I teach in a Public High School by choice. I’m sure, if I applied I could get a position at a Christian School but I choose to teach Pre-Christians. I love it!
I don’t stand in front of my class an announce, “I’m a Christian!” But somehow they figure it out.
Because I teach both Calculus AB and Calculus BC (Calculus I and II), 2nd semester, I have a mixture of returning students and new students. The first day of Calculus BC, I ask my returning students to tell the new students an interesting fact about me. This young Asian girl raised her hand. I was suprised because I didn’t teach her previously. But I called on her, nonetheless.
She said, “You are a Christian.”
Taken aback, I said, “Yes. How did you know that?”
She said, “My friend, who had you last semester, told me.”
I thought, “if I had to have a reputation as a teacher, that is the one I want.”
A couple of years ago, I had a student who was Transgender. I got to show that child the love of God. By the end of my class, he was listening to Christian music on his own.
I get to show kids from varying religions the love of Jesus just by being me. I don’t preach but when asked, I have had some deep conversations. I don’t proselytize (my curriculum is full and I believe in render to Caesar what is Caesar) but I carry them to Jesus on my knees. I demonstrate the unconditional love of Jesus through encouragement, laughter, and a genuine concern for each child.
During my planning period, before school, after school, and sometimes when kids are having a difficult time understanding a concept, I pray. Yes, in a public school.
Do you have pre-Christians in your life? Jesus did. The Pharisees were appalled that Jesus associated with sinners, tax collectors and prostitutes. I’m disappointed I don’t have many Pre-Christian friends.
As a Christian, isolation becomes too easy.
My heart is to follow Jesus’ lead. We are called to be light in the darkness but we are afraid of the dark so we hang out in the light, with other Christians.
Let us go to the proverbial “dark” side. Jesus did. He took his light into the dark and the dark became light. We have that same power. Perhaps, the mission’s trip God is asking us to take is simply to walk across the street.
What if our reputation in our neighborhood was, “That is where the Christians live.” And that was viewed as a positive.
“But the Pharisees and their scribes were complaining to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus replied to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a doctor, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.””
Luke 5:30-32 CSB