Tag: Houghton

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Love On a Deadline

Jo Borges Edwards '25

The concept of “Ring by Spring” is a cultural phenomenon prevalent in many small Christian colleges, where students feel pressured to get engaged before graduation. While marriage is a beautiful and meaningful commitment, the societal expectation that young adults should rush into lifelong partnerships by their early twenties is concerning. Although this tradition may work for some, delaying marriage could lead to healthier and more stable relationships for most.

Many students at Christian colleges experience an unspoken expectation to find a spouse before graduation, and Houghton is not the exception. This pressure often comes from religious and cultural beliefs that prioritize early marriage as a means of preserving purity and fostering family life. Students may feel that their time in college is their best or only opportunity to meet a compatible Christian partner. Additionally, being surrounded by peers who are getting engaged can create a sense of urgency that leads people to prioritize marriage over other essential aspects of personal development.

However, the pressure of getting engaged within a limited timeframe can lead people to make hasty decisions. Many “Ring by Spring” engagements happen after only a few months of dating, which may not provide enough time to truly understand a partner’s values, communication styles, and long-term goals. Rushing into marriage under these conditions can increase the likelihood of incompatibility and marital struggles down the road.

From a biological perspective, the human brain does not fully develop until around age 25. The prefrontal cortex, responsible for decision-making, impulse control, and emotional regulation, continues maturing well into a person’s mid-twenties. This means that many college students are still growing emotionally and psychologically, making it harder for them to make fully informed decisions about lifelong commitments. This biological fact affects both parties. Their partner’s brain is still developing; therefore, the person they are marrying now might be completely different in a few years.

Moreover, research in psychology suggests that young adults benefit from exploring their identities, career aspirations, and personal values before settling down. The early twenties are a critical period for self-discovery, and rushing into marriage can sometimes hinder that process. Without a solid sense of self, people may struggle to navigate relationship challenges and personal growth in a healthy way.

Sociological research has also shown that waiting until later in life to marry correlates with lower divorce rates and greater marital satisfaction. According to studies, people who marry after age 25 tend to have more stable relationships than those who marry in their early twenties. This is likely because they have had more time to establish their careers, develop emotional maturity, and understand what they want in a partner.

Additionally, couples who take more time to build their relationships before getting engaged tend to have stronger foundations. Studies suggest that knowing a partner for at least two years before marriage significantly reduces the risk of divorce. This period allows couples to experience different life situations together, resolve conflicts, and truly assess compatibility. Unfortunately, many “Ring by Spring” engagements happen after dating for less than a year, which can leave couples unprepared for the realities of marriage.

Another key factor in delaying marriage is financial stability. Many college students have not yet secured stable jobs or financial independence. Marrying young often means navigating significant financial stress, such as student loans, entry-level salaries, and the costs of setting up a household. These pressures can create tension in a marriage and make it harder for young couples to focus on building a healthy relationship.

Additionally, early marriage can sometimes limit career opportunities, particularly for those, typically women, who may feel pressured to prioritize family over professional aspirations. Establishing a career before marriage can give people greater financial independence and security, ultimately strengthening their future partnerships.

While “Ring by Spring” may work for some couples, it is important to recognize that healthy relationships take time to develop. Young adults should be encouraged to build relationships intentionally instead of rushing into engagement due to societal pressure. This means prioritizing communication, shared values, and long-term compatibility over meeting an arbitrary timeline.

Marriage is a significant commitment that should not be rushed by external pressures. While “Ring by Spring” may seem like a romantic tradition, it can lead to hasty decisions that might not be in the best interest of young couples. Instead of pressuring students to find a spouse before graduation, Christian communities should encourage intentional, thoughtful relationships that prioritize long-term compatibility and personal growth. ★

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Campus News

Flics and Fondue

Flics and Fondue Poster
Flics and Fondue Poster - Courtesy of CAB
by Rebecca Dailey '25

Tonight from 8 to 10 the Campus Activities Board (CAB) will host their Valentine’s Day event, “Flics and Fondue,” outside of Java in the Reinhold Campus Center basement. The evening will include a chocolate fondue fountain with assorted snacks, valentine writing supplies and a showing of the “Princess Bride”! 

