Crossing KCU

Discipleship versus Demerits

Well my first year as an RA had turned out pretty well all in all. But again, I need to point out that this was all during the year before I went to Russia. Then everything was put on hold for a semester while I was away, and I picked things back up when I returned.

By the end of that spring semester after I returned from the frozen north, I had begun reaching a point where I no longer felt a call to be working for the school in any capacity. Even though I had spent all that time showing the administration of my college that there was a much better way to get things done, which actually involved being a Christian, still no one seemed to really care. Everyone just ignored me, which I should have been grateful for since I wasn’t getting in trouble, but I just wasn’t satisfied.

The need for real servant leadership on the campus was obvious and urgent. Even though there was a lot of talk about that kind of thing, nothing like that ever seemed to happen. So eventually I decided to resign at the end of the spring semester in 2004, the semester after I returned from Russia. I did this prayerfully, and felt the Lord leading me in that direction, so I went ahead and gave up the title I had received. On my way out I was asked to write a letter by my supervisor in the administration. She wanted to know what I had learned being an RA, and how I had actually performed my duties. Since she had asked me herself for something in writing which explained my desire to resign it provided me with an opportunity to tell her and the other leaders in the administration about everything the Lord had been teaching me in this area.

This is letter I wrote. Some of it you’ll recognize, as I’ve used bits of it in previous chapters.
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When I first came to KCU back in the fall of 1997, I was a Christian in name only. I had been raised in the church and in a loving, Christian family, and I knew a lot about God… but there is a difference between knowing about God, and really knowing God.

I had a really difficult time during that first year of college. I was extremely rebellious, and this caused me to challenge and question everything and everyone around me that I perceived as some form of authority. I entered into destructive relationships with people that only fueled this rebellion, and I began doing things that I had never considered doing previously in my life. By the end of my freshmen year at KCU, I was using hard drugs and drinking and smoking on a regular basis… all things I had never considered before I came to college.

During that time there were only two individuals who modeled Jesus Christ for me. These were the two RAs that I had. One was Ben Hannum, and the other was Jeff Girton. They were the only two authority figures who did not judge me, or shove the rules down my throat. In fact, neither of them ever wrote me a single demerit, though they easily could have done so a number of times. Instead, they talked to me, and took a genuine interest in my life. They never acted like they were above me in any way, but always treated me like I was their brother. I loved them for that, though at the time I was still struggling to understand what being a Christian was even about. At the same time, however, there were many other authorities and students on the campus who I hated. I hated them because the only time they ever talked to me or interacted with me on a personal level, was when they were enforcing rules or judging me for things about me that they did not like or agree with. These were the Christian leaders, people in ministry positions, and instead of showing me who Christ really was, they wrote me demerits and handed out fines and talked to me like I was a piece of trash. If it wasn’t for Ben and Jeff, I would never have seen the love of Christ on the campus of KCU during that first year.

Now, many years have passed, and as I sit here and write this, I am stunned at the things which God has brought about in my life. After my freshmen year I dropped out of KCU for a time. After coming back for a semester, I was kicked out. Then after being out for a year and half, I was allowed to come back again. After being back for a year I was given the opportunity to become an RA myself. I have been through many difficult trials during the last six and a half years, but through all of this, God has molded me, broken me, and shaped me into the man I have become. The most important thing he has taught me is to give everything to him. Being a Christian means setting our whole lives into the hands of Jesus Christ.

I now know why it was that I could see Christ in the actions of Jeff Girton and Ben Hannum. You see, God has every right to just wipe me out of existence for the things I have done to him… for the way I have sinned and disobeyed him. It amazes me that even when I was openly questioning him and challenging him, he still did not reject me, but instead nurtured me into a relationship with him. Ben and Jeff did the same thing in a much smaller way. At any time, they could have written me demerits and enforced any of a dozen rules that I was openly disobeying. They could have made me take down the offensive posters I had hanging in my room, or made me turn down the horrible music I was blaring as loud as I could down the halls. They could have fined me for coming in after curfew smelling like cigarettes, or they could have searched through my room to find drugs and alcohol. They could have done a lot of things which would have cost me some money and maybe eventually cost me a degree at KCU… but instead, they considered the greater cost of me losing my soul. They chose to show me love and acceptance. They chose to model the grace which Christ himself was offering me. Whether they knew this or not is another question, but the positive impact it made on my life is unquestionable.

