Tony Campolo’s intepretation challenged

The major problem with Tony Campolo’s interpretation is that he takes the verses out of context. The verses he chose are a part of a larger passage in Scripture that is a prophecy that gets repeated throughout human history, which is Romans 1:18-32. If we were to carefully look at the passages, we can see how they correlate to our present society. The first step is the replacing of God with something that is not God, be it images of animals, birds, reptiles or even man himself (vv. 21-23).

Because this happened, Paul goes on to say that God has given them over in the “sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another” (v. 24). One need not look far into our society for evidence of this.

The next step outlined is that God “gave them over to shameful lusts” (v 26). This is the portion about homosexuality. Mr. Campolo cites these verses as saying that the act of homosexuality is the sin, but not the status of being homosexual.

However, in the context of the surrounding verses, this is not correct. Homosexuality and the acceptance thereof is on the oath away from God, away from his truth. It starts with idolatry, or placing any other priority in this world above that of God.

Now, we are all sinners before God without Christ (Psalms 14:1-3, Romans 3:10). Every single Christian deals with lingering sin in his or her life and will continue to struggle until the day of death or Christ’s second coming, whichever is first.

One of our callings as brothers and sisters in Christ is to correct each other in the church in Christian love. It is a sorry thing that most of us do not do this but instead react in hostility and hatred toward our fellow Christians. Granted, this is a very sensitive subject, but we have the responsibility of doing the right thing in God’s eyes, not in the eyes of men.

- James A. Pyrich, ‘01

Debit cards will be available for Fish House

Next Tuesday and Wednesday (Nov. 2 and 3) are the days the coffee-drinkers among us have been waiting for. Contrary to the article in last week's Chimes, there WILL be debit cards available for the Fish House. Stop by the table in Johnny's between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. on either Tuesday or Wednesday or come to the Fish House on Wednesday evening between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. to set up your debit card.

There will be two types of debit cards available, one for KE students who have a debit plan at Johnny's and one for any student or staff member who wishes to put money onto their own ID for use at the Fish House or Calvin Bookstore. Sales of KE debit cards will be limited to these two days and other periodic opportunities in order to better manage this special offer. Sales of the other type of debit card will continue in the Bookstore indefinitely.

So, come visit the tables set up in Johnny's next Tuesday and Wednesday or in the Fish House Wednesday night, and you too can more conveniently enjoy the benefits of the caffeinated lifestyle.

- Lindsey Boumgarden, '01; Jon Tony, '00

Advisor of Fish House responds

As the advisor to the Fish House coffee house, I'd like to respond to last weeks article on debit card sales. First, there WILL be KE debit card sales (see letter from Lindsey and Jon) again this year. However, sales will be limited to certain "windows of opportunity.” This will help us keep the transfer of funds between Johnny's and the Fish House organized, as well as limit the losses the Fish House incurs on these sales.

The fact that Johnny's receives part of the profit on KE Fish House debit sales is a justified reality, and we're grateful they are willing to help make this work for the benefit of KE residents and to the detriment of their own budget at times. The loss in profit for the Fish House is balanced by the increased traffic it receives through this and other promotions.

Second, for the record, KE residents have the lowest debit amount that Calvin has ever offered as part of the KE meal plan.

The budget pressures of operating 2 dining halls and Johnny's are real, and yet the reductions they've been able to make over the last several years are drastic. Not too long ago, KE residents were required to have at least a 7 meal plan with no debit options. Since moving to an all-debit system 5 years ago, the debit amount has dropped by more than half. Students who wisely use Johnny's, a meal or two in the Commons, or sack lunches have no problem using all of their $400 per semester. And for any student who is struggling to find ways to use the debit money due to schedules or dietary needs, Craig Farrell of Calvin's food service (x6688) has always been willing to make special arrangements for groceries and other specialty items.

- John Witte, '91 Assistant Dean of Residence Life

In response to last week’s letters

This letter is written as a follow-up to the three articles in last week’s Chimes, regarding the behavior of Calvin students residing off-campus. Simply put, the college cares about the lives of students, not only on-campus, but off-campus as well. Why?

First, we care about the welfare of students. We want to dissolve the myth that the college has no interest in students once they leave campus. We want students to be consistent, whole persons – persons of integrity. It is our educational task to challenge and support students to purposefully connect belief and behavior. It is not sufficient to “think well”, particularly if that thinking is disconnected from “living.” It is our longing that students would both “take on the mind of Christ (Phil. 4) as well as “walk in the same manner in which He walked” (I John 2). We care for students and take it as our serious calling to urge them on to right thinking and living.

Second, we care about our “neighbors” in this host community. When a neighbor raises concern about the behavior of Calvin College students, we listen. Why? Because every member of the Calvin College community represents the college. Calvin is identified with Christ and His Lordship. By extension, therefore, all of us associated with Calvin, in a very real sense, represent Christ.

The issue is one of direct association with who we are as an institution of higher learning – an institution committed to serving Jesus Christ. We are deeply concerned that, as a learning community, we earnestly seek to be a reflection of the God we serve to those around us. We are ambassadors for Christ and His kingdom. Perhaps the simplest way to express our educational vision is to say that we desire for all members of the Calvin College community to “love God with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength, and love their neighbor.” Quoting from “An Expanded Statement of the Mission of Calvin College: Vision, Purpose, Commitment” (pp. 34, 36), our “purpose is to shape hearts and minds through higher learning for Christian living.” And, moreover, “We aim to be conformed more and more to the likeness of God incarnate, willing to receive the mind and heart of Jesus. We also aim to be agents of reclamation, reconciliation, and renewal.”

How can we do this? How can we be agents of redemption? Very simply. By calling one another to the rich and joyful responsibilities and opportunities to live and serve in community – a community longing to be both tied to God and tied to each other.

- Bob Crow, Dean of Student Development