Emma Podobinski ‘27, who is leading the event, expressed her excitement: “I have always loved Valentine’s Day, and that definitely inspired this event. I wanted to create a cozy and chill event for people to enjoy on the holiday while doing thematic activities. To me, eating chocolate fondue, watching a romance movie, and writing Valentines sounded like the perfect Valentine’s night.” 

Jana Newberry, Director of Student Engagement and the supervisor for CAB, shared, “Emma mentioned the idea for this event in her CAB interview process and so it’s very cool to see it come full circle! Valentine’s Day is a fun one, and I like that the event feels both special and relaxed. I like that anyone could come and have a good time.”

Significant planning went into this event. Newberry helped coordinate behind the scenes details and supported Podobinski’s process of reserving a space, ordering food and decorations and renting equipment.

“CAB works collaboratively on most of our events from the idea phase to putting on the actual event,” Newberry stated. She added that “Typically, we have one or two people ‘on point’ in this case Emma Podobinski had the idea and energy for this event and has done a great job with the planning!” 

Podobinski wanted to create an atmosphere for everyone. “For this event, my favorite part of planning was creating the atmosphere that I envisioned the event to have,” she said. “When I was ordering decorations, I had a lot of fun planning how I wanted to transform the space outside of Java 101 into the cozy place I was imagining. I relied on Pinterest to see the vision come together and to come up with fun ideas for the event.” 

While Valentine’s Day may be centered around love, this event is meant to share with all, Newberry said. “We wanted to do something specific for Valentine’s day and most people can get behind food and movies,” she commented. 

She added, “Again, everyone is welcome, whether they can come for the whole time or just drop!”

“I want everyone to be able to enjoy Valentine’s Day, whether they are in a relationship or not,” Podobinski expressed. “So, I hope this event creates a space where people feel comfortable and can spend time with their friends and loved ones on the holiday.” ★

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Campus News

Limits on God’s Sovereignty Panel

Bible Study Panel Discussion
Lecture Pannel - Courtesy of Unsplash Debby Hudson
by Abigail Bates '26

“Limits on God’s Sovereignty” will begin next Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Willard J. Houghton Library, room 323, and is Around the Table credit. The panel is part of a series sponsored by Assistant Professor of Physics Dr. Katrina Koehler and Professor of Philosophy Dr. Benjamin Lipscomb. The series began in 2023 with the first discussion on Nov. 15 covering the conflict in Gaza and has since then covered topics like masculinity and censorship in the fall 2024 semester.

Koehler said they started the panel discussions to promote “thoughtful conversation[s] on hot-button issues.” They wanted to show how intellectual Christians can engage in complicated topics, not only “from their areas of expertise, but also as thinking believers,” she explained. Although such topics are discussed in classrooms, Lipscomb added, “it seemed to both of us that there was an empty space for something more.”

“If we as an institution don’t sponsor and model serious, challenging discourse, we abdicate our role as educators,” he said.

When Lipscomb arrived at Houghton in 2002, and throughout Koehler’s undergraduate years, Houghton University’s campus held many events similar to the current panel series. A few included topics on the Iraq War, nudity in art, sexual ethics and interpretations of feminism. 

In recent years, however, few such events have occurred. Lipscomb listed reasons such as the institution’s population decrease, COVID-19 pandemic and fears of cancellation.

“But we remember how valuable these panel discussions were to participants and attendees,” Lipscomb said, because the events exposed “students to professors outside their majors and [gave] students opportunities to listen in on and join serious, respectful conversations by members of their community.”

Next week’s panel will host Professor of History Dr. Christian Esh, Associate Professor of Old Testament Dr. Andrew Walton, Interim Dean of Spiritual Life Rev. Dr. J.L. Miller and Associate Professor of Vocal Music & Conducting Dr. Daniel Black.

