The Pilgrim’s Protest

By Amy Roberts

A pastor was giving a children’s sermon and he asked a series of questions: “What has a bushy tail, climbs trees and stores nuts for the winter?” One boy tentatively raised his hand and said, “I know the answer must be Jesus, God or the Bible, but it sure sounds like a squirrel.” Just because the question is asked in church, doesn’t make it a spiritual question. Just because a person is in church, doesn’t make that person a Christian. Are we, the body, closing our eyes to a mission field sitting in the pew next to us? Are we ordaining deacons, elders, Sunday school teachers, youth workers, even pastors because they look like Christians, without making even the slightest effort to apply the standards found in Scripture? Chris Gruver’s testimony is a prime example of this very problem.
Chris Gruver, a junior in Youth Ministry at CIU, lived a life that looked spiritual from outward appearances. His story illustrates a serious deception in our churches that weakens the Body. People are going to hell and they don’t even know it. Here at CIU, we train and equip workers to spread the Gospel. I believe Chris’s story can shed light into a mission field we may not think of very often – the “so-called believer”.
Chris was raised in a strong Christian home. He grew up in a large, religiously active family. His parents are in Christian education and were missionaries to Russia while he was in high school. As a child he attended AWANA, where he received the Timothy Award for exemplary performance, as well as becoming a leader at the national camp. He also attended a Christian school and was well-versed in Christianity. Chris says, “The danger of growing up this way is that Christianity is all you know, you don’t question it, and when you get to an age where you do question it, you are often not in a place where you are surrounded by community who will be able to answer those questions.”
No one ever questioned whether Chris was a believer. When he was ten years old, he first felt the conviction of the Holy Spirit at a Sunday night service. When Chris came forward at the invitation, the pastor said, “What are you doing here?” He didn’t know. At ten he didn’t have words for it. When the pastor asked if he needed to be baptized, Chris thought that must have been the answer. He had been told that he became a believer at 4 and that was all he had worried about at the time.
When he was in high school, his family moved to Moscow where his parents ran a school for missionary kids, but they returned to the States the day Chris graduated from high school. That’s when he hit a crisis point: His father could not get a job, his mother was having her 8th child, and Chris was not able to get the soccer scholarship he had hoped for because he had been overseas. Ten of them were sharing a single wide trailer. While his father was looking for work as a Christian school administrator, Chris needed to work to support the family so he was not able to fulfill his dream to go to college. He was seventeen.
Looking back, Chris says he became angry at God and said, “Forget Christianity”. He still went to church, because that’s what you did, but he was rebelling against God. There was a dichotomy between his behavior on “Christian time” and in reality. As the years went on it became harder and harder to reconcile the two.
Eventually, he was able to attend a Christian college. At school, he continued living a classic double life. He had a group of Christian friends and a second immoral life on the side. Slowly, he retreated from God and the life he had once known. He had previously enjoyed worship and being around Christians, but now he had chosen the other camp. “I was not someone I would have chosen to save,” Chris says. “I was even less worthy, because I pretended that I was worthy. I was a hypocrite in the fullest, most complete sense of the word.”
His sophomore year, God said that was enough. Three weeks into the fall semester, Chris came down with a severe case of mono. He had to drop out of school and was bedridden for 6 weeks, which scared him. When he recovered, he began attending church again because “I was terrified that God was going to kill me. I got involved because that’s what made God happy.” However, his behavior was not a reflection of his heart, but continued to be superficial and legalistic. Nonetheless, Chris believed he was a Christian because his family told him he had come to know the Lord when he was four and had been baptized when he was eleven. He didn’t know that he wasn’t a believer because he fulfilled all the outward requirements.
God intervened again when Life Action Ministries came and did a crusade at his church. Everyone encouraged him to join that ministry, and he did. They put him into training for two months. During that time, Tom Maharis came to speak and Chris immediately recognized that there was something different about this man that was not true in Chris’ life. Maharis spoke on Psalm 26 and for the second time in his life Chris felt the conviction of the Holy Spirit. He went down the aisle and for the second time, a pastor said to him, “Chris, what are you doing here?” This time however, he knew enough to say, “I don’t know, but something’s not right.” He took Chris and asked him all the standard questions. Chris remembers, “I knew all the “right” answers but this time I answered from my heart and not my head. I couldn’t honestly say that Jesus was my Lord, or that I loved His Word.” Instead of sending Chris back to his seat, his pastor challenged him to read 1 John. Chris got into a canoe and paddled to the middle of the lake where he read 1 John to see if he was truly saved. He knew within the first few minutes that he was not walking in the light, and needed to turn his life over to Christ, which he did. As he reflected on 1 John, he realized that everything that typified a Christian, was not true about him. He had been his own god. Even though he was not living in outright sin anymore, the root was still there. He prayed that God would come into his heart, not as someone he’d heard about all his life, but as his Lord and Savior.
Since then he was able to be involved in many vibrant ministries, here in the States and overseas in Indonesia. For One of the villages he went to had a church with believers who love the Lord. This church has started 18 evangelistic outreaches, but their prayer is for leadership training, some type of Bible school. In many places they are so desperate for materials that they often pick up Jehovah’s Witness materials because it is all that is available. Because of this need, Chris plans to do leadership training in Indonesia after graduating from CIU in May.
When asked why he had so many opportunities in his life to work in the ministry without anyone discovering that he wasn’t a believer, Chris had some interesting perspectives to share. “I think modern evangelicalism has confused spirituality with religiosity. Because we don’t have forms that dictate our religious life, it gets gray. I was able to bluff my way through most religious settings and in many places they just needed someone, and I was personable and knew the church language and had musical abilities. I think most people assume that if you’re willing to volunteer for a church position, you are a believer, where in reality the opposite may be true, that people get into the church to hide from God and/or other people. The reality is that very few people will question the internal if the externals are good.”
As we are preparing to go into the world as leaders, we would do well to consider Chris’ story. We are doing a disservice to the people in the pews if we do not help them dig into their own faith stories. True Christianity is more than a lifestyle, but the lifestyle can easily be mistaken for reality. The externals are not what God looks at, but unfortunately it’s what we spend an extraordinary amount of time worrying about. God looks at the heart.

