In a previous post I talked about why (most) students side with Rob Bell.

Near the end of that post I suggested that, if push came to shove, many students today would choose loyalty to their friends — over and above their loyalty to God.

The reason?

Because they cannot conceive of a God that would subject their non-believing friends to an eternity of pain, suffering and separation from God.

Many of today’s college students, much like Bell (and plenty of others), believe (or want to believe — or need to believe) that God will make a way for those people who do not confess Jesus as Lord during their time here on earth.

And to be honest, I can’t blame them for that… wanting to believe that God is big enough to extend the possibilities of God’s own grace and forgiveness well beyond what we can humanly imagine — or, in some cases, would ever want to believe possible — is a noble desire.

Students stretch me in this regard.

But they scare in the fact that so many of them seem willing to stand in the corner of their friends — in direct opposition to God — if the need would arise.

Now, I’m all for friendships — strong friendships at that — but there is something troubling about how some students conceive of their relationship with God when they are able to see it at something that can be so easily disregarded — as if it were equivalent to any other friendship they might have.

While God does refer to us as friends, brothers and sisters, and even as God’s own children — the reality is that God is so much more than a friend, sibling or parental figure.

God is the center of all life and love.

Can that be said about anyone, or anything, else in life?

God brings meaning, purpose and understanding to everything else.

Again, is there anyone or anything else this can be said of?

I love that we were created (by God) as relational beings (in God’s own image).

I love the idea of creating a hospitable and charitable place for friendships to be made between people who differ in a multitude of ways.  I think God desires this for us as well!

But I also believe that we must help our students to consider the implications for replacing God with the god of friendship.

I will concede that there are several instances in the Bible when people like Abraham, Jacob and Moses seem to be willing to square off with God — but both Abraham (on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah) and Moses (on behalf of the Israelites at the bottom of Mt. Sinai) did so with a very clear stance of, “OK, I’m on your side God… but is it possible that you could spare these people?”  And we see that the answer is yes for Moses, but no for Abraham.

Both Abraham and Moses seemed to have a clear understanding of how their relationship with God informed the rest of their life and work and relationships.

And maybe that is the problem.

Have some of our students relegated their relationship with God to the equivalent of every other relationship they have?

If so,

• how do we combat that?
• How do we encourage them in their pursuit of uninhibited relationships, while helping them to understand the way(s) in which their relationship with Jesus is so much more?  So much different from every other relationship they have?
• How do we encourage them to trust Jesus with their relationships with others?  Even if it means the possibilities of uncomfortable — yet incredibly important — conversations?

Have you had any of these conversations with your students?

If so, I’d love to hear about it!

Please take a moment to share in the comment section below.