May 25, 2005
Volume 3: Issue 5
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with Luke Lin
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"I
still haven't found what I'm looking for" -- with these lyrics, the band
U2 expressed in one of their most popular songs the sentiments, questions,
doubts, and feelings shared by many across the globe. What is it that we
truly want? What is it that our heart of hearts genuinely seeks after and
yearns for? Is there anything that can provide inner peace, happiness, or
contentment?
A
search for something greater - a greater purpose, meaning in life, and
ultimate fulfillment - pervades the minds of many on their quest for
contentment. Why is this? The answer from classical Christian
theology presents the notion that we as human beings are all created in
the very image of God, with an innate sense of the divine. Thus, as
rational thinking creatures, we naturally seek to find and understand that
which is both beyond us and also the very core of our identity as human
beings. As Christians, we affirm that God is the only one who fulfills us
completely and concludes our search. As the great early church theologian
Saint Augustine said: "Our hearts are restless, O Lord, until they rest in
you."
However, one challenge of being created in the image of God is
understanding the diversity of that creation. At a basic level, if all
human beings are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27), then it
must be understood that one of the most important aspects of the image of
God is its relational component. That is, the image of God deals directly
with how we relate to others. As image bearers, we must recognize that
because all people are created in that image, no single person is
better than anyone else. Therefore, the image of God challenges us to
relate to all other people as equals, despite how different they may be.
As demonstrated with the many faces of people around the globe, the image
of God is diverse. The depth of this makes up the crowd of people whom we
as Christians are called to love and serve as equals.
Certainly, as Christians, we are called to proclaim the God who makes
complete and who fulfills before a watching and needy world. But what
does that God whom we are called to demonstrate look like? And what
if we are still seeking and searching ourselves? What does it mean
when we know God is the fulfillment, but we still feel like there's more
to be found? And why do people not believe us when we say that God is the
missing piece for which they are searching and seeking?
The
answer rests with the relational aspect of God's image. In other words, it
is not good enough to simply state that God is the answer - we must
demonstrate by our actions how God completes lives. That is, we
must give food to the hungry, we must visit the widows and the lonely, we
must clothe those who need clothes, and we must give unsparingly to those
who do not have. The solution is relational, but it revolves around what
we as Christians and as the Church actually do. We serve before a watching
world; so thus, we have the awesome responsibility of representing a God
who is alive and at work. No longer can we be content to just say that God
is the answer, but we must show how God is the answer by providing
for others and by meeting needs.
The
band Casting Crowns addresses this very issue as they sing: "If we
are the body, why aren't his arms reaching? why aren't his hands healing?
why aren't his words teaching? If we are the body, why aren't his feet
going? why is his love not showing them there is a way?" Indeed, we as the
Church are God's body, and thus, we carry the responsibility of meeting
needs, ministering, and providing.
Everyone's looking for the answer. We've got it, and it's Show and Tell
time. Maybe when we start living out our faith and demonstrating it in
practical, life-changing ways, many fewer people will be able to echo the
lyrics of U2, and maybe they finally can find what they've been looking
for all along. |
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The search for
something deeper and greater is a search from which none are exempt. In
this month's featured articles, take a look at how celebrities and musical
artists craft their work around their beliefs and the role that God plays
in their lives. Certainly, many echo the theme of the X-Files that "The
Truth is out there."
Of course, the
discussion then turns to "What is truth?" This is a question that cannot
be answered from any perspective without careful consideration,
deliberation, and soul-searching. But, if we as Christians claim to know
the Truth, then we have a responsibility to not only know it as well as we
can, but to enter into meaningful and genuine dialogue about Truth with
others as well.
The public arena
today is filled with people claiming to know Truth, and some may know it
in part, but the responsibility of Christians to the world remains one of
communicating truth in a way in which it can be seen and not just heard.
Christians must be intentional about demonstrating the depth of their
faith by showing others the love of Christ in an authentic manner that
affirms that The Truth is not only "out there" but internalized in the
hearts and lives of those whom it claims as well. |
featuring Christen Hood
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As an eighth
grader, I had dreams for my life and I knew what I wanted. I
had no intention of making a difference in this world, though.
It seemed as if nothing that I could do would change things
that will happen in this country, after all, I was just an
eighth grader. My life was filled with the stress of many
sports and achieving very high in my academics. I was very
involved in my church and youth group, and I had a deep love
for God, but I always seemed to put him last. That is when I
was invited to SLU 101.
SLU 101 opened up
a lot of opportunities in my life. I think it came at the
perfect time, because it was my summer before high school. I
didn't know what to expect. I knew I needed to set high goals,
and that meant taking tougher classes. I also tried out and
made varsity soccer because I knew that was an ability God had
given me and I needed to use it. I also became involved in
clubs. I was elected as Secretary of SGA, which is very
unusual for a freshman, but I know that God has put his hand
in it to use me as a leader in our school.
