Jesus in My School

We are all called to be like Jesus wherever we live, work, and go. But what does that look like in a public school where the classroom is chock-full of students from every background— from Christian to Atheist, Muslim to Buddhist, and everything in between? How can you be like Jesus in a place that is often riddled with teen angst, archaic social structures, and a blindly-accepted mandate to keep your head down and dredge through the school days until real life supposedly begins?

As a student, is it possible to be Jesus in your school? And what about teachers, parents, volunteers, and custodians? What about everybody else?

Let’s be real. If you’re a teacher and you stand up in front of your math class, call roll, and launch into a spirited message on the Sermon on the Mount and the unending love of Jesus for all people—chances are, things probably aren’t looking so good for your career. Unless you’re working in a private school, you probably should go ahead and start boxing up your belongings now. If students haven’t already texted home about your infringement upon their freedom from religion, by the end of the day your principal’s phone is going to light up like a Christmas Holiday tree.

Likewise, if you’re a student and you post up each morning at your locker, shouting from Ephesians and trying to save your classmates’ souls for five minutes at a time between classes—chances are you’ll find yourself becoming the butt of a few jokes, and you can expect to get a stern talking-to from “the administration.” Rightly representing Jesus in your school will require a little work, and it’ll definitely take humility. But it also takes some tact.

On the one hand, there’s this lie going around that we have to check our theological convictions at the school doors, keeping all things “religious” at arm’s length. But on the other hand, we get labeled by the myth that Jesus pulls us out of the real world, abandoning roles and responsibilities because there’s “only room for God.”

It’s true that once you’ve surrendered your life to Jesus, you’re His follower first. But it’s equally true that God has a reason for putting you where you are, giving purpose to your passion and personality. He doesn’t drag His disciples out of the world—He leads them into it.

Wherever you go and whomever you meet, you’re all-in for Jesus. Does that mean you need to get yourself fired or stuffed in a locker? No—but it does mean that you actively and intentionally bring Jesus to school—today, tomorrow, and everyday.

When you see the school bully—that kid who makes you cringe every time he walks by and has you hoping he’ll prey on someone else—suddenly you start to consider, “How does Jesus see that bully?” Is he just a menace to be feared, a jerk to be resented? Not anymore—he’s someone Jesus treasured enough to die for. What about the girl who smells a little weird, who definitely doesn’t shop at H&M, who has nobody lining up to pair with her as a Chemistry partner? Would Jesus push her aside on His way to the popular kids? Au contraire—Jesus sought out the lonely and the lost, conquering Hell itself in His pursuit.

Jon McCallon puts it this way: “We need students not to hide out at school. We want them to love and serve their schools like Jesus. Because lives change when we love like Him.”

Looking down the hallways and classrooms as Jesus would, you can’t help but be aware of the students around you. You see their hopes, their hurts. Doing life beside them on the playing field or in the classroom, you catch the occasional glimmer of the real them.

You begin to notice the subtle drop of her head when she knows she’s getting picked last, and you see an opportunity to respond like Jesus. You start seeing through the forced smirk as he tries hiding his embarrassment after failing in front of the class.

These are the moments to cast away your fear of public perception. These are the moments to reach your hand out toward a stranger and offer to pray. God gives us these moments to engage beyond the surface level—to take the risk of loving like Jesus loves.

For teachers, the juggling act is nonstop: visit the copy machine, teach all morning, scarf down a quick lunch, and brace yourself for a second round of teaching. Deep breath. Head home, make dinner, help your own kids with their schoolwork, get them to bed, plan your lesson for the next day—and wake up and do it all over again. In the midst of this hectic schedule is a classroom full of impressionable students, each one monitoring the things you say and the way you behave.

Oftentimes in the shuffle of the teaching, testing, and one-on- one interactions, you check Jesus at the door and just get down to the lesson. But if you’re a follower of Christ, Jesus is the lesson. Being an example of Christ isn’t a subject you’re going to cover, but positively modeling that each and every day is the most important part of your calling.

Ryan Bixler, a teacher at Northhaven Elementary School in Jeffersonville, Indiana, says it like this: “As an elementary school teacher, it’s my calling to be a positive role model. Being in a public school, I can’t directly talk to the kids about Jesus, although I can still be a picture to these kids of what Jesus looks like."

If you’re a parent or volunteer, sometimes you may feel like an outsider stuck on the school sidelines. You may associate with a school and even volunteer from time to time, though maybe you wonder if it’s actually your place to model Christ to students and teachers. The truth is, we’re all called to commit to our Kingdom allegiance above all else. If you’ve given your life to Jesus, you are His no matter what your school’s association might be.

Teachers and administrators need to witness a model of love and prayer just as much as students do. Entire schools need our prayer and support! By regularly praying for students, teachers, and administrators, we’ll soon see firsthand how God opens doors to conversations that were previously impossible.

Jon McCallon is a witness to the power of prayer in our community. “We’ve seen doors open in schools because of our prayers and presence. Remember,” he says, “it’s a crock pot, not a microwave. Things don’t always happen quickly. They happen by being faithful day after day, looking for chances to love and serve.”

In one way or another, all of us can "be" Jesus in our schools—modeling the life He has laid out for us. Whether we’re students, guardians, teachers, or volunteers, God has a mission for everyone this season. So in whatever place He’s put you and whatever He has given you to do, "…do it all for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Taking Jesus to School

Five ways to love where you are this Fall:

1. Pray for a school—yours or your student's. See if you can make it a habit to pray as a family over local students and faculty.
2. Get Involved. Schools are always looking for chaperones and volunteers. Serving a few nights each year can be a great way to display God’s love for people.
3. Help a student or a parent connect. Bring your classmates to church, or invite other parents to your home group.
4. Find someone to encourage. Jesus sought out the hurting and the lonely. Following in His footsteps together, we can make sure no one goes unnoticed.
5. Thank a teacher. Show some appreciation with a Thank You card or some words of affirmation. You never know what effect a little kindness might have!