Mar. 23: Christian “Hazing”

Officials at Savannah State University in Georgia allegedly “crossed the line” by revoking official recognition of a campus ministry, Commissioned II Love, on charges of ”harassment” and “hazing”. Last April the ministry’s members were told the group was suspended from campus and denied access to university benefits and facilities. In September a sanction was applied which included the group’s formal expulsion from campus.

On the one hand the institution is a public entity supported in part by government funding and must be sensitive to issues regarding the “separation of church and state.” On the other hand students don’t abandon their First Amendment rights to free speech and their “free exercise” of religion when they matriculate. One of the attorneys said, “The University is essentially saying that Christian groups are okay unless they actually practice Christianity.”

What’s all the fuss about, anyway? For one, some complained that the group had engaged in “harassment” because its member shared their faith with other students. Now I’ve been on the receiving end of some Christians’ evangelism methods, so they may have a point there, but we must be careful of labeling passionate and vocal discourse “harassment” or most courtrooms, classrooms, TV talk shows, legislative bodies, and coffee clutches will soon be shut down for participants’ “harassing” each other.

The other incident, labeled “hazing”, involved the group’s leader washing the feet of their new members (like Jesus did with His disciples) during a worship service. The University is reported to have taken the position that foot washing “is an activity which endangers or is likely to endanger the physical health of a student, regardless of the student’s willingness to participate in such activity.”

You’ve got to be kidding me—letting someone soak their bare feet in a pan of water and then having someone wipe those feet with a cloth is physical endangerment? Who knew? I’m not sure what that says about football or Greco-Roman wrestling. Nurses beware; soon hospitals will be sued for “hazing” their patients when they give them a sponge bath! I wonder what the school officials would think of Christian groups who practice baptism by immersing new believers under water.

Now I’m certain I’ve only heard one side of the story, and even this side has probably been “spun”. I personally have not talked to school officials or members of the campus group in question, but foot-washing being dangerous is just hard to imagine.

It’s sad that some folks seem to be intent on silencing any expression of Christian belief and practice. It’s also sad that some Christians feel that can’t say or do anything without government permission. Jesus said there would be days like this. He also said, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11-12)

~ Father, help me to follow Your Son Jesus’ example and advice to be “gentle as a dove and wise as a serpent” and to follow Him no matter what the cost. Amen.