I teach college students full-time. That's my job. Twice a week, students walk into my classroom, take a seat, get out a notebook and a pen, and they listen (at least that's what I tell myself) and occasionally discuss the day's topic amongst each other. Then, after about an hour has gone by, they get up and leave.
Dedicated students communicate with me outside of the structured class time. Some students stop by the front of the room on their way in or on their way out to ask a quick question. Others come by during my office hours to catch up on a missed class or go over something they didn't understand. A few will even schedule an appointment with me outside of class just to chat.
It's crazy to me that these students will often ask about my own opinions and beliefs. They want to know what I think about Jesus. They want to know what I think about truth and knowledge, spiritual warfare, morality, love, and miracles. I answer these questions with care and consideration. These students want to know because they're seeking understanding; I don't want to mess that up.
Many college students are still formulating a comprehensive worldview. They want to know how all the different parts of life fit together. And so they ask me questions. What is truth? Did Jesus have a sin nature? Were Adam and Eve real people? Why live? Can we prove God's existence?
Woah. Do they know who they're asking? Do they know I don't have a Ph.D. yet? Do they know this is my FIRST YEAR teaching as an instructor? Do they know I don't have all the answers? Do they know how young I am? Do they know how unqualified I am?
Yes. I am unqualified. The more I learn, the more aware I become of all the things I do not know. I'm a young, unmarried woman still working for a degree. Hardly the stereotypical person you would seek out for answers. But still they ask, and still I answer.
I answer with hopes that God uses my words to speak truth into their lives. Paul tells us that God uses the weak and foolish things of the world to shame the wise. So that's what I want to be; I want to be a fool that God uses to magnify His wisdom over the world's philosophy -- so that no one can boast in man's wisdom but only God's power and righteousness.
"For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” - 1 Cor. 1:26-31