Lipscomb explained that the topic of divine sovereignty is one that has long divided Christians. He added that “it’s the kind of thing students sometimes debate in dorm lounges late at night, but unless they’re in a theology class, they don’t get the opportunity of thinking in a more rigorous and grounded way about it.”

He expressed that even in theology classes, usually only one professor facilitates and comments on discussions between students, which limits the conversations.

“The whole point of the series, though, is to make available conversations of a different sort: open to more people, involving more people,” Lipscomb said.

He described the topic as pastoral, relating to the care and guidance of Christian followers, because it connects directly to who God is; what God controls and how he directs that control. “It’s not just academic; it’s existential,” he added. Some Christians are “suffering and watching others suffer,” he said. They wonder “what God has to do with it.”

Lipscomb hopes students leave the panel series with “a sense of what disagreement and mutual exploration within the body of Christ can be like.”

“In a polarized world,” Koehler said, “we want to demonstrate nuance, shades of grey, and the value of thoughtful discourse. Most importantly, we want to show that disagreement can be done well.”

Later this semester, the question “Should you have children?” will be addressed, which Koehler said “reveals deep, often unspoken value systems beneath our varied responses.” They are already considering future topic possibilities such as missions, immigration and AI, and are happy to take suggestions. ★

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Stories In Focus

Evelyn Simanowski’s Musical Journey

by Jiana Martin '26

Senior Evelyn Simanowski ‘25’s greatest passion since childhood has been music. Pursuing music in her studies and career was always a part of her desired plans and a “series of perfectly crafted ‘God moments’” allowed her to attend Houghton University (HU) to follow those dreams.

“I believe so deeply that the talents God has given us correspond with the life He has written for us and the musical gifts He has given me deserve to be honed and developed to glorify Him and live out the life He has for me to the fullest,” Simanowski expressed. 

Despite her undying love for music, her musical journey has not unfolded without some hardships. One of which has been accepting that perfection is unattainable. As a perfectionist, it has been a hard lesson for Simanowski to learn that a perfect performance will never be achieved despite all the time and effort put into it. 

“When you learn that lesson you can become discouraged and give up,” Simanowski reflected, “or you can rise to the task at hand and pursue excellence anyways for the sake and value of the art.”

During her years at HU, one of her greatest professional accomplishments has been placing as a finalist in the National Association for Teachers of Singing Solo Festival in the Finger Lakes Region. Simanowski also noted that having the opportunity to play Amalia Balash in the Lyric Theatre’s production of “She Loves Me” was “a huge marker of the progress [she] made in these last four years.” However, despite these milestones in her Houghton career, Simanowski’s greatest achievement has been perceiving her musical talents as God-given gifts and interactions as opportunities to give him the glory.

As a culmination of her time at HU, Simanowski will be performing her senior recital titled “Faint Heart Never Won” on Feb. 19 at 8 p.m.

Simanowski shared that the title originates from the English proverb “Faint heart never won fair maiden,” which “serves as a lesson that if one sets out to achieve difficult things, effort will be involved.”   

She has chosen to perform pieces she loves containing female figures and characters who lived through unfavorable circumstances, yet are remembered for their strength and dignity. The performance will include “Try Me, Good King” by Libby Larsen that uses the last words of each of the wives of Henry VIII, a song cycle by Debussy using some French poetry and “Song to the Moon”, an aria by Antonin Dvořák.

“I chose pieces for my recital that would challenge me vocally and intellectually, requiring thought on my part to bring the text and the composer’s vision to life,” Simanowski explained.

Reflecting on his time working with Simanowski as a collaborative pianist, Senior Ryan Nickelsen ‘25 has appreciated her “willingness to be flexible in the way she performs any given song.” Rehearsing and performing with her has been an easy and enjoyable experience because she sees the pianist as a fellow performer rather than a supporting role. Simanowski’s professionalism and enthusiasm in her singing stand out to Nickelsen. 

