religion – Houghton STAR

By Anna Cathermann

Bible studies, book studies, and basketball are just a few of the opportunities that exist for spiritual life outside the Chapel doors.

“Life Together” groups began last semester as a way to support students’ return to in-person spiritual life activities after the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Chair of Religion, Associate Dean of the Chapel, and Adjunct Professor of Youth Ministry J.L. Miller, there was a lot of folklore surrounding small groups in the past. “There are a lot of small groups on campus” was a frequent mantra, but they often lacked publicity. The Life Together program was designed to bring these groups to the forefront of campus life as well as to provide an organized support system,with the chapel office providing counseling and publicity to leaders.

These groups vary widely in membership and content: some are single-gender, others are co-ed. Morning, afternoon, and evening times are all available.

Numerous Bible studies make up a large portion of the “Life Together” groups. Meeting in the Paine Greenhouse from 3-4 p.m. every Tuesday, led by Junior William Tormey. “Caring for God’s Creation” is a co-ed study for those interested in a Biblical look at sustainable living.

All men on campus are welcome to study the book of Acts at Roth’s Bible study led by Junior Will Allen, which meets in the first floor lounge, Echo Base, from 8-9 p.m. on Wednesday evenings. On Thursday evenings from 7-8 p.m., the Ezra and Nehemiah Bible Study group led by Sophomore Matthew Foster also meets at Echo Base.

“Life Together” groups are more than just Bible study groups, though. There are also fellowship, support, and book study groups.

“Bible and Basketball” Co-Founder Isaac Little said the group is a “unique competitive fellowship that you cannot get anywhere else on campus.”

From 7-8:30 p.m. every Sunday night, men and women come together in Nielsen for a brief devotional followed by a game of pick-up basketball.

“Tea and Porn” is a small group of men that meets from 8:30-9:30 p.m. every Thursday in Echo Base.

According to the group’s leader, Senior Adam McCutcheon, “Open and honest discussion of an issue which is largely associated with shame is a first step in helping us realize through the acceptance of our family in Christ that we are not alone and that we are accepted.”

There are also two book study groups this semester. “The Garden City”, led by Seniors Isabelle Murch and Zoe Utterback meets in the main room of the Dining Hall on Thursday mornings from 8:30-9:30 a.m. Over breakfast, the group discusses “Garden City: Work, Rest, and the Art of Being Human” by John Mark Cohen.

Women’s Area Coordinator Raegan Zelayaand Senior Arianna Zampella are currently leading a book discussion group that meets in the Gillette RD apartment. Around a dozen women are reading through “Sexless in the City” by Kat Harris.

“There are a lot of different people with different beliefs and boundaries,” Zelaya noted.

They come together to discuss living lives of integrity in a world ravaged by the extremes of hypersexualization and purity culture.

While the groups cover a number of different topics and interests, the program does have an overarching goal.

According to Miller, “Life Together“ groups exist “to make sure we’re being intentional in creating spaces that people can experience discipleship in small groups.”★

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Few things are as important to Christians as language. Our faith and our characters are revealed in and defined by our choice of language. We judge based on the use of foul language. We approve

based on the use of “Christian” language littered with references to how blessed we are and what is “on our hearts.” Christian language norms inform the way we pray; do we start with Father-God

or Dear Jesus? Do we end with ‘in Jesus’ name’ or ‘all God’s children said’? Words are important to us. One word can either offend or define us. To be a Christian is to use a certain set of phrases and terms, because what we say to one another is influenced by a belief system in common with other Christians and different from non-Christians. Our entire religion is based on the text of a book. Pastors and speakers are constantly analyzing and re-analyzing paragraphs, sentences, words. If something is unclear, we look to the original Greek or Hebrew, and suddenly we understand; tiny reinterpretations make all the difference. Language matters.

Equality also matters. From the moment Jesus said “What you did for the least of these,” Christians have been rooting for the underdog. We feed the hungry. We house the homeless. We smuggle Bibles into places where Bibles are banned. Wesleyans in particular have been known to work towards equality on multiple levels, by opposing slavery and ordaining women. In these areas as well, Christians use certain language. When we go into missions it is because God called us to do so. When we encounter a situation we cannot control, we leave it in God’s hands. We care about the well-being of all, because all are God’s children.

There is nothing wrong with this way of speaking. Our belief system is different from others, so we talk differently than others. No matter if some of these phrases have become overused or spoken only out of habit, when they were first said, they were said because they were believed. However, Christians are not the only group of people who care about equality and justice. Obviously; just as much activism is carried out by secular organizations as is by Christian organizations. We’re nothing special, really. We are all working towards the same end. But there remains a disconnect between being a Christian who values equality, and being a secular person who values equality. This is due in large part to language. We both fight for justice, but we come from two completely different places, and therefore sometimes support opposing sides. For example, when the world says “It’s my body,” the Christian hears “I don’t care how my actions impact the lives of my child and those around me,” and when the Christian says “All are created in the image of God,” the world hears “God is a narcissist who doesn’t care about the long-term well-being of His children.” We speak different languages.

Christian language is an important part of our life and faith. It is also important to connect with others who share our same values and goals. With more people working together towards improving the world, more can be accomplished. Perhaps we need to address where our words are helpful to our faith, and where they only add confusion to those we might hope to reach.