By Sarah Nixon

Underchallenged? Perhaps that’s not the first word that comes to mind when thinking of the CIU populace. It certainly doesn’t jump into mine. But a few weeks ago a chapel speaker came and told the student body very confidently that they were “underchallenged”. While it seems humorous that a visiting chapel speaker could know how challenged CIU students are, was he right? Somehow it seems that he missed something in his assumption.
Between classes, homework, field education, chapel, the work most of us have to do to afford to come to CIU, church, friends and sleep, there is little room for much else. Yet a cry frequently heard around campus is “you ought”. “You ought…to help out the homeless downtown.” “You ought…to tutor elementary school students.” “You ought…to be involved in a church and do ministry there.” “You ought…to make sure that your studies are a priority.” These “oughts” ring in our ears from morning to night!
Unfortunately, these frequent chastisements to be involved, while done with good intentions, could quite possibly do more harm than good. Rather than encouraging students to do ministry, these pleas often seem to be a sort of Christian guilt trip—you aren’t doing enough, you aren’t working hard enough, and you aren’t being a “good Christian”.
Guilt is not a very good motivator for getting people to do things, and a quick glance at the effectiveness of these appeals to obligation can prove that. The Student Senate, despite well-publicizing the Adopt-a-Highway campaign, has to require its members to go or not enough people would show up! And when CIU had a prayer walk down Monticello last semester with pastors from the Crane Creek Alliance, not more than 30 students showed up. Even Refocus segments highlighting ministry opportunities in Columbia and a president who is involved in local ministry have done little to impact the amount of students who do anything about the issues here in Columbia.
So why continue these subtle jabs to the Christian obligation? Is CIU really training world Christians for long, successful ministries, or are they training future ministry burnouts who can’t say no to anything? It seems that many of these people who come forget that first and foremost, CIU students are just that—students. We are here to minister, yes, but primarily we’re here to learn. And while hands-on learning is a vital part of the educational process, our Field Education provides numerous opportunities to put what we learn into practice.
The answer to the problem of CIU students getting involved is not to continually place demands for more, more, more to do. Rather it is to remind them that they are students first and their studies should be the most important thing right now. As Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven”. Once students realize that, they can be free not to accept every ministry opportunity that comes their way. They can look at them as opportunities, rather than obligations. And when they do that, they are more likely to be able to listen to where God actually wants them to minister. So students: Live free, knowing that God has called you to this place to prepare you for the ministry that He wants you to do. Learn to be ok with saying no. Then you’ll be more likely to find that elusive school/ministry balance—not underchallenged, but never overcommitted.