When I first became an RA a year and a half ago, I remembered these things and considered them. The first thing I did was go to God about everything. During the RA training week, when they were teaching us how to be good RAs, I would go back to my room at night and pray, asking God how he wanted me to be an RA. I was very confused about some things during those first couple of weeks. I knew that I had agreed to do certain things as an RA, but I also knew that God was telling me not to do those things. As an RA, I was given the task to enforce the rules and regulations of KCU, and also to model Christ. But I was confused when I realized that I could not do both at the same time. I prayed about it, and God convicted me that it was more important to obey him and model Jesus, than to do the ‘technical’ aspects of my job. I knew that I could get fired at any time during that year for not doing my job, and refusing to enforce any of the rules, but I never did. God honored my commitment to him.

Admittedly, during my first year as an RA, I was sort of flying blind in a lot of areas. What I mean is, I knew I was doing what God told me to do, but I didn’t really understand all of the reasons why he was telling me to do it like this. I’m glad that no one ever questioned me, because I’m not sure I could have given them an answer. However, this whole situation ended up doing a lot for me as a Christian. In the last year and a half I have allowed God to teach me and help me understand things.

The central issue here is the role of the law and the enforcement of rules in the life of a Christian. There are many scriptures which deal with this…

“You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.” Galatians 5:13-15

“’These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.’ You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.” Isaiah 29:13, Mark 7:6-8

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

“I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Have you suffered so much for nothing–if it really was for nothing? Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?” Galatians 3:2-5

“So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.” Galatians 3:24-25

“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” James 2:12-13

“We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers–and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God…” 1 Timothy 1:9-11

These passages all touch on an idea that is most clearly expressed in the actions of Christ. Time after time, in the gospel accounts, we see Jesus reaching out to those who were despised and rejected by the religious leaders and experts in the law. Whether it was the prostitute, or the tax collector, or the demon possessed… all condemned by the law… we see in Jesus, total acceptance and love for them. He looked past the fractured world of their sinful behavior and saw the potential in each of them to become people of the light.

So then… I am left with many questions in regards to the functions of rules and regulations in any Christian community. While we are indeed commanded to submit to the secular authorities and to honor the laws of the lands in which we live (so long as our obedience goes first to the Lord), we are also commanded to set aside the pattern of this world and the methods of its authorities, and be transformed. Why then, have we adopted into Christian communities, the same patterns of authority and law that exist in secular society? We have taken on this pattern in order to uphold laws which do not exist in the societies in which we live, nor in the Word of God. We are, in effect, adding to the law by creating more laws. The Pharisees and other religious leaders in Jesus’ day engaged in the same type of behavior. While they sought to uphold the law of Moses, they also added to it some 300 other laws. Why then, as followers of Christ, in whom the law itself is perfectly fulfilled, are we doing the same? I realize that this is being done in order to encourage the Christians in these communities to live holy lives, but the truth is, only a relationship with Jesus Christ can accomplish this. A relationship with the Lord is the theme of the entire bible.

When we, as Christians, begin to form rules for holy living, and impressing them upon other Christians, we are in fact attempting to set aside the covenant relationship with God and replace it with a system of law much like the people of Israel had in the Old Testament period. We are trying to make people into followers of God, rather than letting God do it. As the passage in Colossians 2:20-23 reveals: Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.” And herein lies the ultimate fallacy in any system of rules… we, as humans, are sinful people… and we always will be, though we are saved from our sinfulness by the blood of Jesus Christ. Even following rules will not change that fact.

As a student at Kentucky Christian University, and a member of the Christian community which exists here, I cannot understand why the same pattern or rule of law exists in a place like this. While there is definite and concrete biblical evidence to support the policies of the school that reflect and honor the laws already existing in secular society, what is the scriptural justification for imposing and enforcing any other rules? And why, in enforcing the adherence to these rules, do we use the methods of secular society… fines, penalties, and even exile from the community? By adhering to methods of the world in order to enforce rules, we are acknowledging that this very system of rules is from the world to begin with. For example, as an RA I am charged with the task of assigning a 25 demerit penalty (equaling a $10 fine) if I observe a fellow student coming into the dorm after the designated time for curfew. So, when my brother in Christ is hungry, and goes to get some food across the street, and arrives back in the dorm at any time past curfew, I am supposed to tell other brothers and sisters in Christ so that they can take $10 of the money which God gave to him? And even further, if he engages in this behavior three times he will accumulate 75 demerits and be exiled from the community. Where is Christ in that equation? The greater question is… how can I model Christ by enforcing such a rule? If I do enforce this rule, then I have let go of the commands of God and am holding to the traditions of men.

