In this story a student who attends a Christian school will not be allowed to graduate because he attended the prom with his girlfriend at her public school.
Ohio Christian school tells student to skip prom
Regardless of your personal opinions about dancing, rock music or suggestive clothing, do you think the school has a right or an obligation to be consistent and hold students to the promises they have made?
When believers claim to commit to one specific behavior (whatever it is) then intentionally break that commitment, what is the obligation of the faith community around them? If the school “looks the other way” on this one, would it set a precedent that would prohibit the school from having any integrity if disciplining another student on another area (cheating?) of the student life code?
My personal opinion: This event did not sneak up on this student. Had he taken any steps to change the covenant (appealing to authority in advance) before unilaterally determining to break it? His own words were that he “expected a short lecture..that would be the end of it.” He made a voluntary commitment to a voluntary group. He should be held to the commitments of that group (using progressive loving discipline/restoration) or be removed.
What about the covenant in your small group? If members commit to “not repeat anything shared in the group” and you find that one member is intentionally violating that trust. Does the group have an obligation? Does it just give a short lecture then ignore it?
What do you think?
how about flogging?
ReplyDeleteI read the entire article regarding this student and the issue really isn't whether or not someone thinks rock music or dancing is a bad influence.....the issue is the commitment this guy and his family made when they decided to send him to this school.
ReplyDeleteI am quite certain that it was explained to all of them what the school's position was on these matters and I am also quite certain they agreed to abide by those. If you say you are going to do something - how can that apply only to what you do or don't do in the classroom but not in "real life"?
My husband went to a christian school for 7th and 8th grade and during that time he became a christian. His parents were willing to make the sacrifices to send him to a christian highschool (and the financial sacrifice would have been great for the family) and he was faced with the same dilemma.....only the school expected him to sign a paper stating he was not going to attend movies or watch TV in addition to the other areas mentioned.
He knew in his heart he would not be able to keep that commitment - this was the biggest reasons why he didn't attend a christian high school. What people feel about dancing or rock music or TV isn't the issue.....the issue is the commitment that was agreed upon and it is a matter of integrity. I agree wholeheartidly that if the student did not agree with the rules as they were, or if his feelings changed on the matter over the course of time at the school - he should have brought that to the attention of those in leadership and see where he was to go from there.
As far as commitments in small groups......yes, I believe we need to hold one another accountable.
I believe that the leader of any small group is not just given the role as "bible instructor" or "teacher" but also has the opportunity through each lesson to build the kingdom into the hearts and lives of those who attend that small group. Holding one another accountable is part of that.
I certainly don't think that if someone is going around "gossiping" about what is shared in the small group that this person should be called on the carpet in front of the rest of the entire group - that would be more alienating than restorative.
Some scripture to consider:
Luke 17:3 it is our duty, our obligation, to help others see where they are sinning and to help them turn to Christ. Love is not telling someone what they want to hear.....it is telling them what they need to hear and telling them in love.
1 John 4:7-21
Matthew 18:15-17 In this section, I used to think that Jesus was telling us to treat shun this person by treating them as a pagan or tax collector. What this is really saying is that if a person shows absolutely no evidence of conviction of sin or a desire to repent, it would be wise to wonder if they really are saved as one of the main ministries of the Holy SPirit is to bring conviction to the heart of the believer when they are out of God's will. What this is saying is treat them as if they are in need of a saving relationship with Jesus - not shun them.
Galatians 6:1-4
If the school doesn't uphold its' standards, then who will?
ReplyDeleteSoon the standard is what is accepted, with nothing to do with the standard at all.
We all follow rules that we don't agree with. With out that action it would be hard to imagine a functional society. Maybe this is partially why our society sometime seems so disfunctional.
In a small group it is necessary to remind all members of the high standards required to be members of the group and to correct in private and praise in public.
The school has the right to keep its students in line with rules they deem appropriate. You choose to go there. You know there is a higher standard held to the student. You can get your education elsewhere. Bottom line is listen and read what you are getting into and if you don’t feel you can do it, don’t sign it. This is a life lesson we see going on today with the mortgage crisis. Yes, situations change but then you better talk to the powers that be before going off half cocked on your own. The momentary loss will be a long term gain. His future will be better for this lesson.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds to me that the punishment far outweighs the crimes especially since the student got a permission slip signed by the principle. I think the larger problem here is the schools judaizing. Legalism is far more concerning than is a teenager getting a slip signed by his principle then going to a prom. Although this boy may have done something improperly, the focus of Christian's should be the great enemy of legalism whereby these adults are causing these children to put confidence in the flesh rather than in Christ (Phil 3:2) and we should be saddened just as God is when he says that it is better to tie a millstone around your neck than cause a little one to stumble. But this is just what legalistic schools do when they hang one's spiritual condition upon things that are in the realm of Christian liberty. They either raise unsaved moralists (as I was while in Christian schools) or they force children to be put in a situation where they have to reject God when they choose to do things that aren't "approved." If parents, schools, churches, and adults all tell children that it is wrong to do such-and-such, that child is sinning if he does such-and-such when he believes it to be wrong when in actuality it an action that belongs in the realm of Christian liberty By creating a bunch of laws where they don't exist is to do just what the Judaizers did and we should do just what Paul does and explicitly condemn such actions and warn those that are subject to falling prey to that legalism.
ReplyDeleteThis kid should not have even been put in this position so although I do not condone breaking the rules I feel bad for the kid and wish that I could warn him in the words of Paul to "watch out for those dogs" that self-righteously say that they "chose to please God" while he "chose to please his flesh" when he got a note signed by the principle to go to a prom. I would encourage him to "have a righteousness that comes through faith in Christ" rather than being like his school board who seeks to "have a righteousness of [their] own that comes from the law" and is not of God.
@Matt
ReplyDeleteAre rules always the sin of the Judaizers? Doing/not doing certain behaviors IN ORDER TO GAIN STANDING with God is, in fact, legalism. But, choosing certain behaviors as a matter of TESTIMONY TO OTHERS is not legaliism
"I do not see dancing and rock music as immoral acts" says the teenager. Rock "is part of the counterculture which seeks to implant seeds of rebellion in young people's hearts and minds." Furthermore on the website the principle says that going to a prom is sinful and it is the anti-joseph thing to do. These children are being taught, probably explicitly, but at least implicitly that in order to be a good Christian they cannot listen to certain kinds of music, they cannot dance, and I would assume they teach Christians don't drink, smoke, wear baggy cloths etc. I went to FCS where legalism was prevalent while I was there and I still stand strongly against this school and the board members on this issue. Not that I justify what the student did but I just don't think about it because there is such a great tradjesty in modern Christian schools where the rules become measurements of Christianity and the schools parent the children rather than teaching them. The parents should be the ones that make these decisions about prom and music they allow their children to listen to. The school should be teaching rather than brainwashing these kids that music with a beat is of the devil and Christians sin when they listen to it. I think that implicit legalism is terrible and I think this school crosses the line into explicit legalism.
ReplyDelete