He commented that as a past observer and a current accompanist, “it has been a delight to see her continue to push herself to become a better singer, even when it seemed as if she had already hit her cap.” 

Nickelsen is excited to share the hard work he and Simanowski have put into the recital and hopes that everyone will enjoy it as much as he has enjoyed putting it together with her. 

For Prof. Kimberly Prins Moeller, Associate Professor of Voice, walking with Simanowski and getting to know her over the past four years has been a privilege and a joy. She admires her dedication, willingness and how she welcomes feedback and critique in a positive manner. 

“They say still waters run deep and I think that is quite appropriate for Evelyn. Her head is always on straight, she is a thoughtful student in every way, and she is not afraid of the effort it will take to achieve her goals,” Moeller shared. “Evelyn is also extremely self-aware and unafraid of questioning and revisiting her dreams and plans,” she added.

Moeller is excited about the many stories told through Simanowski’s selections, and the new colors and qualities of her voice that will be displayed. 

“It’s a compelling recital that you definitely don’t want to miss,” Moeller said and added, “I trust that this recital will be a celebration of all her creativity, work and accomplishments!” ★

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Opinions

Anxiety

By Rhyan Lorenc ('26)

    Sometimes I love harassing myself over things I’ve done in the past. This obsession I’ve had with my previous and minor mistakes has cost me so much, even someone I cherished more than anything on this planet. Having anxiety is one of the worst things a human could have. People with anxiety are constantly worried and continuously going over the many variables and different outcomes a certain situation could have, and like many others, this mental disorder has done so many things to hold me back. It’s taken me 20 years to finally face reality, I am finally seeing a therapist, I’m finally taking medicine to counteract these thoughts that I have on a regular basis. Do I look back and regret a lot of the things that happen? Yes, I do. Do I wish I could change the things that happened?? In a way, but I wouldn’t have gotten the help I required if I didn’t get the wake-up call I needed. I didn’t see that then, but I do see it now. 

Anxiety, a disorder of the mind that sees a person have a constant feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. It’s something that plagues the world and many may not notice it, may not recognize it, but is truly a part of their lives. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness “Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health concern in the United States. Over 40 million adults in the U.S. (19.1%) have an anxiety disorder. Meanwhile, approximately 7% of children aged 3-17 experience issues with anxiety each year. Most people develop symptoms before age 21.” To me anxiety is like that magical stuffed animal that you don’t remember getting that just shows up in your room one day. Or it’s that childhood toy that lies dormant in your basement until you dig it up one day. It’s something you don’t recognize at first, but more and more, events of life shape it more into reality, more into your peripheral vision. 

There is not just one type of anxiety disorder, there are actually many anxiety disorders. Some of these include, but are not limited to; Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, Panic Attacks, Separation anxiety disorder, and Substance/medication-induced anxiety disorder. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5- text revision (DSM 5-TR) “Anxiety disorders include disorders that share features of excessive fear and anxiety and related behavioral disturbances. Fear is the emotional response to real or perceived imminent threat, whereas anxiety is anticipation of future threat.” (pg.215) Anxiety is the fear of being embarrassed in public. Being away from a safe space that you can go to just to be yourself.

I am here to tell you, be yourself. Be your goofy, silly, crazy, annoying, chatty, emotional self. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be scared to be yourself, to go seek help. Criticizing yourself every now and then is ok, it helps build strength and pushes you to get better, but berating yourself constantly is not. Go, seek help, go find someone to talk to and someone who won’t judge you. Finding help and talking to someone has been the greatest thing that has ever happened to me, I feel so much better, both mentally and physically. There is a stigma in this world that going to talk to a therapist means you’re weak, no, it just means that you care for yourself, you care for your health. Help break the stigma around mental health. It is ok to not be ok. Let that resonate with you as you go about your day to day lives, through all the ups and downs of being a college student. Seek peace within yourself, trust me, and more importantly trust God, it helps more than you could ever imagine. ★

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Campus News

The Door of Paradise

Chamber Choir Rehearsal
Chamber Choir Rehearsal - Courtesy of Kaitlyn Avery 
by Danielle Skinner ('27)

Tonight at 6:30 p.m. Houghton University’s (HU) Chamber Choir will be performing in the Center for the Arts (CFA) Atrium. The performance is titled The Door of Paradise. 

