Testament class to college students, and it strikes me just how much of the content seems to revolve around God sending messengers to God’s own chosen people — with the same/similar message — you’ve drifted away, things aren’t right, return to me, renew your commitment to our relationship… before it’s too late.

The Israelites were often found to be an unfaithful “chosen” people. In fact, God goes so far as to say that they are committing “spiritual adultery” against the One True God — with cheap impostor gods — in the book of Hosea.

The Historical books and the Prophets tell the story of God’s chosen people walking blindly towards exile — fully believing that they were “saved” or “protected” — because of the covenants God had made with David, Moses and Abraham.

They believed that they were “covered” because of what had transpired between God and God’s chosen people — and that this meant they could live as they desired — with only minimal regard for covenant obligations.

They were God’s chosen people — and they knew it — and they therefore chose to live lives of entitlement instead of responsibility.

And no matter how the prophets — God’s mouthpieces — spoke to them… they were unwilling to really hear, and believe, that they needed to live life differently.

It makes me think of many of the students we run across today.

We’ve seen them described in books like The Christian Atheists and Almost Christian. They’re students who claim to believe in Jesus, or that they’re “saved” — whatever, exactly, that means to them — but they live their lives as if that commitment to Jesus doesn’t really mean anything. They live like their non-believing counterparts.

And I wonder… how do we reach these students.

Because they’re not likely to come to our events.

They’re not likely to see a need to connect with us.

They are likely to think that they’ve heard it all before… and ultimately that, if they really need us (or what our ministries might have to offer them), that they know where to find us.

But for now… it’s time to live life — “FULLY!”

In the Book of Matthew we see Jesus send out his disciples saying:

Do not go to the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans (groups that we know Jesus does care about). Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. (Matt. 10:5-6)

I believe that this might be one of the most overlooked, and challenging, populations on our campuses!

SO,

• Are you aware of this population on your campus?
• How do you reach out to them?
• Have you found anything particularly helpful in assisting this group to bridge the gap between their “belief” and really following Jesus?

Take a minute to share your thoughts or questions in the comment section below. Thanks!