By Gina Russo

In 1972, a group of CIU students published two issues of a newsletter that was released on the CIU campus. TPP was intrigued to find out about this publication because of the similarities in origin between TPP and the 1972 publication. Gina Russo, former Editor-in-Chief of TPP, gives her thoughts on this publication from a previous era in CIU history.
-Elizabeth Castellow,
Editor-in-Chief
Flipping through a 1972 CIU student publication entitled Little People Think, I encountered phrases that were all too familiar to me as a former editor for The Pilgrim’s Protest. “Honest dialogue, forum for students, administration, and alumni,” and trains of thoughts indicating that the publication was not anti-authority or a mouthpiece for bitter former students. It admonished students to think for themselves, encouraged student leaders to have vision, questioned standards, and wondered how effective CIU student culture was in shaping students for mission and ministry. The anonymous authors discussed their perception of the sad state of evangelicalism and controversial subjects such as women’s liberation.
The authors (some alumni and others current students) chose to remain anonymous in order not to be punished by the administration through expulsion or some other disciplinary measures. From reading the articles, one can tell they were bright people, with extensive vocabulary and a keen ability to form sentences.
But a key factor is missing from a paper that claimed to be a forum for ideas: respect. Articles such as “The One Solution” are thick with sarcasm. The author is concerned that the school forms students into “dull holy joes” and then calls support of such treatment “bull.” Such rhetoric is not only unprofessional, is does little towards the Christian’s goal of “speaking the truth in love.” The authors strive to create a “us and them” mentality between the students and administration.
That’s not to say there is no room for sarcasm in persuasive writing; one need only read the works of Henry David Thoreau of Mark Twain to see that humor, satire, and sarcasm can be used effectively, professionally, and persuasively to communicate ideas. The problem with the humor in Little People Think is that it is an unfiltered reaction towards what the authors consider to be an unfair cultural system at work in Columbia Bible College. I am not going to debate whether their feelings are legitimate (a feeling is legitimate in so far as it exists; what one does with that feeling is what needs to be judged and considered), since the relationship between these particular students and the administration of that time is something I am not privy to. However, I can say with some confidence that there are much more effective ways to utilize the power of the written word. The publication was eventually shut down by the administration for being “divisive.” Whether that was due to the unprofessional manner of the publication or if it would’ve been prohibited even if it had respectfully questioned school policy and cultural norms is not something I am able to judge. As a student who has taken great care to work with the student body and CIU administration in writing articles that respectfully question a principle or policy at CIU, I know that effective communication is possible. It can be an uphill battle, and sometimes the students one is striving to serve may accuse the author of attacking the school. It is important for everyone who participates in any side of a debate to prayerfully, respectfully, and professionally present their thoughts and opinions in order that the Body may be uplifted, encouraged, and refined by the Holy Spirit.

In our December 2007 issue, TPP reported on the changes that will be happening in the CIU Village. TPP asked Brion Burns for an update on what is happening with The Village.

In October of last year an announcement was made in a CIU faculty meeting that CIU plans to build apartments. The Board of Trustees had already given approval for the school to have an outside party finance and build apartments on CIU property. Some initial discussions had taken place with a couple companies who work with universities in building this type of housing. Village residents were informed of this announcement via an email message. This message also informed the residents that the Village would be closed over the next few years. No timetable was given.

In the months since the initial announcement was made and the Village residents were informed, there has been a meeting involving administration and residents. Issues and concerns were brought to light in this meeting. A small group of residents has also been meeting with members of the administration to further voice concerns and to explore options for the future. During one of these meetings, President Jones gave assurance that CIU will work together with the residents during the transition period. No owners of mobile homes will be left to deal with the situation on their own. If there is any financial loss, the loss will be absorbed by CIU.

Currently Keith Marion is in discussions with a couple different companies interested in the possibility of building apartments. No agreements are pending at this time. There are still questions that need to be answered before any plans can be formulated. Once an agreement is reached, there will be at least a 24 month period before closing the Village.
Village residents are sent weekly updates via email and meetings between administrators and residents are ongoing.