The Chamber Choir is the most elite of HU’s choirs and requires a year-long commitment. Only sixteen spots are available that students must audition for.

The choir is directed by Dr. Kevin Dibble, the Associate Director of the Greatbatch School of Music, Associate Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor of Music. 

Junior Susannah Denham ‘26, a choir member since the spring of 2024, explained that the Chamber Choir is unique compared to other campus choirs.

“We don’t usually perform music for large choirs and we do mostly a cappella pieces,” Denham noted. “Since we only rehearse twice a week, less than any other choir on campus, everyone is a strong musician and confident in sight reading.”

Denham commented on the importance of the “performer-audience relationship.” The ensemble needs the audience, and she said the choir wants to share their hard work and “this beautiful combination of pieces” with listeners.

“Personally I’m excited to perform these pieces for family and friends,” Denham said, and added that “Dr. Dibble has arranged a beautiful collection of compositions, each with a story and depth behind them.” 

In addition to traditional and modern pieces, the choir will also perform pieces composed by HU students and faculty. 

“Each piece is truly incredible,” she said. 

Denham stated that out of their music selection, she particularly enjoys “Song for Athene”, “Entreat Me Not to Leave You” and “Heart Fire”. “Song for Athene” is a musical composed by John Tavener with lyrics by Mother Thekla, an Orthodox nun. It was written after Tavener’s family friend, Athene Hariades, was killed in a cycling accident. “Entreat Me Not to Leave You” is one of Dan Forrest’s best-known a cappella pieces based on Ruth’s plea in the Bible. “Heart Fire” is composed by Carrie Magin (https://www.carriemagin.com/store/heart-fire) who explained it “expresses a raw abandon that comes from the beauty of experience and from the natural world around us.”

Denham advised attendees to “pay attention to the texts and how the music supports them and creates a specific atmosphere.” 

Faculty and students alike are encouraged to attend the performance. ★

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Campus News

Life Together Groups

Life Together Groups Bible
Life Together Groups - Courtesy of Kaitlyn Avery
by Sadie Nakamura ('26)

Houghton University (HU) offers a variety of weekly small groups around campus called Life Together Groups. These gatherings are open to all students and designed to foster a sense of community and encourage meaningful spiritual connection. 

Interim Dean of Spiritual Life J.L. Miller explained that Life Together Groups were created to help students share their spiritual experiences and grow together in faith. Each group features a unique focus, providing opportunities for students and faculty to engage in deeper spiritual connection. 

“I chose the name Life Together Groups from Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s seminal work called Life Together,” Miller said. “The book explore[s] what it look[s] like living together. I think it’s such a gift to be at an undergraduate institution like Houghton where you are surrounded by peers, faculty, and staff all interested in being at a Christian University, growing in their faith, and studying together.”

Miller emphasized the importance of creating intentional spaces for Bible study, prayer and spiritual discussion. 

“I think one aspect of doing Life Together as Christians is creating [these spaces],” he said. “I wanted to be sure the Spiritual Life office was doing something to enhance the offerings across campus.”

Miller’s overall vision is to ensure that a variety of small groups and Bible studies are consistently available for students because he believes “it is important for students during their college years to be connected with peers and classmates on a spiritual level.”

Although student-run small groups already existed on campus, Miller sought to provide additional support to help students easily find groups that fit their interests and schedules. One aspect Miller appreciates is the flexibility and creativity of these gatherings. “I love the variety of styles in the different groups,” he noted.

One such group is Daily Prayer. Lee James ‘26, a double major in bible & theology and history, is one of the students who helps lead the Daily Prayer Life Together Group. The group meets every weekday at 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. in the Spiritual Life Office, located on the lower level of the Campus Center. 

