Nathanael Berends March 28th, 2004
I Sent This To Every Person In The GRCH Staff Directory. If You Hear Anything About It, Please Keep My Identity On The DL… I Realize It May Create Quite A Stir.
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An Open Letter to a Closed School:
As a student of Grand Rapids Christian High, I am automatically a part of something. I am representative of a certain group of people. I am representative of the Christian community. As if there was no chance to consider ones spirituality, I am automatically assumed a Christian. It seems that the teachers spend too much time discussing how to use our faith, without even considering the fact that there may be students in their classrooms that are still developing said faith, or perhaps may even be claiming an alternative religion. I suppose that some people – teachers included – would consider the weekly chapels an active attempt to foster a Christian faith. I would agree – keeping in mind the phrasing I used in the last sentence - …an attempt…
It has become apparent in the past few months that GRCHS chapels are too cookie cutter, in both their structure, and content. They start with a few songs, showcase a testimonial, then a message, prayer, and more songs. The message seems pretty consistent: There are ups and downs (chronicled each week by someone’s personal tale of triumph over sin), but in the end it gets better, and the essential message is conveyed - always remember… “Jesus Loves Me, This I Know.”
Everyone knows Jesus loves them, and everyone knows that God will forgive them if they humbly ask it of him. What we need is someone who will give their struggles, rather than regurgitating a testimony that “Sounds Good”. Our school has plenty of people who are at total peace with their relationship to God, and his place in their life. Conversely, there are as many – if not more – people who are in a constant struggle with faith – sometimes not even with regard to the Christian faith itself.
On Friday, March 26, 2004, Rev. Lew Vandermeer stood before the 1200-large student body of Grand Rapids Christian High School. As part of his speech, he made remarks about the Christian faith, and the personal spiritual journeys of the students.
I’d imagine that the remarks in question were an idle attempt at humor – they certainly were in no way humorous.
Early in his discussion he recognized that there might be students at Christian High who are not Christians – this was a step in the right direction, making an assertion that few others had ever dared to make from the CAW stage. Where he went from there can be described only as “downhill”:
“Love God… I Tell You This, So That If You Get Hit By A Truck Today [Implied: And Are Damned To Hell Because You Had Questions About Faith], You Can’t Say I Didn’t Warn You.”
Seriously… was this a joke?
It accomplished absolutely nothing, except uphold the precedent that CLRW has created of further dividing the already separated factions at GRCHS.
Separated factions?
It seems that more than half of our school wouldn’t consider themselves to have a strong spiritual life. This may be a shock… but it is the truth.
Many fellow students have offered insight -
… i completely agree with you, when i heard the “not everyone here is a christian thing” i finally thought all that had been talked about with the few of us was going to be brought up and somewhat addressed. but instead it almost seems like it turned into some joke in his speech. i know several people i talked to afterwards felt the same way, sort of had this feeling of “what on earth was that about”
i just dont know.
its ironic that we make such a big deal about christian life renewal week, while we leave the people who arnt christians in the dust. not that CLRW should be ALL about helping out non christians, but you’d think that they could at least address it. maybe itd be to big a deal though for them to actually admit that there are non christians in the school. there’s no shame in fighting the good fight, even if a school is against it.
“This is your time, Defend it”
From another student:
yah, i couldn’t believe mr. lew put it that way..i was like..what the heck was that all about…i felt he made it into a joke..its obviously not a joke if there are people that don’t believe, yet our “christian” school isn’t seriously making an effort to reach out to them…thats not a joke…that sad. after we had such an amazign talk that night about it…i just think that others need to know what we know..that you’re not alone…that i’m not alone…that no one is alone.
And another student:
first of all, you need to realize a few things.
there is no such thing as spirituality in anything outside yourself. i’ve worked in christian retail for 3 or 4years and we are to serve both customers and god? its no different than a school. a facility that operates by state mandated codes and has certian rules attendees must follow there is no such thing. spirituality is so much deeper than a mission statement or even anyone persons actions.
all this i’m sure you know but let me tell you this.
it’s dead. all of it. its a cycle man. I’m telling you if you havent noticed the last hundred and fifty years christianity is dying. it happens to all religions that dominate the world. i mean, isnt america just another rome or babylon? I’m a christian as are you. so i suggest digging into the word for your growth. you’ll find i’m right. when your teachers have failed you, ask the lord to teach you, i’m sure he’ll be glad.
peace brother.
It is a problem… Chapel has set itself into a trend, and it must be changed. Over the past few years, chapels have succeeded in alienating huge groups of its students.
“… all i heard was that, but it makes apparent that there is a higher up power who probly talked to kuips about that
frankly it makes the whole thing feel sort of corrupt, like there’s a seedy chapel mob, and if certain things arnt done then someone pays or something
like big brother is watching”
I’d like to close this letter with one last pearl of wisdom that I was left with from Fridays chapel:
“I suggest you believe in God for this reason:
If the Bible is true - and the writings of God, Christ, and such are correct - than you can rest securely in the promise of eternal life in heaven.
If the Bible is false, and the writings of God, Christ, and such are wrong - than what have you lost in believing? – Nothing.
Therefore, you should believe in God if for no other reason than as a ‘safety net’.”
I think that this statement speaks for itself. I may have misinterpreted the speech; but as I’ve discussed the general message, it seems that this was the interpretation that students have had across the board.
This is not what chapel should be about – but it is. This fact is very disheartening.
I hope nothing more of this letter than to create discussion about the issue. Perhaps as faculty of Christian High, you haven’t noticed this as a problem - perhaps you are simply ignorant of the ramifications that such apathy could create.
Again, I’d like to stress that this letter is fueled by no ill will - only a sincere interest in seeing changes. If you have any comments, please feel free to respond, I would love to hear them.
Sincerely,
- a concerned student