The variety of student stories, perspectives, and values is fascinating–I was never bored a single day on campus in 30 years of ministry. At a recent interfaith dialogue of UC students, I was impressed with the depth of reflection and questions, with gentle openness, across several religious and cultural identities. This is the good faith–mutual trust that is love in action–that Jesus taught and modeled by listening, learning, feeding, healing, and even suffering to reveal that the only sure foundation for faith is the God who is love embodied. We of Agape are only showing up to point out the good that God is already up to in the world.
By contrast, students are also acquainted with agenda-laden ‘christians’ who apply a winsome friendliness that belies ulterior motives, treating the person as a thing to be manipulated, converted, or saved by an ideology. Last week, one told me she was invited to a friend’s church on Sunday before the election. The ‘service’ turned out to be a political rally–it hadn’t occurred to this student to first ask which ‘god’ this ‘church’ worshiped. That supposed friendship turned out to be a heartbreaking pretense, veiling a bad faith that rests on a foundation of sand.
Christofascism is the perennial worship of worldly power over others, using the name of Jesus Christ as a prop for white supremacy. If churches remain neutral, how will emerging generations interpret that silence?
Good faith must be honest about the real suffering that lies beneath and bigotry generated while being bold enough to call these to an account. Serving in campus ministry keeps me critical of ways my own privilege, how thinking and action can perpetuate harm. Students newly displaced from their developmental supports remind me how precious relationships of good faith are.
Kindness, courage, honesty, humility, empathy, mercy, gentle justice, and good humor are essential to life. I used to take for granted that most people think of these values when Jesus’ name comes up. We each have a right to our own feelings about various policies, but many are misled to imagine Jesus as fighting for their tribe to rule the world. Instead, there are such things as truth and facts and hard-won wisdom that matter more than trendy opinions or election outcomes.
Based on promises from the President-Elect, many students are frightened for their physical safety over the next few weeks to months or years ahead. Some wonder whether they will be able to focus on class or withdraw to protect themselves. Some dread or plan not to go home for the holidays, where relatives are celebrating, not seeming to care that one of their own is targeted for violence, loss of freedom, or having nowhere to turn for help. Our character is being tested, and students of good conscience are looking for people and communities they can trust. Even here, God’s love wins, as students choose good faith in real friendship that show up when the going gets tough. Thank you for sharing this mission of Agape.
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