E. A Compassionate Environment (Colossians 3:12-14; Philippians 2:1-4) We want to provide a nurturing community, where we walk with students through the issues they are struggling with. We desire to show them how to live in fellowship with other believers and what it means to walk in relationship with the Lord and to experience His grace together. The Word of God instructs us that it is the grace of God, rightly understood, which teaches us to “deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age” (Titus 2:11-12). This does not imply an absence of rules nor of correction. Rather, a compassionate environment provides the right context within which to: • Function with the understanding that no one is perfect though we are all accountable (Philippians 3:12-16). • Deal appropriately with sin and to pursue authentic biblical freedom (Galatians 6:1-5). • Forgive others freely from the heart (Matthew 18:35). III. STUDENT LIFE PHILOSOPHY At Word of Life Bible Institute we pursue life change! The Student Life Department facilitates this by maintaining an atmosphere conducive to growth in faith, hope and love. This atmosphere is cultivated in the dorms, in co-curricular activities, in campus service assignments, and in ministry. Our philosophy describes the approach we take and is well summarized in the following verses: “We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose, also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me” (Colossians 1:28-29). To that end, the philosophy of the Student Life Department centers around three concepts: A. Christ-Dependent – because we tend to depend on ourselves. (1 Corinthians 1:30-31; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 3:1-16; Colossians 2:1-23, 3:1-3) Scripture teaches that Christ is our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. He is our life, our hope of glory, and the One in whom we are now hidden in God. Every day we are called to live out these realities by faith. We share the same concern as the Apostle Paul, who said, “But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3). Therefore, we desire to continually point students to Christ, who is the object of our faith, and away from a dependence upon themselves and the tendency to pursue self- righteousness in one’s own strength by the keeping of rules. True righteousness is through faith in Christ. Though rules are important for worship and fellowship, they can never produce genuine godliness, since they are powerless in dealing with the weakness of the flesh. Therefore, we seek to encourage students to keep their focus on Christ, not on themselves nor on other people (Hebrews 12:1-2) and to rejoice in Him, not in their own accomplishments.
B. Love-Driven – because we tend to neglect others. (Matthew, 22:36-40; Ephesians 5:1-5; Galatians 6:1-5; 1 Peter 1:22, 4:8-10)
One of the characteristics of an authentic Christian community is love for others that is the result of having experienced God’s grace and love for oneself (John 13:34-35; 1 John 4:19). Humility, a teachable heart, and a desire to seek the best interests of others are hallmarks of sincere love. This often involves setting aside personal preferences in order to serve others or to help those who may be struggling in some area of life. In cases where a brother or a sister is struggling with sin, loving them enough to walk with them through the process of repentance and restoration provides a radically different motivation for dealing with the issue. No longer is the goal to simply ignore the problem, maintain appearances, or to ensure that offenders somehow pay for their sin in order to balance the scales. Instead, the intended goal is restored fellowship and joy. Therefore, it is our desire to model genuine peace-making and burden-bearing and to pursue forgiveness and restoration whenever sin has been uncovered in someone’s life by the Holy Spirit.
STUDENT LIFE
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