Showing an Atheist My Worship Playlist

Alive Youth Church Weekly,

Welcome to AYC's weekly blog. Come for announcements, encouragement, scripture, and overall thoughts for the students of Alive Youth Church. 

Last Sunday night was amazing. I love getting to worship, learn, and be together each week. Join us Sunday nights at 6:30pm at West Salem Foursquare Church for another night together! Come this Sunday, January 18th, for what we like to call !!!!! "Praise Party" !!!!! A night of worship, fun, and time together. A great night to invite a friend and experience Jesus together. 

Thanks for reading. Come back weekly, and spread the news about Alive Youth Church Weekly so everyone can be on the same page. 

Let's get into my thoughts for you this week:

Showing an Atheist My Worship Playlist

This week, I was in a conversation that brought back a memory from my sophomore year of high school. It is a story I have thought about many times over the years, and honestly, one I wish I could take back.

I had a new science teacher that year. It was her first year at the school, and she was very open about her beliefs. Or more accurately, her lack of belief. She would describe herself as an atheist. I learned this on day one if that is any indication of how open she was about this. I don't have any issue with this, but at the time, it felt like a challenge to me. Like something I needed to respond to or push back against.

One day in class, we were working on an assignment, and she told us we could listen to music if we wanted, as long as we used headphones. This was before all the phone rules schools have now. When she said that, I saw what I thought was the perfect opportunity. A small idea popped into my head, one that would surely make my friends laugh and make me feel pretty good.

I told myself this was my moment to stand up for my faith. To show that I believed something different. To make a point. 

So I pulled out my phone and started playing worship music. Loud. Like all the way up. Then I began digging through my backpack pretending to look for my headphones. I searched pocket after pocket, even though I knew exactly where they were the whole time. 

My teacher eventually walked over and asked what I was doing. Not quite the response I was looking for, but at least my friends were giggling off to the side. 

I answered her and said I was just trying to find my headphones.

She asked if I could turn the music off, and I told her I would as soon as I found them. After some clear frustration, I finally reached into the pocket I knew they were in all along, plugged them in, and went back to my work.

At the time, I thought it was funny. I thought I had done something bold. I thought I had somehow defended my faith and pushed back against hers. 

Totally. Right? Please sense my sarcasm. 

Now, almost 10 years later, this story comes to mind while talking to a principal of a high school that ive gotten to know. While we were talking about Jesus in schools and how students interact with teachers who believe differently than they do. As I was telling it, I felt like I was tattling on myself to the principal. Literally sitting in his office, almost like I got called down to confess. I already graduated, I don't know why it still felt wrong. 

That moment from high school has come to my thoughts many times since. It's weird how the smallest moments can stick with you, cause they had a real impact on you. 

Now, when I think about it, though, different questions come to mind.

What did that teacher think of me?

What did other students see and take note of?

And the hardest question of all: How did I shape that teacher's view of Jesus and Christians?

I was trying to stand for something, but I went about it the wrong way. I was distracting. I was disrespectful, and if I am honest, I was kind of mean.

When I look at the life of Jesus, His ministry. I do not see Him operating like that.

Jesus welcomed people before He corrected them. He listened before He spoke. He loved people when they were not where He wanted them to be.

Scripture says in John 13:35 that the world will know we are His disciples by our love. Not by how loud we are. Not by how boldly we push back. But by our love. 

Colossians 4:6 says, Let your conversation be always full of grace seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Grace comes first.

1 Peter 3:15 tells us to be ready to give an answer for the hope we have, but to do it with gentleness and respect. Gentleness and respect matter.

I don't throw scripture at you to prove a point, but only to display that there is a better way, the way Jesus did it. The way we should do it, too. 

I think this is easy when we are around other Christians. We know the language. We feel safe. But it gets much harder with strangers or with people we know believe very differently than we do.

But that is exactly where it matters most.

We reflect Christ everywhere we go. At school. At work. With teachers. With students. With parents. With siblings. With strangers.

People may never open a Bible, but they are always watching our lives.

It is not our job to argue people into the kingdom. It is not our job to shame or judge. It is not our job to prove we are right.

Our job is to love. Our job is to have grace. Because we are loved and given unexplainable grace from Christ. 

Jesus said in Matthew 5:16 Let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Not notice your opinions. Not admire your boldness. But see your life.

Ephesians 2 reminds us that we are saved by grace, not by works, so no one can boast. That means none of us is better than anyone else. We are all in need of grace. We are all saved by Jesus. We all need Him. 

I cannot go back and change what I did as a sophomore in high school.

But I can choose how I live now.

I want my life to make Jesus easier to accept, not harder to believe in.

I want the way I speak and act to point people toward Him, not push them away.

And I pray that in every room I walk into, people do not just hear what I believe but experience who He is through the way I love.

So students reading this... I know that it's hard to be a Christ follower at school, in your homes, and in your everyday lives. As we talked about last week, I know that it seems easier to change yourself depending on the environment you are in. To talk, act, and model Christ at church. But then be completely different at school. 

I've played that game. And let me tell you, people notice. That guy you don't know, He sees you at church, then sees you at school. And notices the difference. Teachers see you in class and know where you attend on Sundays. Your parents send you to a youth group, then see how you act at home. People notice, and that doesn't just reflect badly on you, but on the faith you have.

Reflect Christ in all things that you do.

But this idea leads me to one more thought. A last lesson learned from my sophomore story. 

Do all things as if you were doing it for the Lord. This is a popular verse that comes from the book of Colossians. But don't let its popularity make you miss its importance. Do all things as if you were doing it for your Lord, your savior, King, and Father. This means the things you don't think are important, the things that are difficult, small, stupid, and all of the above.

That means your homework, your conversations, unloading the dishwasher, working out, walking downtown, and I'll just make this quick and just say EVERYTHING. It seems cheesy to say and a little broad, but I'm gonna say it regardless: be a good person. These things matter; sometimes the simplistic messages get lost. Be a good person, be kind to others, listen more, watch your language, try your hardest to get good grades, be there when people need you, smile and say hello to the person giving you your McDouble, pick up trash, don't leave trash around, do the work even when it's hard, or maybe it's easy but you just don't want to. Start doing these things until it's just a habit. 

Accepting Jesus into your heart saves your life. But it also means you become more like Him and represent Him. Go to Jesus, he's the only answer, but be ready for Him to change you, and be ready for the responsibility of representing Him.

Take this as a challenge, no matter how good at it you think you are. We can always be MORE like Jesus. I know it's something I need to get better at. I'm excited to do so. 

You've got people that care for YOU, are praying for YOU, and want the best for YOU! 

See you soon, AYC! Spend time with Jesus this week!

Isaac Fehlen 

Youth Pastor.