Irrational Loyalty to Jesus & Over-the-Top Concern for Others

I came across an article from the Christianity Today email newsletter titled, The Cost of Christian Education. Since Camp is about Christian education what really caught my eye was the tag line, “Getting schooled in the faith is more unnerving than I care to admit.”

When I read this paragraph I thought, this is what Camp is supposed to be like.

The educational system of Jesus was rooted in an utterly different approach: living in and with a community, so that theology was not only taught but also lived in the context of community prayer. Jesus' educational system is not objective in the least—it is decidedly not interested in knowledge that helps us remain unbiased and neutral about life. Instead, it is profoundly subjective, that is, concerned with creating an irrational loyalty to Jesus and over-the-top concern for others. It is not the mind that is the center of attention but the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—and the whole person in community.

This approach depends not on teaching technique but on people like you and me who strive to live our lives in Jesus' name. While it's nice to have saints to emulate and great teachers to learn from, most of us on most days simply need fellow believers to help us walk the walk.

Then the author goes on to acknowledge that this is the type of Christian education experienced in Christian summer camps!

So, when we are thinking about the ministry of Wi-Ne-Ma Christian Camp and the possibilities it holds for developing faith in Christ refer to this article. Follow the link and read the whole thing. If you are on a camp staff, share some ideas about how this looks in your camp setting. If you are thinking about sending some kids to Camp, ask yourself about the value of this kind of experience.

I think I am going to try to work some of these phrases – “irrational loyalty to Jesus” and “over-the-top concern for others” into my conversations and plans for Wi-Ne-Ma.

Christian Camping and Pole Vaulting

My youngest son competes on the track team for his High School. His favorite event is the Pole Vault and he just placed third in the District Track meet and had a personal best. Now the interesting thing about pole vaulting is that in order to be successful there are a number of different elements that have to happen just right. It begins with the momentum gained during the run down the track, a successful pole plant and leap, synchronized pull, twist, and turn as you reach for the bar, coordinated release, and finishes with a clean follow-through that leaves the bar in place. If any one of these things is not performed just right the vaulter misses the mark and fails to overcome the bar.

I was reminded of all things that need to come together for significant camping ministry – facilities that are safe, comfortable, and conducive to live and ministry together and the people who build, clean, and repair them; food service providing enjoyable meals that lend themselves to table fellowship; program staff to plan and oversee experiences to usher others into a place where they can learn of Jesus and respond to His call upon their lives; administrative staff to keep communication flowing and the organization running smoothly.

When it all comes together, whether pole vaulting or Christian camping, it is a beautiful, grace-full thing to see and experience. But, when one element fails, the result can be a “crash and burn.”

Yet, we realize that God’s grace is not contingent on our perfect performance. Another interesting aspect to pole vaulting is that the competitor always finishes with failure. Even the first prize winner ends his or her competition by missing the next height above. At Wi-Ne-Ma Christian Camp our prize is not the ribbon handed out because we have performed at a certain level. Rather, our prize is experienced as God’s grace is revealed through the Christian camping experience, as people who are trying to honor Christ with their lives and service reach out to another generation to know and embrace Christ as Savior and Lord. There is no excuse for us not trying to do the best we can, but we rejoice that God provides the ultimate lift that helps us reach the bar.