When I speak of exile from the community of believers at KCU, I speak from personal experience. In the spring of 2000 I was expelled from the college for reasons which were non-criminal, and judged by the police to be nothing more than a “practical joke.” However, my behavior was a violation of the rules. This turned out to be a very good event in my life that served as a turning point for me spiritually. The reason for this was a result of the time it allowed me to spend away from KCU. Out in the ‘real world’ away from the rules and regulations of KCU, I was allowed to grow and experience God in my life in a way that I could not under the system in place at KCU. I had no one looking over my shoulder, no one enforcing rules for holy living, no one making sure I was at home by a certain time each night, no one making sure my hair was of proper length, no one making sure I dressed in a modest fashion, no one forcing me to attend church services, and no one in my church making sure I wasn’t wearing jeans when I walked through the doors each Sunday morning. Yet, in spite of all this lack of rules and regulations, I grew spiritually enough for KCU to allow me to return and, after a year, was given the position as an RA. My growth was a result of taking my relationship with God seriously, and asking for his help to change.

I very much enjoy most of the aspects involved in having the job of an RA. As a result, I have been given the opportunity to share my faith with other students, to pray with other students, and to offer them God’s advice on any number of issues, whether they involve relationship matters, academic issues, spiritual problems, or emotional hurts. But my greatest reward has been the opportunities to just sit down and talk and share and listen to my brothers and my sisters because of the very fact that they are my brothers and sisters. Getting paid for these things has been a blessing from God… but it is not a requirement for doing these things. What I do know for certain, is that had I adopted from the beginning the things I was told to do as an RA in the areas of rule enforcement, I would have never had half of the opportunities to do the other things which really matter, like getting involved in a person’s life and showing them in action what it means to be a follower of Christ.

“You call me `Teacher’ and `Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” John 13:13-17.

Washing the feet of my brother; serving my brother requires so much more time and energy than simply handing him a piece of paper. What power does a demerit slip really have? Will handing someone a demerit slip really show that person that I care for them, love them, and am willing to serve them? No! It will show them the truth… that I don’t care for them, I don’t love them, and I am not willing to serve them. Rather I am making myself into a ‘lord’ over them… a very worldly, evil idea that goes completely contrary to the way of Christ.

The frustration I have been experiencing lately comes from a deep sorrow that is in my heart everyday. I wake up in the morning, into a community of my brothers and sisters, and I ask myself, ‘what are we doing?’ I go to chapel, and to class, and to meetings, and I hear phrases like servant leadership, and discipleship, but I do not see anyone really practicing these things… and why would they? This very place does not practice them in the example it portrays for its students. I go to bed every night wondering if this will ever change… will the leaders of Kentucky Christian College practice true servant leadership, and engage the students in true, experiential discipleship training… or will they just talk about it, and go on bowing down to the methods of this fallen world, and teaching its students to do the same? Servant leadership literally means that a leader gives up the authority that he has, as if he had none at all. It is the example that God gave us by becoming a man, letting go of his authority as the supreme creator, and allowing men to kill him. Discipleship means showing another person, by example, how to do this in their own life by just following Christ every day. Without these two things being present in the life of a Christian, they will never be a minister of any kind… but instead they will be filled with pride and full of knowledge in the things of God, without ever really knowing him as Lord. But when they are present, in any Christian, not just those in leadership positions, then the true authority that comes from God will emanate from them like light in a dark place, and those who seek God will be drawn to that light.

