By Dan Huber
Campus Pastor
As I have been intentionally listening to some of the criticism against chapel, I have heard a common phrase rise from within the comments; “I don’t like _______!” My gut reaction is to call attention to the erroneous thinking behind each of these fill-in-the-blank responses.
But, as I have continued to consider the criticism, I have come to realize that the way people fill the blank is not the issue at all. So what is the issue? Narcissism.
Chapel is not about personal preference
God has created us uniquely, each of us with our own personal preferences. My personal preference is to eat a nice cut of rib-eye steak every day. However, while I prefer steak, I recognize that I need some vegetables to balance out my diet. Similarly, as I plan chapel, I recognize that every person comes with his or her own set of preferences.
I also recognize that while offering someone a preference might make that person happy, it makes no one healthy. Recently, when we offered a time for prayer in chapel, about 20 people walked out as if to say like stubborn children, “We will not eat our vegetables today!” Others have chosen to stop showing up at the table altogether, as if to say, “I’d rather starve than be force fed.”
Whichever the case, this cannot be a healthy decision. Nor would it be a healthy decision for chapel to stop offering vegetables simply because some people refuse to eat them. While personal preference is a significant problem, it seems that something more foundational has taken root.
Chapel is not about you
There is a misconception that chapel is for you, the student. It is not. It is for us, the Corban community. A greater problem than the issue of personal preference addressed above is the individualism that runs rampant in our culture and on our campus.
Why show up to chapel if you can download podcasts of better speakers from across the globe and listen to them in your room? Why show up to chapel when you can Youtube more emotionally impacting musical experiences than you feel you get in chapel? My answer: community, unique community.
There is something about meeting together as a community of believers from diverse Christian backgrounds in the context of Corban’s educational mission that helps each of us realize that life is bigger than ourselves and that our story is only part of a bigger story and that through it all God is to be given all the glory.
It is for this reason and to this end that I continue to offer a chance for this to happen every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 10 a.m.
Mr. C says
What does pastor Dan have to say about these responses?
Annoyed says
@Ryan.. You say you didn’t call one “better” than the other? Well.. you are right. You did not call it “better”..you called it “significantly better,” actually. Second to last sentence of your post.
I agree with Whitney. “I find it sad that this whole debate has begun.” AGREED. This is annoying, and really shouldn’t be a part of a healthy Christian community. Not that debate is bad, because it certainly isn’t. However, calling one’s preference “significantly better” than another person’s, or choosing not to go to chapel because it doesn’t fit your preference is not bringing glory to God, which is what chapel, and this community of believers (the entire campus) needs to be about.
Ryan says
@ Guy who is named annoyed
Hey man, sorry I did all that word bashing specifically on my use of better, of which I forgot I actually did use It. That was uncalled for on my part. But I have to point out that you successfully argued nothing. You had nothing that countered any of my points. Did you read what I had to say? Did you understand it? Why don’t you address my argument and try to counter my points? Please put your emotions aside and try to address the facts of my argument. Read the posts above and notice I am trying to argue that contemporary songs’ chord structure is uninspired (GGCD) and that the lyrics are as well. I even posted an example. Please read what I have to say first before commenting on it. I am not saying to play what I prefer, rather I would suggest that we play songs with words that have greater meaning and have had more time spent on them. (P.S. did you even listen to the examples?)
Swarlysss says
Arent we already a community under God?
Chapel is a place for us, to come together to worship HIM.
Why all the pickering among everyone? We all have the same goal in mind, and we all have and have experienced the same love that God gave us. Why cant we all just be on the side of Love?
Boaz da Great says
Corban y u no agree?
Could have been Student says
I just wanted to let everyone know, that I could have been a future student at Corban. BUT, I read this and really do not want anything to do with Corban at this point. Thank you.
Concerned about above student says
Well man, I would pray about that one before making a decision like that.
Corban Commuter says
I agree with Pastor Dan. The things that students complain about, when it comes to Chapel, are personal preferences. “I thought the way he talked about (blank) was a terrible way to broach the subject, or I didnt like it cause I cant learn that way. We can learn more than one way but we chose not to, you like stories about personal impact, i like comparisons…so? you dont like the music? well I dont like the music at church but I dont not go to church! I know chapel is not a replacement for church but it’s not a place of personal preference either. we are the body of Christ and the whole body is important. Anyway, I agree with Dan, stop thinking about yourself and what you felt about chapel and if it didnt impact you, pray that it impacted someone else around you.
Pastor Dan filled a posistion where people loved the previous pastor, and still do, so it is inherently easier to pick at what you dont like about these services because you loved the old services. Give the man, and the Chapel program a freaking break!
I feel like I may not have room to talk because I rarely attended chapel, though I feel it was a good reason (spending time with my son, or doing homework) I will be making a greater effort to go to Chapel on a regular basis, not for myself but to enhance my relationship with fellow Christians and God.