I know that there
will be many more difficult decisions in the future, and this
is why I want to attend SLU 201. In the future I will need to
make decisions on my career. In four years I will be choosing
which college to go to and what I'm going to major in. I will
also be choosing what occupation I will major in. I will also
have decisions to make in relationships, such as who I'm going
to marry and who my friends are. I need guidance now because
the actions that I will be making now will affect the rest of
my life.
People have
always told me through my childhood that we are the future.
That is very much true. What we are taught now will affect our
decisions in politics in the future, which will decide how our
country is run. Right now the government is making decisions
on many controversial topics, such as abortion, homosexuality,
war, and separation of church and state. The things that we
are taught now will affect our decisions in the future and how
we will run our nation.
Christen Hood is a ninth
grader who has completed SLU 101 in Orlando and is headed to
SLU 201 in DC this summer. She is one of our featured 201
Essay Winners for this year.
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Don't miss out on
the last chance to register for this summer! Registration is
fully underway, and we are on our way to yet another
record-setting summer! We are incredibly excited about
what we have lined up for you during the intense and fun
weeks of SLU, and we know that
it is an experience that you will not want to miss!
Register
Online today!! All that is required at this point in
time is a choice of
dates and a small deposit per student. If you have any
questions during or about the registration process, please
feel free to call us Toll-Free at out office -
1-888-260-2900. Check out Dr.
Jay's new book - The Three Success Secrets of Shamgar!
Read about this incredible book that is a must for your
personal reading and book collection by checking out some
more
info about the book! You can also find out how to place
an order for your own personal copy.
Don't forget that
most SLU information is available online through our website at
www.studentleadership.net. We want to
continue hearing from you! Let us know how you've been putting
leadership into practice. It is always a blessing to hear from
you. Our toll-free number is 1-888-260-2900.
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To view past
editions of The Edge, check out our archive
here.
Questions or comments are always welcome. E-mail us at
edge@studentleadership.net |
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May 2005
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On the
Edge
This month Luke
Lin, an editor of the SLU Edge Newsletter and a
graduate student at Duke University Divinity School, takes a closer look
at the issue of the search for God in society and in
the world, as well as how the image of God commands
us to relate to others despite diversity. How should a Christian
represent God to a world that is searching for answers?
Read this month's On the Edge to find out. |
Edge Ledge
Your section
for culture and Christianity takes a look at the
world's search for something greater, as well the importance
and the impact of demonstrating the love of Christ as an
effective answer. |
Life on the Edge
This month, read
about an eighth grader whose life and vision were
transformed by SLU 101. Have an SLU story? Send it to us at
edge@studentleadership.net
This month, we feature the story of Christen Hood.
Christen is one of our featured 201 Essay Award Winners.
Congratulations, Christen! |
Cutting Edge
What's up at SLU? Get the latest scoop on
what's happening here at Student Leadership University. |
Featured Articles
Check out the featured
articles of the month. By being
informed of these critical events, we can begin to shape
an effective response to culture. Stay informed by reading
this month's featured articles. |
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Follow the links for the
full article. |
What Do
Celebs Believe?
Get a
glimpse of what many celebrities believe today and what
their opinions are on faith, including Beyonce, Mandy
Moore, Andre 3000, Madonna, Faith Hill...
Read full article |
Christian
Korn member
Read about the faith journey of the founding member of
the band Korn...
Read full article |
God on the
Quad
Many colleges and universities have Christian groups
on their campuses. Surprisingly, some of the strongest
campus organizations have been in the New England area,
where Harvard and Yale are...
Read full article |
MTV's
Spiritual Windows
One
of the hot topics that MTV has taken up deals with
religion and with God. As people tune in, find out what
MTV is saying about faith and about God...
Read full article |
Rolling Stone
and God
Rolling Stone magazine took a hard stance against what
many conservative and fundamental Christians deem to be a
core element of Christianity and faith...
Read full article |
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"Remember
- it's not good news if they hear it too late."
David Burton, Director of Evangelism for FL
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"How many
more nights will we go to bed dry-eyed while the rest of the
world cries themselves to sleep?"
Dr. Jay Strack |
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"Our
great object of glorifying God is to be mainly achieved by the
winning of souls." Charles Spurgeon |
"Some men's
passion is for gold, other men's passion is for fame, but my
passion is for souls."
William Booth, Founder of the Salvation Army |
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“The
influences that really make and mar human happiness are beyond
the reach of the law. The law can keep neighbors from
trespassing, but it cannot put neighborly courtesy and goodwill
into their relations."
Walter Rauschenbusch
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“Pure
and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is
this - to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to
keep oneself unstained by the world."
James 1:27
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We want to hear from you! Do you
have a thoughtful response to the articles here? Have you
written a paper on one of the issues we're discussing this month
or have discussed? Send it to us at
edge@studentleadership.net |
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Established in 1994, Student Leadership University's
purpose is to empower students to conquer the future!
Combining hands-on experimental learning with a dynamic
classroom setting, students are equipped to influence
their generation for Christ with confidence.
For more information, visit us at
www.studentleadership.net or call us toll-free at
888-260-2900.
Edge Executive Editor:
Chris Crowe
Edge Associate Editor:
Luke Lin
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