Confessing Christ on Campus

By Rev. Derek Roberts

Confessing Christ to Your Friends

Confessing Christ on campus is confessing Christ among people we know as friends— all of whom God wants to save through the knowledge of salvation.

The best opportunities we have to faithfully confess Christ are to people we already know, like our friends, roommates, and classmates. Friends are far more likely to seriously listen to us. Handing out tracts and Bibles to unknown people is virtually fruitless. There is wisdom in this saying: “People will not care what you know until they know that you care.”

Do you want to confess Christ to friends but aren’t sure what to say? Here are a few simple suggestions that may set the stage for the Gospel to be heard and believed by your friends. Some call this pre-evangelism, and it is easy enough for anyone to do.

Ask them what they know and believe about Jesus.

A question about Jesus’ identity is always much better than a personal, emotionally charged sermon about how Jesus changed your life, just as He can your friend’s if he would only invite Jesus into his heart.

How you segue into that question takes a little creativity and observation. What are the two of you already talking about? Was there a TV special on Jesus last night? A recent debate about Jesus on campus? A new movie that challenges the truth of our faith?

In all likelihood, people know at least a little about Jesus. Most either believe in Him or are uncertain. Either way, friends are usually glad to explain what they know or admit their ignorance about a subject when asked.

Asking a question is non-threatening. It shows you don’t assume you know everything, nor are you advancing a hidden agenda to change another’s religious beliefs. A question asked with sincerity and calmness shouldn’t put your friend on the defensive. A question shows interest.

Use your friend’s response in your reply.

Listen carefully to your friend’s answer. Ask more questions if you need clarification. You may want to repeat it back in your own words, which shows that you seek clarity, simplicity, and accuracy. For example, you might say, “So, Jesus was a good man and inspiring teacher but not God.”

Now, you could stop here. You found out what you wanted to know. Perhaps your friend will now ask you what you believe. Great. He or she is giving you permission to speak about what you know and believe about Jesus.

Or you might gently move the conversation along further. Do it with a question. For example, “Hmm. If Jesus was truly a good man, why did He say all those things about Himself being God?”

Your friend now has to think about it. A good man doesn’t usually lie. Either Jesus was a good man and spoke the truth, or He was a liar, a lunatic, or something worse.

In such a scenario, your friend might reveal inaccurate knowledge. “Well, that was just what others said about Him. Jesus never said that about Himself.”

Before saying, “Wait a minute! That’s not true!” pause and think how to pose your objection in the form of another question:

“Hmm. How do you explain in John 8:58 where Jesus says, ‘Before Abraham was, I am’? Or when Jesus was asked if He was Christ, the Messiah, while He stood before the Jews and before Pilate, and He finally admitted, ‘I am’ (Mark 14:62)?”

Here’s another approach: “Yes, others did say that about Him, didn’t they? Why do you suppose men like Peter and Paul said that and remained completely faithful to Jesus’ identity as God in human flesh (even to their own death) if they had not been convinced of it through Jesus’ resurrection appearances?”

Good questions help keep the conversation going and advancing towards the truth.

Another question may be in order.

People often question truth and historical knowledge. If, for example, your friend says: “Well, we can’t really know the truth about Jesus,” then you might respond with another question.

Ask “What do you mean by that?” or “Have you read any books about the reliability of the New Testament?”

Not every conversation has to get to the foot of the cross and the fact that Jesus died for your sins. It may go there, but don’t force it. The key is to ask sincere questions, not quote verses or shame the person for his disbelief. If possible, try to avoid tension, but realize that any question your friend can’t answer—no matter how kindly and respectfully asked—may not be welcome.

You may have to drop the topic or wait for another time to continue. That’s okay. But don’t think your conversation was fruitless or a failure. The goal is to plant a seed; only God through the Spirit can bring it to life. You want to get your friend thinking about who Jesus is. It may cause him to privately reflect and search out the truth from you or someone else at another time.

It also helps to have a foundation of knowledge about the reliability of what we know and confess to be true. Take a look at the resources on our Web site (christoncampus.higherthings.org), especially the section entitled “Books Every College Student Should Read.” At Christ on Campus, we encourage you to build yourself up to give “a reason for the hope that is in you” doing so “with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15–16 ESV).

Rev. Derek Roberts is a campus pastor serving the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, via First Lutheran Church. He is a member of Team Campus and can be reached by e-mailing pastor@utklutheran.org.