And in this lies the challenge for the leaders of Kentucky Christian University. It is the challenge which God confronted me with two years ago when I was given the small amount of authority that comes with being an RA. I could either hold that authority over the students who were ‘under’ me, or I could lay that authority down and show them what real authority is. And that is what I have done. I have been faithful to God, and God has blessed my life and given me even more authority. But I am nothing, and I will eventually graduate and leave this place behind. But if the leaders at KCU do not listen to God, and do not change, and begin to exemplify the life of a true Christian under God’s authority… then God will raise up others… from the very ashes he will raise up true servants. My very presence at this college, and the things that God has done in my life, are a testimony of this fact.

As for me, I believe that God has used the time that I was an RA to accomplish some specific things, and to teach me about how to handle any kind of leadership position that I am in from now on. Under the current situation, in regards to this position of RA, I can no longer be silent about the difference and contrast that exists in serving God or serving KCU… these are two different things that are being spoken of as the same thing. I want to be very clear about something… I have no problem with following the rules of KCU, though I have sometimes failed at this. I learned many years ago that physical rebellion is almost always a fruitless and sinful endeavor… my own conduct at KCU in the past is an example. But there is a serious problem in attempting to force our brothers and sisters to follow these rules, especially those rules that have nothing to do with what it really means to be a Christian. In doing so, we are making the rules into a god. I will have nothing to do with that, even as I have had nothing to do with it thus far. Moreover, I will teach these things to others, and I will share this truth with them as the Lord directs and allows me the blessing to do so… even as I have already been doing these last two years.

The only duty of a Christian is to follow Christ and obey him in every area of life. The time will come when you must ask yourself, whether you will serve men, or God. These two things are very different. Who will you serve?

“No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other…” Luke 16:13

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The funny thing is all of my supervisors in the administration had praised my work as an RA prior to me handing them this letter. They had even expressed to me that they wished me to continue because my section had the least discipline problems and highest GPA of any group on campus. But when they read my letter about how I had actually done the job, it shamed them, and they all became really upset with me. I even had to have a meeting with them and the campus minister, because they were so upset over the fact that I had pretty much disregarded everything they had ever said to me about how to be an efficient RA and campus leader. Well, the thing is, I didn’t disregard everything they had said… after all, they were the ones that had first suggested our commitment to Christ must be the underlying foundation of everything we did as RA’s.

I bring all this up now, because I think it illustrates a growing trend, not just in Christian universities and colleges, but also within our churches, to move away from the example that Christ gave us, and to seek after methods of leadership that are products of the world and the society around us.

Take John Maxwell for instance. I don’t know the man personally, and he’s probably a nice guy, but he has also become one of the most sought after writers and speakers on the subject of leadership within evangelical circles and churches throughout the United States. The only problem with him selling so much advice on the subject of leadership to Christians, and more specifically to ministers and such, is that none, (and I repeat emphatically, none) of the leadership models he teaches rely on the true example of Jesus Christ. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership which is his most famous and bestselling book to date and the core of his leadership model, never even mentions Jesus Christ one time. The truth is, nearly every “law” that is mentioned by Maxwell is completely antagonistic to the example and teachings of Christ, and can be more closely related to leadership methods based on witchcraft, which essentially is the art of learning how to control, influence, and manipulate other people. How many ministers out there are attempting to employ these methods in their congregations? I don’t know exactly, but I know that when I was still in college, the preaching professor used Maxwell’s books as teaching materials for his students, and even took his classes to conventions to listen to him speak. No one seemed to care about this at all, and in fact, it was viewed as a good thing, and probably still is.

This tendency for God’s people to move away from his teachings and adopt the methods of men is nothing new. Again, I have to quote Jeremiah: “A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land: The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?” –Jeremiah 5:30-31

It’s a seductive myth to be handed a little bit of authority and along with it be taught that you have a responsibility to exercise control over other people. I wish there had been some way for me to show those leaders at the college how they had damaged the kids they had sold this lie to. I wish there was a way for them to see how a kid would change after they handed him just that tiniest bit of power; how it would corrupt his character and infuse him with pride. I wish they could see how it would rot good kids from the inside out and turn them into little Gollums.
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Another thing that happened at the end of my time as an RA, involved a policy of the school known as “Christian Service.” Basically, this policy stated that by the time a student graduated they had to document in writing the fact that they had performed a specific number of hours serving in some capacity. There were actually specific forms that had to be filled out for this and signed by the person who you were “serving.” Of course there are many problems with this. During that spring when I was resigning, I was forced to deal with the issue of Christian Service directly. A guy named Ralph Hance who lived in my section of the dorm came to me one night really upset. He had turned in his Christian Service form which stated that he had helped out a local tobacco farmer. Ray Jester, the campus minister who was in charge of the Christian Service policy, rejected Ralph’s form, and sent him a letter stating that helping a farmer with his tobacco crop was against Christ, because smoking kills people, and so it was unacceptable as Christian Service. That night, on behalf of Ralph, I wrote the following reply letter to Ray Jester:
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Ray,

