Today was yet another very different kind of day. This week, some of our students have been taking part in a film school where they’ve been creating a singular story over three videos. The story they are creating is an “Office” styled zombie film that has the goal of telling people that they are loved. Yes… You read all that correctly.
To kick off our gathering tonight, we watched the 3 videos. A recurring theme throughout the three films is the importance of taking the time to understand one another and how, by refraining from judgment and instead caring for others, healing can occur. After watching the film, we began our full conversation.
In the next few weeks, we will have new students coming into the student ministry. We’ve worked really hard to create a culture where young people feel safe, loved, and cared for. As we continue to grow, however, we need to be intentional about fostering that environment. One aspect of this is not creating an environment where people don’t feel judged. But the question becomes…. What does that mean?
READ: Matthew 7:1
This is one of those verses that is often thrown out by people who feel attacked. More than a few times it’s taken out of context when someone doesn’t like being called out for doing something they shouldn’t be doing. But what is the fuller context of the verse?
READ: Matthew 7:2
Here, Jesus takes the statement further, making it clear that the way we judge others is the manner in which we shall be judged. This is not a warning that tells us not to call out sin, but rather, it cautions us to be careful about how we do so. Why do I say that? Let’s read on.
READ: Matthew 7:3-5
Here, Jesus gives the illustration of someone having a log in their eye versus a person with a speck of dust. If we play it out, what happens if the person with the log removes it? Suddenly, they understand the pain and the gravity of removing such a piece from their bodies. Suddenly, when they approach the person who has a speck, they can come to them with grace, humility, and kindness to help them remove the speck gently.
In the context of the community, when someone enters a gathering of Christians, whether it’s a church service, a student meeting, or a small group, if we immediately judge them, we will likely cause them to turn away and leave the room. Suddenly, our actions not only cause them to leave the room, but we have also robbed them of the healing that takes place within it.
As we continue to foster an environment where people feel safe and loved, we have to be intentional about this aspect. We need to be intentional about allowing people the opportunity to grow into what God has called them to be, just like how we were granted the opportunity to grow.
Adventures in Student Ministry 