Maranatha

Adam,

Maranatha's constituency of supporting churches are diverse. It's certainly not unique in that respect.

On the other hand, the college was founded within a very conservative vein of Baptist fundamentalism, both in theology and standards. Therefore, many (not all) of the alumni who are in ministry now, and many of the administration, faculty, and staff (not all) advocate very strict standards of personal separation. Those who don't personally advocate them support the mission of the institution, and therefore submit to the strict rules.

I think I can fairly characterize people at Maranatha (having a number of friends there) as being willing to walk a narrow path because their higher priority is to support the greater goals of the college.

I'm not sure your situation is very different from many at Maranatha. What's most important to you? The best Bible training? If you think Maranatha's the best place, go there, grin and bear the rules, and maybe God will use those rules in a way you don't expect to prepare you for what He has ahead of you.

If your music, lifestyle, etc. is more important, or if there is a school that's almost as good academically that fits your personal standards better, by all means go there.

Your priorities are yours to determine. Only you will be held responsible for them. Only God through his Word and the Spirit can authoritatively tell you what they ought to be.

I'll pray for you in your decisions as the Lord brings you to mind.

 

Siegfried, Is it possible that the school's willingness to take this approach indicates an unhealthy, underlying theology that would be a bad fit for Adam or anyone else who wishes to build their faith on essentials rather than non-essentials?

Joshua

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Rev. Joshua Villines:Yup, goodness forbid that as an adult you be allowed to choose you're own Christian music.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Joshua, as usual, you seem to have missed the point. A student at MBBC can choose to listen to any music he wants to, he just can't listen to it on campus. And, again, the point is, all colleges have rules. If Adam cannot bring himself to follow rules, he will not be able to attend any college at all!

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Dr. Bob Griffin:
Some kids would make GREAT decisions on music at 18; others would listen to Def Leopard 24/7.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

1. Legalist! How dare you tell me I can't listen to them! (I duck immediately as Mac Lynch CD's are chucked at me from all over the Midwest.)
2. You are sooooooooo out of it, Dr. Bob. It's spelled "Def Leppard."
3. I was never quite 24/7. Their music isn't really conducive to sleep.


Joshua,

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR> Is it possible that the school's willingness to take this approach indicates an unhealthy, underlying theology that would be a bad fit for Adam or anyone else who wishes to build their faith on essentials rather than non-essentials? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Fair question. I don't know the answer. If it's yes, then it's not the place to get the best biblical training. That's why I made my statement to Adam conditional--"The best Bible training? If you think Maranatha's the best place . . ." Ultimately, that's his judgment call.

It's also possible that the answer to your question is no, there's another reason for the rules. Since I'm not a Maranatha administrator, I can't speak to that.

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by flyfree432:
Dr. Cassidy, when you, or someone can show me why listening to Christian music is sinful, I will submit to any rules against Christian music<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Adam, before you apply to any college you should work on your reading comprehension skills. Nobody has said the music in question is sinful, it is just against the rules. All of life is guided by rules. When you get behind the wheel of a car you are accosted by rules. Fasten your seat belt. Stop. No left turn. 55 MPH. Those are rules, yet the bible says absolutely nothing about any of them being sin, but, you obey them anyway, as a requirement to be considered an adult and responsible enough to operate a motor vehicle. The rules at MBBC are a test of your maturity. If you are too immature to willingly obey them, then you are too immature to attend MBBC.

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Rev. Joshua Villines:
Siegfried, Is it possible that the school's willingness to take this approach indicates an unhealthy, underlying theology that would be a bad fit for Adam or anyone else who wishes to build their faith on essentials rather than non-essentials?
Joshua<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Mr. Villines: I take great umbrage with your remarks. You, sir, do not know of whom or what you speak. Marantha's founders, the Drs. Cedarholm, Dr. Richard Weeks, and Dr. M. James Hollowood, represent a historic thread of the Northern Baptist movement (the other is the GARBC).
As a student (77-81), I was the college chauffer. More than one evening, Dr. Cedarholm would telephone my dorm and tell me to come over to get the keys to his Matador because there was a preacher arriving in the morning at Milwaukee airport. From this relationship, I can guarantee that these men were not a batch of backwoods knuckle draggers.
Dr. Cedarholm took his BA from the University of Minnesota; his BD (a three year graduate degree) from Eastern Baptist Seminary, Philadelphia; his ThM from Princeton Seminary. Drs. Weeks' and Hollowood's educational credentials are at level.
Further information at the link below.
Robert K. Fall, BA, MBBC(81) http://www.fbfi.org/WebMan/Article.asp?ID=3820&Count=true

[ February 01, 2002: Message edited by: Rob Fall ]

 

Actually Rob, I just asked a question. Since you raised the issue of academic qualifications, I looked at MBBC's faculty.

