3 MAY 08: CURSE THE GIRLS AND MAKE THEM CRY

(BLOGGER'S NOTE: You may find this item humorous, serious, or a little of both - but we offer these thoughts from time to time, as we keep a seventh-day Sabbath.)

It was a recruiting day at Columbus State University -- but the students being recruited were quite young. Fifth-graders were on campus the other day, being taught the importance of staying in school through college. Those TV commercials with children promoting the HOPE scholarship apparently aren't getting through.

But the recruiting day reportedly had an unhappy ending for some children. I'm told some fifth-graders encountered a loud preacher walking around campus, who scared them with warnings about burning in you-know-where - and I don't mean the sunbaked pavement of South Commons during Fiesta Columbus....

One fifth-grader reportedly became so distressed by the preacher's "campus ministry" that she broke down in tears, and needed a parent to come and calm her down. If this preacher was trying to scare young people to attend the Christian competition at Beacon University, I don't think it worked.

Outgoing Columbus State President Frank Brown has been an advocate for free speech on campus. So church groups can reserve buildings for seminars, as the Seventh-Day Adventists did in February - and even "street preachers" can cry out to anyone who will hear them. Well, as long as they don't drown out the bell at the clock tower....

I don't recall encountering any campus preachers like this during my years in college. But they would have had plenty of competition. One of my college friends became a Unification Church "Moonie." Another followed an Indian guru, and eventually was rescued by family intervention. And the stories about funny clouds in the attic of my residence hall were legendary.

Some people say the only way for ministers to "get through" to college students is to be loud, firm and threatening -- basically declaring them all sinners. This approach might appeal to some teenage students. For instance, the ones who enjoy being reminded of their nagging parents....

But the Bible says "to every thing there is a season" - or as another translation puts the verse, "a time for everything." Is a scary lecture about God's wrath the proper thing to present to fifth-grade children? Especially when they're at a college campus for a completely different reason? It's a bit like warning about beach erosion from global warming in the middle of Nebraska.

Make no mistake - the Biblical book of Romans shows we're all sinners. (Yes, even me.) But to borrow an old phrase, you're probably more likely to attract flies with honey than vinegar. If someone's life is bad, explain how the way of Jesus is much better. It's supposed to be "good news," after all - as opposed to having churches filled with seemingly dissatisfied customers.

E-MAIL UPDATE: The Bible also says Jesus is "the truth." But about the new local radio station claiming that name....

Hi Richard,

I'm looking forward to hearing the music on the new 103.7. What I see as lacking in Columbus is a Christian music mix somewhere in between what's on 89.5/90.5 and 96.1/93.3. My favorite stations are WMSL "the Great 88" in Athens and WMVV "NewLife FM" in Griffin, and they program a lighter sounding Christian format with less emphasis on the Christian rock/pop charts.

By the way, J93.3 has an application with the FCC to move to another tower and increase power, thereby restoring Columbus coverage. The app was submitted back in Oct. 2005, so I don't know if they intend to build the new facility.

Thomas

Even Christian radio stations can reflect the "honey and vinegar" debate over how to preach about Jesus. Consider the fundamentalist stations - which don't always sound very fun, and want your worship to be mental.

I can appreciate both the stations playing traditional hymns, as well as more "contemporary Christian music." A lot depends on the mood I'm in when I'm near the radio. But remember: Jesus said his "burden is light." Our lives tend to be rather heavy - which may explains why some churches offer diet plan seminars.

SCHEDULED SUNDAY: A church's surprising announcement.... and whether there were any surprises from qualifying week....

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