- Brion Burns
Associate Dean for Student Life

By Amy Roberts

On Friday, October 19, 2007 an email was sent to residents of the Columbia International University Village presenting the administration’s plan to execute a new housing project that could be implemented within the next year. Some residents of the Village wonder how they will fare financially within the upcoming year and for the duration of their education. The CIU Village is a community of 86 mobile homes located on the eastern side of CIU property and provides housing for the students and employees of the university, divided among renters and owners. The school is planning to build garden style apartments and phase out the trailers.

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By Caleb Wimble

With the upcoming December theatrical debut of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass, his book has begun to receive a much greater deal of attention than it ever garnered upon its initial release. Christians in particular have reacted heavily to the title, although not generally with the same enthusiasm as secular readers. On the contrary, Compass seems to be receiving more scathing criticism from Christian circles than any book since the first entry in the Harry Potter series, and perhaps to an even greater extent than even that contentious Philosopher’s Stone. This time, however, it seems entirely possible that the violent reaction may well be justified – in contrast to the largely magical and child-friendly world of Rowling’s initial masterpiece, the realm crafted by the imagination of Philip Pullman is a dark and bloody one indeed. Criticisms have flown out against the book for dozens of reasons, ranging from mere offense at the level of explicit content in a so-called “children’s” title to the accusation that the book is a treatise against God himself, a veritable compendium of blasphemy to the core.

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‘Out of the Bubble’ is a column that reports recent news items from the Columbia area and around the world, in order to help CIU students remain aware of events off campus.

World
Attack at a Baghdad Market
On November 23, thirteen people were killed and over 50 were wounded when a bomb exploded in a Baghdad pet market. In spite of tight security, the bomber managed to plant explosives in the crowded market; the bomb exploded around 9 a.m., a time when the market is very crowded. The market is visited by families of all sects and is a popular attraction on the Muslim day of prayer. The Ghazil market has been a target for bombers in the past; 15 people were killed last January when a bomb hidden in a box of pigeons exploded.
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By Caleb Wimble

Change – it may well be the only “value” held in common by nearly every major democrat and republican currently vying for candidacy. Whether it’s change in health care, change in the Iraq War, change in civil rights, or change in any number of other major issues, the promise of some kind of major change seems practically a prerequisite for anyone with a desire to be involved in the 2008 race. Of course, at this point it has become fairly common knowledge that the promises of politicians – particularly those with eyes on the oval office – tend to hold a value roughly equivalent to that of an ice cube on Mt. Everest. And odds are that, by now, anyone who’s been keeping up with the 2008 presidential election has grown more than a little overwhelmed by the sheer degree of change promised by these potential candidates, both liberal and conservative alike. We’re not just electing a new president anymore; instead, we’re choosing the person that will revise, revolutionize, revamp, and otherwise revitalize the U.S. government to a nearly unrecognizable degree – a process that a certain candidate has even gone so far as to call another “New Deal” for the American people. The question on probably everyone’s mind right now is simple – will this election really be different from any other? In other words, will any of these promises actually be kept?
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By Courtney Kilgore and Drew Wilson

Courtney Kilgore interviewed new Communications professor, Ken Rife to find out more about his life and ideas.

What interested you in media?
Growing up I lived in a rural area in Virginia where there wasn’t much to do, so I watched TV a lot and learned to draw. As time went on I started realizing that I had a talent in the visual arts. I originally started out in architecture because I didn’t think I was a good enough artist to be an illustrator, but after a year in technical college I thought it wasn’t something I wanted to get into, so I ended up getting into the graphic design side of things. That is how I got my start.
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By Sarah Nixon

Imagine my shock when, only a month before I came to school at CIU freshman year, I had one of my mentors tell me those very words. He had been very influential in my life over the past few years, and his opinion meant the world to me. God had used his teaching to show me the bondage of my legalistic self-righteousness, and I thought highly of his opinion. I was, naturally, very confused. I trusted this godly man, and yet I knew that CIU was where God was placing me for the next chapter of my life. Why would God call me to a school that would feed the very legalism that I am constantly trying to escape?
It was with this mindset that I set off last year to come to CIU, a young, wide-eyed, freshmen, scared that I was going to a school that would lock me up in a legalistic cage and suck all of my passion for Christ away.
What I found was the complete opposite. Despite my mentor’s warning, I found grace in nearly all areas of CIU life, from the expected to the unexpected, warming my heart and causing God to speak into my heart in ways I never could have dreamed.

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