-
Flickr Photos
More Photos -
Archive for the ‘Christianity’ Category
The Unlikely Disciple
Tuesday, May 11th, 2010
A Sinner’s Semester at America’s Holiest University
Months and months ago, an acquaintance of mine mentioned this book. Then, another one did. And another. Then one more, and I finally reserved it at the library. From what I was told, I had some idea of what to expect, but I wasn’t prepared to be utterly encouraged by this book. Let me start out by saying that if you can’t handle honest discussions about Christian educational experiences, the book (and this blog post) are not for you.
I reserved the book about a month ago and did not pick it up until near its due date. Once I started reading, I couldn’t put it down. Kevin Roose is a talented writer, but it was what he had to write about that really drew me in.
In summary, during his sophomore-ish year, Kevin chose to leave “free-spirited, ultra-liberal” Brown University to check out what it’s like to study and live at a “conservative Baptist school” – Liberty University. Before I read this book, I had heard of both Brown and Liberty, but I had never heard of Jerry Falwell or Liberty’s political and spiritual background. (I’ll blame this ignorance on not growing up 100% in the U.S.) It was really interesting to read of Kevin’s experiences, but instead of thinking worse of him for “tricking” a Christian college into letting him “spy” on what it’s really like (some Christians feel that way), I applauded him. He gives a pretty fair evaluation of what it’s like to eat, drink, sleep, study, and breathe in a Christian educational bubble. Believe it or not, I was even encouraged.
(If you don’t know, I went to a Christian college for my undergraduate work and currently teach at the same college as well.)
Here are some things that stood out to me:
- Kevin got in to Liberty pretty easily and few people figured out that he wasn’t really a Christian. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that on Kevin’s part – I think Christian institutions of higher education need to realize that not everyone on campus is a true believer. While most faculty, staff, and students know that truth deep down inside, so much emphasis seems to be placed on outward actions as proof of one’s spirituality. Unfortunately, a lot more emphasis seems to be placed on outward actions as it relates to school rules. “Don’t drink, don’t smoke, don’t sleep around, be back in the dorms by 11pm” turn into rubrics of one’s spirituality instead of the true fruit of a believer – love, joy, peace, patience,kindness, gentleness, self-control, etc. Now, I’m not saying there is anything wrong with an institution having rules (even if some seem strange); what I am saying is that the spiritual maturity of a person should not be measured by how many rules they did not break or how many school functions they attended. That’s naive, if not pharisaical.
- Spirituality in the dorms. While living in the dorms, several of Kevin’s wingmates would come in and ask how he was doing spiritually. They were looking for some specific answers, and to Kevin’s credit, he answered as honestly as possible. “How is your Bible reading coming along?” was met with how many hours (or minutes) he had truly spent reading his Bible for the Bible classes.
- These types of interactions always bothered me when I was in college – not that I was being asked how I was doing, but who was asking me how I was doing. My mother would ask me (she’s okay), my boyfriend (now husband) would ask me (he’s okay), some of my close classmates and friends would ask me (again, okay), my advisor would ask me (she was my mentor – still is – A-okay!)…and then there were the random people on campus who I may have met once or twice who wanted to know where I was in my walk with God. Those people always made me feel a bit uncomfortable, not because I had anything to hide (believe me, I think I was too honest sometimes), but because I had no idea who they really were and then – BAM! – tell me about how you think you’re doing with the most important aspect of your life! In short, it felt more like the police interrogations I experienced in the former Soviet Union than a truly sincere person who really wanted to know about my faith.
- Kevin made a rather astute observation about all of this that really blessed my heart. Those people were not trying to be nosey (maybe some were); they wanted to be sure he was safe. With hell a real, pressing threat to Christians, they have a passion to want to make sure an individual will be saved from its terrors. It was an interesting perspective I had never really mulled over.
- Levels of sin. Sin is sin, regardless of the specifics, and yet believers seem to form arbitrary levels of sin. You lied? Sure, that’s sin, but that’s not as bad as committing adultery, etc. The consequences of our sins may be different, but that doesn’t change the fact that…sin is sin. It was interesting to read Kevin’s observations of how believers at Liberty handled sin – the different levels, and even the difference in how different genders were treated. (More on that some other time)
There is so much more I could write about, but why should I? Kevin Roose has already crafted his fine book, and I would recommend that all believers involved in Christian higher education read through it at least once.
Posted in Books, Christianity, Observations on Life | 3 Comments »
Is It Really Yours?
Monday, March 22nd, 2010
If you haven’t heard, the Health Care bill passed in the House yesterday. The world didn’t end, but tempers definitely flared. That’s to be expected with something so revolutionary occurring in a nation that hasn’t really had any big changes since segregation, 9/11, and…and…oh, wait. A black president being elected. Nevermind. I guess change has been happening progressively for quite some time.
All the change isn’t what surprises me. Life is never static. What surprises me are some of the responses to the changes, specifically those related to the Health Care bill.
Especially the responses of those who call themselves Christians.*
*Disclaimer: by saying “call themselves Christians, I am not questioning their salvation. I literally mean – those who call themselves Christians. Myself being one.
Most of the dissent from my Christian friends and contacts has centered around three major themes:
- Abortion in the bill
- No one is entitled to health care
- They can’t take my hard-earned money from me to support someone else
I’ll take #3 for a few minutes here, and please remember, I’m talking about Christians (not the general public).
Is your money really yours?
That’s the question I have for my fellow believers. Before your blood boils at the thought of having to pay taxes to fund someone else’s medical condition, consider:
- Do you make more than $250,000 a year? (Is 3.8% on your investment income a nightmare?)
- The fine on not having insurance (starting 2014) is $95 or 1% of income the first year, up to $695 or 2% of income subsequently.
- If you can’t find a policy for less than 8% of your income, you don’t pay the fine. Did you see that?
- Do you have a policy now?
Are you still in the category of those who will pay taxes? Even if you are…
Is your money really yours?
As a believer, is your money really yours?
What bothers me is the dichotomy believers force on certain aspects of politics and their faith (I am guilty of this, too, at times). We say that we don’t own anything in this world – anything we have is a undeserved gift from God:
- Our lives
- Our jobs
- Our ability to even work at a job
- Our material possessions
…and then when we are called upon to give of those things (missions? charity?) or, in the case of government, required to give up some of those things, we panic. We rant. We call down God’s wrath on those who would dare tred upon our rights as American citizens (government mainly – we wouldn’t dare call down God’s wrath on missionaries or charities asking us for our “hard-earned” money because that sounds bad, and besides – it’s not required. Or is it? Not by your government, but by God Himself…).
Why do we try to hold on so firmly to earthly possessions that we really have no right to as believers? If you truly view everything as a gift from God, it will sadden you to part with said possessions, but it should not infuriate you and cause you to run around screaming about your freedom being taken away.
No one can ever take away your salvation and freedom in Christ. Isn’t that what truly matters?
“He said to them, ‘Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s’.” – Luke 20:25
“Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly, it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven.” – Proverbs 23:4-5
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:19-21
Posted in Christianity, In the News, Observations on Life | 1 Comment »