“Daily Prayer is open to everyone,” James said. “It’s a great way to take a breather in the middle of a chaotic week.”

James emphasized the positive impact of leading a small group, sharing that daily prayer provides a safe opportunity to connect with others, adding, “It would be really cool to see more people get involved!”

Another popular group is Board Games and Big Questions led by Julia Collins ‘26, a history major. The group combines fun with meaningful conversations, inviting participants to engage with both games and thought-provoking questions. 

“I think it can be really encouraging for people to come together in a small group setting,” Collins shared. “Everyone has burdens and it is so beautiful to help each other carry these burdens.” 

Collins believes the Life Together Groups provide opportunities to form friendships with “people that you might not otherwise meet!” She added that some “of my best friends are the ones that I’ve met in life together groups.” 

Through Life Together Groups, HU continues to cultivate a spiritual community where students can build meaningful relationships and deepen their faith. ★

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Stories In Focus

Dance Club

by Aivery Shuck ('26)

Houghton University’s (HU) Dance Club is a new affiliated campus club that meets in Presser Hall, located in the basement of the Chapel. Their weekly Saturday meetings, from 6-7 p.m., provide an opportunity for dancers and non-dancers of any skill level to learn some new moves and have fun with friends and peers.

Dancing has been a part of HU’s history in various forms.

In 2011, Jive 101 (along with Pointe to Christ) was a student-run swing club. Then, in the fall of 2016, alumna Kaitlyn Nirkirk ‘18 founded the ballroom team, which attended ballroom Dancesport competitions. The Ballroom & Swing Dance won ribbons at the Cornell Dancesport Classic (Cornell University) in fall 2016 and other competitions near Albany and at Princeton in spring and fall 2017. In 2017, they traveled to Columnus, Ohio to compete in the club’s largest event, the Ohio Star Ball. After 2022, the club vanished.

Chiara Lantorno ‘28, one of the club’s founders, stated that Dance Club was inspired by the lack of an outlet on campus for HU students to dance together in recent years.

“The club was created after how much I missed taking dance classes with my friends,” Lantorno explained, “and I figured other students who used to take dance classes would feel the same.”

A typical meeting begins with warm-up, stretching, across the floor exercises and ends with a brief dance combination. They focus on a different dance style each month. January was focused on Hip Hop and February will be centered on Modern dance style. 

Bailey Lewis ‘28 noted, “You don’t have to be a dancer to join a dance club! It is easy to catch on to what is happening. The club is judgement-free and wants to welcome anyone who wants to come and have fun.” 

It is a great opportunity to express yourself through dance, as well as try something new! 

Nadia Gordon ‘28, another founder, added, “Moving our bodies is one of the best ways to refresh from a hard week of school work … Dance club is a safe space that cultivates fun and community.” 

Overall, Dance Club is a space where students can step out of their comfort zone and try something new, or gain the opportunity to continue to dance in college. ★

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Columns

The Wild Robot (2024) Review

Written By: Caleb Tiedemann (’25)

I’ll be honest—I’m not the biggest fan of animated movies. To some, that might be considered heresy of the highest order, but I’ve watched many disappointments and witnessed plenty of thoroughly underwhelming films. So when I saw trailers and advertisements for The Wild Robot, I didn’t bother hoping for anything special. Looking back now, the trailers were actually pretty terrible, barely scratching the surface of the movie’s deeper themes and meaning.

However, I enjoy being pleasantly surprised. So when I finally watched The Wild Robot, I was amazed at just how unequivocally wrong I had been! The movie was produced by DreamWorks, and while their films made up a large part of my childhood, my adult life has been far less inclusive of them. Upon watching the film, I was greeted with a stunning animation style—a gorgeous swath of color stretching across the skies and a breathtaking depiction of the seasons in a rugged, weathered landscape. The animation team was undoubtedly put to the test, but they truly delivered.

