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Legalism and the Word of God (continued)

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Undergrads are still not allowed to smoke or drink, even off campus. Tobacco is hazardous, and most undergrads are too young to legally drink anyway, school officals said.

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The old rules precluded homecoming dances or other formal dances. But, even with the changes, only offically sponsored dances will be allowed on campus, the new rules say.

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And they add this general warning: "All members of the Wheaton College community will take care to avoid any entertainment or behavior, on or off campus, which may be immodest, sinfully erotic or harmfully violent.

"What we really wanted to do was spell out what it means to be a part of a Christian community that is based upon the Bible," said Don Meyer, a 1957 graduate who is chairman of the university's board.

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Though there was talk on campus that some faculty members thought the changes weren't necessary, university officals said they aren't concerned that the changes might hurt alumni donations, and students interviewed Wednesday supported the changes.

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"We pretty much think it's a good change, something that was long overdue," said 21-year-old Lisa Nudd, editor in chief of the college newspaper, the Record, which plans to run an editorial supporting the changes this week.

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Many students had long viewed that ban on dancing as outdated, Nudd said. "I know I danced off-campus with my boyfriend," she said. "It was nice."

Students didn't really expect or want the ban on alcohol to be lifted for undergraduates, she said.
"I think a lot of people feel it would be distracting or detrimental if students abused that privilege," she said.

Alums interviewed Wednesday also were supportive of the changes.

"I think it's a good move, a move in the right direction," said Linda Midgett, a Chicago documentary producers who is a 1992 Wheaton graduate.

As a student, she said she questioned the need for the strict code of conduct.
"I really didn't believe, from a faith perspective, it was necessary to have the pledge," she said.

Loosening restrictions on faculty members makes particular sense, she said.

"As an adult, drinking should be decided on an individual basis," Midgett said. "On a biblical basis, thers no mandate not drink--after all, Jesus turned water into wine."

Melchin's Comments

    I give a hearty "amen" to those Wheaton officials for making those changes. 1) This is an area where we can submit to the governing authority without offending conscience. 2) It also is a move in the Biblical direction for the University. It is a big step away from legalism. I also give the Chicago Sun-Times rich praise for not being so liberally bias about the issue that they ripped into the College.
     Legalism does two main things that are not good. 1)It destroys grace. I.E. It creates a system whereby man is "able" to achieve righteousness with God by circumventing the cross. 2) It creates a "Mickey Mouse" system that attempts to replace God's high and holy standards with man's low and humanistic standards. Both are an affront to God's holiness, both were given a good punch in the face by Wheaton College this passed month.
    The punch was distributed like this. Formerly Wheaton was attempting to bind the consciences of both staff and students with rules that are not located in the Word of God as a humanistic solution to sin. Those rules are specifically with drinking, smoking and dancing. Now they are doing things the Biblical way by letting the people on staff be bound by the Word in the first two areas.
    While I think they should have given the students the first two freedoms I see why they did not. It is in the nature of youth to be foolish and the Colleges wishes to exercise wisdom in this regard. This is good provided, they do not call drinking and smoking "sin" and are simply making them community standards by which to abide, this is good.
     As for dancing, it is a vital part of Christian culture. Dances happen in the context of a community. They are symbolic of the Christian Life. Dances happen in the context of families, couples and children learning to do moves skillfully in order to glorify God by them. Life happens in the same way. All dance must be done to God's glory. For this I also give Wheaton rich praise.

Now as for Rev. Falwell and his comments. His comments are the epitome of biblical ignorance, legalism and hypocrisy. Not only does he dare sit in judgment over an institution that is not affilated with his church or under his authority. He also dares to make such comments when his school is rampant with two-faced rebel students who feign Christianity. I know this because I have been to Liberty. I have seen it with my own eyes. With this in mind I would like to expound upon the my charges against Falwell's comments.