Bryan College Triangle

Bryan Family,

Over the course of the last few days, several things have happened in SGA that I think deserve clarification and that we would love your feedback on moving forward. I proposed earlier this week that SGA as an entity be dissolved for the period of one year. Events would still be sponsored and planned under a specific Events Council whose positions are still voted on by the student body at-large and the respective classes. One of the main reasons for the proposed change would be to reevaluate the functions of SGA and how it could best fit with the direction of Bryan College as a whole, to clearly see the essentials that the organization provides. I remain firm in the belief that this proposal would be best for SGA and student leaders on campus, but there are many people whom I respect inside SGA and out of it that disagree with me. I believe in this change, others do not, and disagreement is not a bad thing.

The Corporate Body of SGA will have the final vote on this proposal Tuesday, Feb. 7, at the first Corporate Meeting of the semester. I understand that I have simply given an overview and not many specifics on my line of reasoning, so I encourage anyone with an opinion on this issue to please contact your representative or friends in SGA to ask questions and give thoughts.

Thank you all,

Vincent Smith

Your Student Body President

Dear Editor (and Ms. Wallach),

I read your letter to the editor this past week, and while there were several things that I agree with, the main point has been bothering me all week. I have to say, I disagree. You said, “I do believe that having attraction to the same sex is wrong and is an act that requires repentance.”

Same-sex attraction is not a sin. Same-sex attraction is not an act. Same-sex attraction is a temptation, and a temptation that a lot of research suggests will be with you your entire life. Attraction is also not the same as lust.

I believe that even you would agree with this. If attraction is lust, than attraction to anyone of the opposite sex is also sin, unless they’re your spouse (so good luck courting).

Instead the main Greek word used for lust, also often translated covet, can also be used for good desires (Hebrews 6:11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end). It is a desire or longing for a thing. But that desire is wrong, when it reduces someone to an object to crave.

Attraction, on the other hand, notices that the person your looking at looks good. I think that Emma Watson is attractive, and several of my friends. But that is not the same as lusting after any of them. Can attraction be a temptation? Certainly. Is it sin? No.

In the same way that I can be tempted to gorge myself on a feast, to hurt someone who’s wronged me, or to pridefully ridicule an opinion I disagree with, I can be tempted to lust after those I find attractive. It is not sin to feel temptation. Jesus felt temptation too. But being tempted isn’t wrong.

To single out a single temptation as being itself sin, requiring of repentance drives away those who desperately need our help. Instead it is typical for them to find the church’s doors closed. God spent time with sinners. He loved them so much it killed him. Though he tells them to “sin no more,” he also offers them forgiveness for their failings, and restoration.

So yes, “everyone struggles with something.” Your sins are no more or less acceptable to God than any other. Maybe we as the Church need to remember that we are just as flawed as those we so often seek to condemn.

- Junior Sean Bunger

Dear Editor,

Concerning your recent article about the piano situation on campus, I feel that there was some crucial information left out that would change the course of this discussion.

I was disappointed with the fact that the article did not give what I believe is the most important reason why not every student is allowed access to the pianos in Rudd. All music majors and minors who are taking lessons from music faculty have to pay a $125-250 music lab fee that goes to the music department for the upkeep of the current pianos. We pay the music department for the “privilege” to use the pianos.

The music department is not trying to deprive the rest of the student body of the opportunity to practice. Every student has the ability to take music lessons and pay the lab fee to use the pianos if they desire. It’s only fair that students who wish to practice on the Rudd pianos be asked to pay the same fee that music students do.

The caption under my picture that was placed with the article was misinforming. The reason I am allowed to play the pianos in Rudd is because I am a music minor taking lessons, and I pay the music lab fee. I mentioned to the Triangle staffer who took my picture that he had to hurry because I was supposed to be teaching a lesson in about a minute. I believe I also said something to the order of, “The only time I’m allowed to be in here (talking about the practice room with the grand piano) is when I teach my music lesson.” I never said anything about that having to do with my ability to practice on the Rudd pianos in general. However, I do understand how that may have gotten misinterpreted.

I agree with the article in the fact that this is an issue worth talking about, and it would be nice if SGA could have a piano on campus that other students may use. At the same time, let’s remember that having a piano to practice on is not a right, it’s a privilege.

- Junior Kelly Findley

Dear Editor,

Graciously re-stocking pool sticks and cleaning egg off the side of buildings isn’t exactly normal. Yet, someone at Bryan College is willingly doing it. After reading the well-written article about vandalism in the Triangle, I first thought, “Vandalism at Bryan—who would do such a thing?” and then I thought, “Forgiveness at Bryan—who would do such a thing?”

Reading about Mr. Doug Schott and the way he’s patiently cleaned up after the vandalism made me realize how truly grateful I am for what we have on this little hill. It’s easy to point out the cons or the negative aspects of our college. The truth is, we have something here at Bryan that students at other Christian colleges don’t have. Some say it’s community. Others say it’s passion. However, the attractive “thing” we find at Bryan College goes deeper than simply a character trait or emotion. It’s a lifestyle, and it’s a lifestyle modeled after Jesus Himself. Mr. Doug Schott is a living, breathing example of Jesus to us. He not only cleans up after the vandals, he seeks a solution with them and even prays for them! That’s a crazy kind of forgiveness and love, and—just think—we get to witness that every day here at Bryan! How humbling it is to know that I am being blessed daily by someone who’s replicating their life after Christ’s. This lifestyle is what sets us apart, and we should try to appreciate it better.

Some may never understand or copy Mr. Schott’s lifestyle, which is modeled after Jesus. Regardless, we should still recognize what it looks like and give thanks daily for its presence in our lives. I am reminded of Paul’s words in Romans 12:

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. [...] Live in harmony with one another. [...] Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ To the contrary, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

I hope the vandalism ends, but if it doesn’t, may Mr. Doug Schott continue to “bless those who persecute him” by praying for the vandals, and may he continue to “contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality” by re-stocking those pool sticks. Let’s learn from his example and follow his lead. In doing so, we imitate Christ as well.

- Freshman Rebekah Weaver

Editor’s Note: This letter is in response to the article “Same sex attraction and the church” and The Couch event held on campus about homosexuality.

Dear Editor,

I recently attended the couch event on homosexuality and read Love Is An Orientation by Andrew Marin. Needless to say, this issue has been on my mind a lot lately.

During my socially developmental high school years, I befriended some amazing people who are directly influenced by this issue, yet shamefully antagonized by some church groups. They are fellow locals who have the potential to benefit from Bryan’s Rhea County Scholarship, so I unashamedly invited them to look into Bryan as a potential college.

I was able to help remove their fears of being unfairly stereotyped if their secret somehow got out, but they ended up at a different college for other reasons. Their presence here would have blended the better aspects of my mediocre high school experience with the new vitality I found at Bryan, and I believe that their sexuality should not rob them of their chances at a Christian college, although many see the two sides of this debate as a theological and cultural war-zone.

The aforementioned mediocrity and loneliness of portions of my high school experience caused me to reach out to anyone from any walk of life as long as they would just listen to my story and simply be my friend. Some Christians may call this “letting my guard down,” but it was essentially how I operated and I do not regret it.

Being a member of many diverse high school clicks, I conciously chose to not belittle anyone for their personal preferences. Not to glorify myself and my personal choices, but I believe that this refusal to belittle is an essential part of the Christian walk. Tearing down stereotypes should be the first step in building bridges between the church and the LGBT community. Andrew Marin believes this, and I strongly suggest his book to anyone that aims to reach out to people in the LGBT community.

- Sophomore Logan Davis