I am writing this letter to you for a couple of reasons. The first reason is because I am Ralph Hance’s R.A., and he approached me on Wednesday evening because he was upset about a letter you returned to him with his Christian Service forms. The second is, because I myself read this letter and was also a bit grieved by it. So, this letter is simply a written response to the content of your letter, and (I hope) an opportunity to generate some healthy, and much needed discourse on this whole subject.

The first thing I would like to address is in regards to your position that stripping tobacco is not Christian service. If you really think about it, you do not have the authority to make this judgment. Actually, none of us do. As Ralph’s brothers in Christ, who are we to tell him that service (of any kind) is not worthy of Christ’s name? True Christian service is service to Christ… is it not? Only our Lord has the authority to judge what is offered to him as service. If we take that authority into our hands, we are stepping in between the relationship that exists between a servant and his master; though we ourselves are only servants as well. Moreover, if we continue in this kind of judgment we are infringing on Ralph’s relationship with God. If we were talking about an issue of sin, perhaps it would be different, but we are not. Think about it another way, using an analogy from marriage. What if, in an act of service, you decided to buy something nice for your wife, or to take her out for a nice dinner? If that were the case, then I could apply to you, the same kind of judgment which you have applied to Ralph. I could state the fact that you paid for your gift with money that you earned from your position as the campus minister of KCU. Then I could state that your salary is paid for by the tuition payments of students who attend the university. Then I could tell you that there is a certain student, who pays for his tuition with the money his parents make from growing and stripping tobacco. Therefore, the conclusion would be (according to your logic) that whatever gift you bought for your wife was inappropriate, since it was paid for with some money that ultimately came from tobacco sales. I’m sure you would agree that this whole scenario is utterly ridiculous. But the real point is, what right do I have to tell you what you can or cannot do for your wife?

This brings up another point about tobacco in general. I agree with you; using tobacco is extremely unhealthy. I used to smoke, and as a result, I learned first hand just how bad it is. It does degrade a person’s quality of life. But again, in your letter to Ralph, you are making a judgment that you have no right to make. You are basically condemning everyone who produces or uses tobacco because of its physical effects on the human body. I find this response to be extremely self-righteous. And though I am sure it was not your intent, it was this kind of judgment which cut Ralph the most, because in making it, you have condemned his own family. But more than that, you are passing judgment on a matter that is disputable and assuming authority which you do not possess.

Both of these points are best summed up in scripture:

“Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man’s faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand” (Romans 14:1-4).

Now on to the next point… You have raised the question as to why KCU should consider this Christian service, since Ralph expressed the idea that it wasn’t really Christian service anyway… The point that Ralph is attempting to make here, is a position which is shared by many students at this school, myself included. Simply put, real and true Christian service is not the same thing that KCU calls Christian Service. What KCU refers to as “Christian Service,” is actually, “KCU Service.” A true biblical understanding of what real Christian service is will reveal this. While the following passages do not completely define the term, they do offer some helpful insight.

“Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: `Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only’” (Matthew 4:10).

“But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code” (Romans 7:6).

“Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free” (Ephesians 6:7-8).

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ” (1Peter 4:8-11).

“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers–not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve;” (1 Peter 5:2).

As I understand Christian service, or service to Christ… it’s simply obeying God. As Christians, the whole duty of our life should be to serve him. But to take something as essential as service, and turn it into an institutionalized form is nothing more than an attempt to gain control of something that is completely within God’s hands. Basically, KCU is attempting to take the place of God by telling students how they can and cannot serve God. Not only that, but this results in a type of false teaching. First, KCU is teaching students that Christian Service is something we do only at certain times, or when it is convenient. Second, KCU is teaching students that Christian service is something we do in order to have other people approve of us, or to gain recognition. Third, the very fact that KCU’s brand of “Christian Service,” is compulsory, prevents it from being real service, and makes it into a job. I think, on some level, the intention of KCU must be to foster the willingness to serve by making people do “Christian Service.” But once again, this is something that only God can do. The willingness to serve is born out of the heart, and is driven by nothing else but love.

