The last semester of school is upon us and many of our students are seniors who are eagerly anticipating graduation. We need to help shepherd them through cases of “senioritis.”
I want to hear your feedback on this issue: IS “SENIORITIS” SIN?
Don’t forget to “reply all” in your response.
PASTOR ANDREW
Great question. Senioritus: a codeword for lack of faith, discontentment, and laziness.
ReplyDeleteQuestions to consider to examine one's heart.
• Am I dreading my present station in life because my mind is anxiously and longingly fixed not on a radiant hope of the return of Christ, but for a far lesser light, far away from home?
• Am I trusting in the fullness of who God is today? Knowing that today is a bigger gift than tomorrow since tomorrow is only a potential gift, and not a guarantee (Prv 27:1)?
• Am I depending on God for grace for today's vapor of life, while trusting tomorrow to His good and providential care? (Ja 4:14ff)?
• Am I dissatisfied with today because I am not satisfied in Christ alone, who is my life (Col 3:3 - 4)?
• "Godliness with contentment is great gain," (1 Tim 6:7), do I believe this?
• Similarly, ungodliness equals a lack of contentment and ends in great loss [anger, resentment, frustration, rebelling against authorities and restraints like teachers/parents/youth leaders]? Is this how I am living right now?
• Has College become an idol? Leaving me longing more for "getting away" with friends, than "going up with Christ?" (1 Jn 5:21)
• Has lust caused me to leave my first love? (Rv 3)
• Am I trusting that time and place can bring the joy, peace, and happiness only found in Christ? Am I being deceived? (Gal 6:7 - 9)
• Am I conformed to this passing world? (Rm 12:2)
I believe we are to live in sync with God's timing, that's what faith and trust are about. Trusting that His timing is for everything in life (Eccl 3:1), and is always beautiful and appropriate (Eccl 3:11). "Senioritus," or a lack of faith, is a smokescreen for sin, namely discontentment and a lack of faith. "Everything that is not of faith is sin." If a person is living in the future by longing for it rather than planning diligently for it, he is in sin. Similarly, if a person is worrying over the future instead of planning diligently for it, he is also in sin. I suffered too from senioritus , that is until I learned that tomorrow is a gift that has not been given to me, and that passionately longing for what God has not given to me is a four letter word --lust (1 Jn 2:15 - 17).
Lastly, I believe that senioritus is just another "bogus diagnosis" we westerners come up with to cover our sin. Since everyone else is doing the same it makes us feel better about it. Pastors of Christ, its that time again, time to call sin out for what it is, and to quit labeling laziness, lack of faith, and discontentment in more flashy fashions. God doesn't call us to cover our sin, but to confess and forsake it (Prv 28:14).
William
From Will - Part 1
ReplyDeleteGreat question. Senioritus: a codeword for lack of faith, discontentment, and laziness.
Questions to consider to examine one's heart.
• Am I dreading my present station in life because my mind is anxiously and longingly fixed not on a radiant hope of the return of Christ, but for a far lesser light, far away from home?
• Am I trusting in the fullness of who God is today? Knowing that today is a bigger gift than tomorrow since tomorrow is only a potential gift, and not a guarantee (Prv 27:1)?
• Am I depending on God for grace for today's vapor of life, while trusting tomorrow to His good and providential care? (Ja 4:14ff)?
• Am I dissatisfied with today because I am not satisfied in Christ alone, who is my life (Col 3:3 - 4)?
• "Godliness with contentment is great gain," (1 Tim 6:7), do I believe this?
• Similarly, ungodliness equals a lack of contentment and ends in great loss [anger, resentment, frustration, rebelling against authorities and restraints like teachers/parents/youth leaders]? Is this how I am living right now?
• Has College become an idol? Leaving me longing more for "getting away" with friends, than "going up with Christ?" (1 Jn 5:21)
• Has lust caused me to leave my first love? (Rv 3)
• Am I trusting that time and place can bring the joy, peace, and happiness only found in Christ? Am I being deceived? (Gal 6:7 - 9)
• Am I conformed to this passing world? (Rm 12:2)
From Will - Part 2
ReplyDeleteI believe we are to live in sync with God's timing, that's what faith and trust are about. Trusting that His timing is for everything in life (Eccl 3:1), and is always beautiful and appropriate (Eccl 3:11). "Senioritus," or a lack of faith, is a smokescreen for sin, namely discontentment and a lack of faith. "Everything that is not of faith is sin." If a person is living in the future by longing for it rather than planning diligently for it, he is in sin. Similarly, if a person is worrying over the future instead of planning diligently for it, he is also in sin. I suffered too from senioritus , that is until I learned that tomorrow is a gift that has not been given to me, and that passionately longing for what God has not given to me is a four letter word --lust (1 Jn 2:15 - 17).
