Christian Colleges: Legalism vs. Spiritual Guidance

     My senior year of high school, there was but one deciding factor on where I would attend college, and that was a chance to play baseball at the next level.  I was a decent player from a rural South Carolina high school, a place where one had to be an incredible standout to really garner big-time scout attention.  After taking it upon myself to attend some individual workouts, I wound up going to and playing baseball at two different  conservative Christian colleges at the division II level.

     While attending and graduating from a Christian college, I was able to learn more about the Bible and theology than I ever could have imagined.  I can give you the ins and outs of Calvinism, Arminianism, postmodernism, and basically any other "ism" that applies to religion and philosophy.  I'm eternally grateful that I was able to expand my religious knowledge in such a profound way as it greatly contributed to my own personal faith. There are many things that one can witness while going to a Christian college that you probably will not be able to witness anywhere else.  I've seen people get saved, belt out worship music in the dorms, hold prayer meetings, and also shield their eyes at a nudity scene while watching a movie.

     Some of these things are incredible.  Witnessing a spiritual conversion, on a college campus of all places is something to celebrate.  And yes, watching people get in an uproar over a PG-13 movie is just plain funny, I don't care who you are.  However, there are some things that I saw during my days in a Christian college that I believe are a little more disturbing.  I've seen people kicked out of school for alleged, unproved acts with hardly a chance to defend themselves.  I've seen an entire group of people kicked out of school because they toasted champagne at a wedding.  I've even heard people doubt other's faith because of a curse word that person used.  The first school I attended went so far as to kick someone out, even for stepping inside a girls' dorm to receive a paper that his friend printed for him. 

     The purpose of this post isn't to make a blanket sweeping judgment of Christian institutions, only to raise certain issues that I believe need to be addressed.  Allow me to first say that a private institution can make just about any rule that they wish as long as it is within legal bounds.  In other words, a private college has a ton of leeway as far as promoting religion goes because they are not state funded, therefore not a branch of the government as opposed to state colleges and universities.  I could analyze the intricacies all day long as far as rules go, but I will focus on a couple that are most controversial, yet provide insight to legalism as a whole.  Both schools I attended had a zero tolerance alcohol policy as well as strict separation of men and women dorms.  No matter what your age, you cannot so much as take a sip of alcohol on or off campus, nor can you step foot in the opposite sex's dorm room unless there is some type of open dorm event going on which may take place twice a year.  

     The purpose of these rules are not far fetched.  College kids can be quite reckless when you mix in alcohol.  Also, two 18 year olds in the same room together by themselves can also produce situations that some of their classmates may shield their eyes at the sight of.  With that being said, I do believe that each of the rules put in place by school officials come from a place of concern and good intention.  However, when you take a step back and look at the rules as they apply to spiritual growth, do they really serve the purpose in which they are intended or do they just push people away from what the focus should be? That purpose is a personal relationship with God, right?  I say that because even within a community of people who share roughly the same religious views, each person struggles with different things and sets certain boundaries for themselves relating to their own personal journey. Should the school go one step further and set sweeping boundaries across the board for those thousands of people with thousands of different journeys?  

     My own personal view of this concept as a whole is that you cannot regulate one's spirituality.  A person's spiritual growth is between a man or woman and his or her Creator.  A school can equip someone with the knowledge and guidance to grow, but I feel as though strict, no tolerance rules placed on a person prohibits them from experiencing freedom in their personal spiritual walk.  If the concept of free will is central to Christian doctrine, as to say that we are to choose to follow Christ or not, then why would an institution require one to choose an extra cautious path lest they be removed from that institution?  Jesus himself denounced the religious Pharisees of his time for creating a code of incredibly strict rules that were designed to make it even harder to sin against God.  Jesus rebuked them as following "human" rules, not a creed given by God.  I am not calling the administration of these institutions Pharisees, not by any means.  However, they do set forth human rules that are designed as safeguards against actual sin.  What makes this regulation much different?

     I believe that this type of regulation is dangerous because it can unintentionally instill a since of erred judgment in those who have yet to experience the "real" world.  For instance, many of the people who attend very conservative religious colleges have grown up in a strict environment, and that's okay.  There's nothing wrong with teaching your children yourself, and prohibiting them from certain activities as a parent.  The problem can arise though, when one goes from their parents' house to an institution who also punishes those who partake in certain activities such as going to a bar, a club, or occasionally enjoying alcohol.  That person can easily take those experiences and go their whole life casting judgment on those who may drink from time to time if that's the only rule they've ever known about alcohol.  However, if you read the Bible, regardless of what your spiritual adviser or church may say, the Bible does not prohibit alcohol, only the abuse thereof.  Does that mean that everyone should drink? Absolutely not.  There is a plethora of reasons not to. However, can one enjoy a reasonable amount without abusing it? Jesus himself enjoyed wine on occasion so that question is easily answered in the affirmative.  By the way, you could say that he only drank grape juice, but you would be wrong, historically and Biblically. 

     Just because a substance or an act can be abused, does that mean it should be prohibited?  Alcohol is easy to single out, but what about food?  The Bible refers to gluttony as a deadly sin, yet those with a cafeteria meal plan can eat 10,000 calories in one sitting if they please.  That may sound facetious, but it does makes logical sense.  Is it worse to abuse food than to abuse alcohol? Many more people die from abusing food annually than they do from alcoholism, so that question is also easily answered. As far as opposite sex involvement goes, it is clear to see that officials flat out don't want sex on campus.  Sexual purity is taught at these institutions, and that is understandable as it is consistent with Christian doctrine.  However, how far should that regulation go? Should it deprive valuable social contact, hinder free will, and take responsibility out of the student's hands?  It also begs the question of whether something can be abused, should it be prohibited?  

     I also feel like many of these institutions have created a false sense of labeling things as "christian".  What I mean by that is a person goes four years within a bubble of "christian" music, clothes, places, views, speech, and activities and are expected to graduate and delve into a world of a myriad of diverging views.  Call me crazy, but I don't think there is a such thing as a "christian" song, "christian" clothes, or even "christian" rules. There are only people with souls who have made a decision to follow Jesus.  Music and other things can be used as a tool to further the faith, but when a person's entire world for 4 or more years of some of the most influential times of their life is full of "christian" labels inside of a "christian" bubble, it may be hard to operate in a world where the labels fade and what is in the heart is the only thing that counts. 

     Am I suggesting that every conservative religious school go back and change all their rules? No, not at all.  Am I suggesting that people should not consider attending these schools?  Once again, not at all.  For every "con" in attending a conservative Christian college, there are many "pros".   Some people do thrive in a very structured environment and have no problem with strict rules to follow.  On the other end of the spectrum, there are many devout Christians who would not be a good fit for a conservative religious school due to the regulations.  In this day and age, I applaud institutions of higher learning for wanting to promote a set of values that can serve to strengthen one's relationship with Almighty God.  What I am suggesting is awareness and hopefully a new found focus on the things that not only guide someone spiritually, but prepares them for post-graduate life in which they can distinguish right and wrong in such a way that honors God, not a board of human administrators. 

Twitter: @Derekbrown4real

 www.Facebook.com/DerekBrown4real