Christ did not compel the disciples to serve him by making them do so. He compelled them to serve him because he served them first. He became an example of service for them, and his example produced love in their hearts… enough love that they were willing to give their lives in service to him.

If KCU desires to produce students who possess a true willingness to serve, then it must begin by becoming an example. I have been in and out of this place for nearly seven years now, and I have not seen this example from the institution as a whole. Instead I have seen the exact opposite.

The most recent example of this has to do with Malachi McDaniel. Malachi is handicapped as you know, and he is also a good friend of mine. Because I live on the first floor, and because I’ve been an R.A for a couple of years now, Malachi has relied on me to help him in the bathroom from time to time. For the past two years, there has been a problem in the first floor bathroom. It’s basically a drainage problem which causes water to collect in certain spots on the floor. One of those spots is in the place where Malachi pivots from his wheelchair, to the only toilet he can use in the entire dorm. Because it is always wet, he struggles everyday to keep himself from falling on the floor every time he has to use the toilet. Many times, he has not succeeded in keeping himself from falling. Many times I have walked in the bathroom and found him lying on that dirty floor. I have seen him bang his head on the toilet seat, and I have seen him nearly break his legs when this happens. Just try and imagine how humiliating it must be for him to have to lie on that floor and urinate on himself because he has fallen. For two years I (and many others) have called attention to this issue, and for two years nothing has been done to solve the problem. Things have been done to try and fix it temporarily, but nothing has worked. It’s obvious that the real problem is structural and will require some major work to fix. My question is simple? Where is KCU’s example of Christian service when there is clearly a need here? How does KCU expect to generate a willingness to serve within the hearts of its students, when it gives no example. This particular situation with Malachi is just one example of KCU’s lack of service to its students. Of course, we all know, and it is becoming more apparent to more and more people that money is the bottom line. Why doesn’t KCU serve Malachi? Because it will cost too much money to fix the problem.

And that is the real issue here isn’t it? KCU’s real master is not Christ… but money. It’s the reason why tuition goes up every year. It’s the reason we fine students for getting too many demerits. It’s the reason we fail class if we miss too many times, so we will have to spend more money to take the class over again. It’s the reason we have mandatory chapel to impress churches with our holiness so they will donate more money. It’s the reason we charge students for meals that they don’t end up using. It’s the reason why a C- is a failing grade. It’s the reason why KCU will accept the tuition payments from Ralph’s tobacco farming parents even though they seem to have a fundamental problem with tobacco.

So… to conclude this whole discourse… I just want to express my confusion at the things that I am seeing here at this college. And when I read a letter like the one you gave to Ralph, it just adds to my confusion. I don’t know you well on a personal level, but I have always respected you. I think God put you in the position you are in as campus minister. But I also think that you are working under some individuals who do not have in mind the things of God.

I’m not asking you to change your mind about Ralph’s Christian Service stuff. What I am asking, is that you would go to God about all of this in prayer. These issues are bigger than this situation with Ralph. There are some intense spiritual battles being fought on this campus. There are some serious issues that need to be dealt with that go right to the heart of this place. KCU is the kind of place that can and is affecting thousands and thousands of people…. either for good, or for evil. If we keep on biting and devouring each other, we will destroy each other. (Galatians 5:15)

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These two letters that I’ve shared here in this chapter earned me a special audience with the administration the day before that semester ended. They just couldn’t resist chewing me out over it, so I was called into a meeting with the head Dean of the school, the RA supervisor, and Ray the campus minister. I had some time to pray before the meeting, and it really helped get me through the personal attacks they leveled against me during the 20 minutes I spent with them. I had already said everything I wanted to say in the letters, so I just sat there silently, letting them argue with what I had already said, and nodding my head from time to time. They were too concerned with their own positions of authority to really listen to what I had said. That was alright. I trusted that God would speak to them some other way.

“The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight.” –Luke 16:14-15