Here's the link

It makes me wonder how much serious academic work takes place there. The vast majority of those degrees come from unaccredited schools with very poor reputations in the larger academic community.

Joshua

P.S. Adam, I'd also be suspicious of the school's insistence that you attend a local "fundamental baptist" church. It reminds me of the Campbellite belief that they were the only ones who knew the real Jesus. When I was in seminary (at a baptist one, mind you) there was no requirement that I attend a baptist church. We were required, for class assignments, to attend worship in other Christian traditions however.

[ February 02, 2002: Message edited by: Rev. Joshua Villines ]

 

Adam,
I recommended some Colleges here in the south, but have you checked into Cedarville College in Ohio?

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by flyfree432:
Hrm...I guess Jesus was immature then. After all he refused to follow the pharisees rules <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Two points, Adam. One. you are not Jesus, in spite of your constant attempts to compare yourself to Him, and Two, Jesus never slandered anyone by calling people names that do not apply to them. Equating MBBC with the Pharisees is not only slander, but also an indication of your level of emotional maturity. Many older, and much wiser, men have tried to give you the advice you asked for, but you seem to rather turn it into a debate over something you know nothing about. If you refuse to listen to advice, why ask for it?

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Thomas Cassidy:
Two points, Adam. One. you are not Jesus, in spite of your constant attempts to compare yourself to Him, and Two, Jesus never slandered anyone by calling people names that do not apply to them. Equating MBBC with the Pharisees is not only slander, but also an indication of your level of emotional maturity. Many older, and much wiser, men have tried to give you the advice you asked for, but you seem to rather turn it into a debate over something you know nothing about. If you refuse to listen to advice, why ask for it?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

One, shouldn't Adam endavour to follow the example of Jesus? If the paradigm that Jesus established was rejecting legalism in favor of a deeper understanding of the principles underlying the Law (see his answer on the greatest commandment); shouldn't Adam seek to do just that?

Two, recognizing that this particular institution's hang-ups appear to represent a type of Pharisaic Christianity that fundamentalist Christians can be prone to (just as we liberal Christians are prone to the comprimises of the Saducees) is not slander. It is criticism, and a fair question for a prospective student to ask.

Joshua

 

Some amusing bits from their application:

"Do you engage in any worldly amusements such as playing cards, gambling, attending movies, dancing, etc?"

"Do you currently use tobacco, alcohol, drugs?"

Playing cards? Huh?

Joshua

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Actually Rob, I just asked a question. Since you raised the issue of academic qualifications, I looked at MBBC's faculty. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Joshua, do you know any of these men and women? Have you sat under their tutilage? How can you pass judgement on them if the answer is no? That is more Pharisaical than having high standards. In fact, it is rather slimy!



If you don't have something good to say, perhaps it is best not to say anything at all.

 

Adam, as an MBBC grad, I would not be offended if you opted to go somewhere else. That is your choice. I think for the sake of Christian charity, it would be best if you just simply said it wasn't your "cup of tea," and left it at that, rather than arguing with your elders. Instead of making your point, it is backfiring, and you are fast losing your integrity because of it. Respect is honoring another, even when you disagree.

Lovingly,
Joy

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Joy:


Joshua, do you know any of these men and women? Have you sat under their tutilage? How can you pass judgement on them if the answer is no? That is more Pharisaical than having high standards. In fact, it is rather slimy!



If you don't have something good to say, perhaps it is best not to say anything at all. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Joy, I don't need to know them personally to comment on the academic reputations of the schools where they did their graduate work. Any prospective student, employer, accrediting agency, or graduate program is goint to do the exact same thing.

If you will read my post carefully, you'll see that I did not pass judgement on anyone. I simply pointed out that what I had read on their web page (by one of the common standards for evaluating institutions of higher learning) caused me to question the quality of the work there. This is not Pharisaical, this is simply being a discriminating consumer (where the "product" is solid education).

In addition, the debate is not over "high standards," it's over silly standards.

Joshua