The Office of Spiritual Development (OSD) introduced a new theme for this semester’s Campus Community based on the age-old question: What would Jesus do (WWJD)?
According to Vice President of Spiritual Development Josh Rutledge, the series title is designed to be reminiscent of the 1990s, with bold neon colors and popular WWJD bracelets accentuating the look. The foundation of the series is that the aim of life is to become like Christ.
“The question (what would Jesus do?) is helpful to me because it helps inform the purpose and aim of my life, meaning my goal as a human being is to become who God created me to be, to live into my purpose,” Rutledge said. “And if my purpose is to be like Christ, then it’s asking the question, ‘Well, what would Jesus do if he were me?’”
The series is a call for students to consider their decision-making and turn it back to Christ through that simple question: what would Jesus do? This lesson is one that all Christians should consider as they walk through every stage of their lives with Christ.
“I’m not the person who has this figured out, and I’m not on a stage just trying to like say, ‘Hey, just do it the way I’m doing it.’ It’s more like, ‘Hey, I think we’re all trying to do this together,’” Rutledge said. “So, this series is as much for me as it is anyone else.”
Rutledge said week eight will touch on a topic that will potentially resonate with a lot of college students: Jesus was never anxious. Rutledge defines anxiety as the currency of the enemy because of how it locks in the habits of sin, cynicism and fear.
“Anxiety is looking out ahead into the future, imagining some sort of scenario, good, bad, whatever the case may be, and then drawing it into today as if it’s happening right now,” Rutledge said.
According to Rutledge, students are already feeling convicted and have moved to make big decisions in their lives, from giving their lives to Christ at the first Campus Community to changing old habits.
“There is a palpable enthusiasm and energy on our campus right now, and it’s (a) really, really fun time to be a part of it,” Rutledge said.
Rutledge encourages students to attend Campus Community on Wednesday nights. He said that Campus Community and the WWJD series are unique experiences to Liberty, and he hopes students take advantage of the opportunity while they are here.
Twitchell is the feature editor for The Liberty Champion.