Lastly, I believe that senioritus is just another "bogus diagnosis" we westerners come up with to cover our sin. Since everyone else is doing the same it makes us feel better about it. Pastors of Christ, its that time again, time to call sin out for what it is, and to quit labeling laziness, lack of faith, and discontentment in more flashy fashions. God doesn't call us to cover our sin, but to confess and forsake it (Prv 28:14).
From Will - Part 3
ReplyDeleteApplication:
Looking to the positive replacement ("put on" in words of Paul), exhort seniors to "hasten" ('cause something to happen by exercising special effort') the 2nd coming (2 Pt 3:12 - 14) of Christ like Peter did to the suffering Christians in 2 Peter 3. And this to their joy and eternal pleasure, cause the imminent return of our Lord is the only thing out there in the future that I know of in Scripture, which believers are to long for which isn't sin! Its not chasing wind, its clinging to His promise!
Remind them that contentment in Christ is most against their nature (old man), and must be 'learned' (by new man) (Phil 4:11 - 13), and the good news is that it can be. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil 4:13, AND IN CONTEXT!!!).
Exhort them that this is not unique to them.
• Baby-boomers long for retirement.
• Old people long to be out of here and onto glory (sometimes selfishly).
• Late teens and twenty-somethings long to be out of the "waiting room" of singleness and into the honorable marriage bed.
• Pastors dream about ministering somewhere else, esp. when facing daily hardship in the church. All of us struggle with wanting to be somewhere else at times. Someone once called this, "destination disease," (wanting to be 'anywhere but here') again another smokescreen for sin. Lets confess and press, forsake and forge onward. Christlikeness cannot wait, it is our purpose in being (Rm 8:28 - 30). Christ was never anxious, worried, or unduly concerned with the future. His passion was the will of God! Nothing else moved Him! He is worthy of imitation, a plug for Christlikeness!
Much grace to you men,
William
Colossians 3:17, "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father." I you are thankful you get to be in high school and learn then you will not have senioritus.
ReplyDeleteColossians 3:23, "Whatever you do , do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men." If you are "turning in" your assignments to the Lord before you do your teacher you will not have senioritus.
Paul
I think it is a worldwide student epidemic as I also have some students suffering from “Junioritis, Sophmoritis, and Freshmanitis” too. Ha.
ReplyDeleteIn all seriousness I think that every “-itis” that students suffer from relates to their sin nature and desire to “grumble and complain.” If it is what God has for us then we need to accept it and be good stewards of what He has for us with a heart attitude that gives testimony to Him (Phil. 2:14; 1 Cor. 10:31). This might seem basic but I think it is a good reminder. I am currently suffering from “insomnia-itis” with our newborn. Any suggestions? ;)
jonkrick
I'd say there is nothing wrong with eager anticipation, (we eagerly anticipate our Lord’s return Phil 3:20) it always comes back to motivation. Why are we anticipating?
ReplyDelete- Are you content with where you are (Phil 4:11)? If not senioritis is sinful.
- Are you living this present senior year for the glory of God or have you already "checked out" because "real life" begins post-graduation (1 Cor 10:31)? If so, senioritis is sinful.
- Are you anticipating College life because freedom from accountabilty attracts you (1 Pet 2:16)? If so, senioritis is sinful.
- And we could go on…
But if you are just looking forward to what God has in store for you in the next chapter of life it could be a God glorifying and healthy anticipation (1 Cor 4:5).
Speaking of Seniors, I am doing a seminar this weekend on preparing for college. Specifically what to expect in college/dorm life. Do any of you have notes on that or some helpful resources?
We call it “Senior Sundays.” I‘m hosting it at my house 1:00- 3:00 after church. Each student brings 5$ and we provide lunch. I have different men teaching on various subjects. This is what I have lined up for this year.
January 9 —“Being a Light: Roommates /Campus Life”— George Lawson February 6-- “Time Management” — Ray Lippig March 6 — “Finances 101” — Keith McCullough
April 3 — “Finding the Right Local Church” — Tim Senn
May 1 — “Finding The Right Spouse” — Todd Murray
June 5 — “Honoring your Parents (while away and at home)” — Mike Hefner
Might be a good idea for you guys as well.
George Lawson