The Practical Parson

  For the past 2 weeks, an allegedly spontaneous and ongoing revival has been taking place in the chapel on Asbury University campus in Wilmore, Kentucky.  Many evangelical and conservative Christians applaud this event as a demonstration of the Holy Spirit moving in our time, while others question the intent of the entire event. To say the least, this revival is certainly a conundrum. As one who grew up and was sent to an (allegedly) evangelical Christian school, I myself am more than aware of the theatrical nature of evangelical revivals; having witnessed a number of them myself during my school days.  Such revivals are a time filled with preaching, singing, and heightened emotional states that encourage people to act out, supposedly in love of God.   However wonderful and spiritual it may seem though; I have also borne witness to the unfortunate reality of what happens when the singing is over, and life returns to its normal pace.   Those who hurl t...

 Many years ago, when I was but a young child, my parents decided to send myself and my older brother to a private, christian school in North Carolina.  They were promised an academically inclined, superb learning environment for their children, one in which college preparation was well in hand and all students were equipped to succeed after graduation.   What they got, was sadly none of what they were promised.  Instead, their children were mistreated, bullied, abused, and even suffered academically because of that hellhole's agenda.  You see, the agenda of that particular so-called school was not so much to educate young minds for the future, as much as it was to condition our minds into their perfect, ideal, cookie-cutter little evangelical christian soldiers; who would never oppose them and always do whatever they say.   From the time I was in the seventh grade, until halfway through my junior year; I was brutally bullied, abused, and merciles...