It was refreshing to see a unique and emotionally mature concept brought to the screen. Don’t get me wrong—the film is accessible to both children and adults, but I wasn’t expecting plot points specifically targeted at an older audience. Many children’s movies seem to cater solely to kids, almost as if they forget that adults are the ones watching alongside them.

The movie tells a touching story of motherhood, shifting family dynamics, and friendship. These themes are beautifully conveyed through excellent voice acting that evokes deep emotional responses. I grew to love and connect with the various characters throughout the runtime. Additionally, Kris Bowers’ musical composition was the perfect complement, enhancing both the film’s most emotional and triumphant moments. Ultimately, The Wild Robot was a fantastic surprise, and I strongly recommend it to anyone who enjoys movies. It has all the essential elements of a truly great film.

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Opinions

It’s Time to Kick Pelagius Out of the Church

Paul Claydon ('28)

In the late 4th century into the early 5th century there lived a theologian named Pelagius. Pelagius denied the doctrine of original sin and taught that man was basically good and could achieve salvation through his own efforts. Fortunately, thanks to the efforts of St. Augustine, Pelagius was condemned as a heretic and excommunicated from the church. His heresy may not have prospered at his time but it prospered later on and it’s prospering right now in our churches. A famous preacher Billy Graham once said that God “has made it possible for all men to be saved. But the Bible indicates that salvation depends upon man’s willingness to be saved.” Another famous preacher R.C. Sproul said the exact opposite.

He said that if he was ever convinced that salvation was based on man’s willingness to choose Christ freely that would have to quit preaching because he  “would have no hope whatsoever that the work of evangelism would be successful or that preaching would bring any fruit.” Both these great preachers articulated different views of how salvation works, Arminianism and Calvinism. Arminianism teaches that salvation is based on a person’s response to God’s grace and no one is predestined to go to heaven or to hell. Calvinism teaches that God predestines those who are elect to be saved and a person’s salvation is a result of God’s sovereign election of them. But before we can have debates about predestination we make it clear that God must initiate with us first if we are to be saved and not the other way around.

While I may not fully agree with the soteriology of R.C. Sproul, I agree with him that man is completely depraved and incapable of coming to God on his own unless God does something to change that first. While Evangelicals like Bill Graham may not explicitly endorse the heresy of pelagianism or semi-pelagianism, by believing it is their job to assist the will in choosing Christ they undermine the role of God’s saving grace in our salvation. They become salesmen instead of pastors. They preach as if Pelagius was right both pre and post salvation. Much of the modern Evangelical churches treat people not as sinners but as seekers before salvation and after salvation they treat them like customers in need of servicing and not believers in need of discipleship. Pelagius lives and thrives inside the American mega church. A mega church is not the size of the church it’s the mentality of the church.

The problem with the mentality of these churches is that in treating people as seekers and customers and is that they will never confront someone’s sin and they have the incentive to tell people what they want to hear and not what they need to hear because they don’t want to lose their customers. They don’t act like churches, they act like corporations. Before we can debate the doctrines of predestination, whether that be single or double predestination, we must first kick Pelagius out of the church.

To do this we must stop acting as if when someone gets offended by the truth and walks away from God that we’re responsible for their damnation because we didn’t do it right. It is not our job to turn people on or off for Christ. It’s our job to preach the gospel and pursue justice and mercy. It’s the Holy Spirit’s job to do the convicting and the transformation of hearts. To sum up, the return of Pelagian ideas in modern churches challenges Christian beliefs. Pelagius denied original sin and said people can achieve salvation on their own.

This weakens the main beliefs of grace and God’s power. Some churches focus too much on being seeker-friendly and lose true discipleship. This change ignores God’s role in salvation, aligning with Pelagian views. Before arguing about predestination, it’s important to remember that God starts salvation, not human effort. Churches should preach the gospel honestly and trust the Holy Spirit to change hearts. This way, they can focus on human sinfulness and God’s power. Only then can churches remove Pelagius’s influence and focus on truth and discipleship. ★