Would Jesus Go to College?

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about where Jesus might spend the majority of his time if he were living among us today. I wonder if Jesus would go to college? I realize that this is a very hypothetical question, but I think it is an important one. Perhaps it might give us pause to consider some of the strategic needs we face today. There are certainly a lot of needs in our culture where he could direct his efforts.

Spending time on a university campus wasn't an option during Jesus' day. Almost everyone received their vocational training through their extended family. The university, as such, has only been around a few hundred years. Would Jesus go to college if he were around today? (I mean by this question - would Jesus spend his time there in ministry, not would he go to take classes - but that's another interesting question.)

It doesn't take much effort to imagine some of the places Jesus might spend some of his time. There are many who are hungry and homeless in America. We certainly know of Jesus' concern for the lowly and the outcast. Wouldn't his ministry today concentrate on this group of people? And of course the media is often making a mockery of Christians, so perhaps he would focus his efforts on changing the public image of believers. Or perhaps Jesus would focus on changing key laws and concentrate on the political arena. Lord knows we could use a few more honest politicians. But wait, then there is the entertainment industry. It seems determined to pump our culture full of every kind of evil and vice imaginable. Would Jesus spend most of his time making a positive difference there? And then let's not forget our educational system from kindergarten through high school. What a mess. Students come out of the system without having basic reading and writing skills. They are attacking teachers or even shooting each other, Surely Jesus would concentrate on this arena, wouldn't he? You can probably imagine a few other places where Jesus could really make a positive difference.

Have you ever thought about answering this kind of question? (My wife often accuses me of asking questions that no one wants to know the answer to. I hope that's not the case with this question.) Just where would Jesus focus his efforts if he were here today? What is the most strategic place for him? Would Jesus go to college?

Over the course of the next two weeks, I'd like to share 4 reasons why I believe the answer to that question is a resounding - YES! Can you think of any good reasons why Jesus would want to spend time making a difference in the university today?

Action Point: Try and come up with a list of the five top places Jesus would want to focus his ministry if he were here today. Why did you choose them?

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