SGA continues “Let’s Talk” series

By Jacob Factor, News Editor

On the outside, OBU’s community seems to some like a group of Christians who all think the same.

For others who have spent time on campus, like junior elementary education major Arielle Chastain, that that is not the case.

When Chastain got to OBU, she was surprised not every Christian on campus had the same opinions.

She said it’s okay for Christians to disagree on various issues, but it’s important they talk about their views with each other.

“It’s important for Christians to discuss this so they can realize we have different ideas on certain issues but we still have the same central view on Christ,” she said. “If we can all agree Christ is our Savior and He died for our sins, that’s the most important thing. Then all those other issues can be disagreeable, but it’s not going to determine our faith.”

This kind of reasoning is what started the “Let’s Talk” series, a discussion-based event covering different topics affecting our society and how Christians should approach these topics.

“Lot’s of times people speak and merely wait to speak again,” professor Paul Donnelly, one of the original founders of “Let’s Talk,” said to the Bison November 2017 before the first event. “They don’t really listen to what people have to say. One of the reasons our country is so divided is because we aren’t listening to one another or accepting people’s opinions as valid.”

Then-SGA president Hunter Doucette, another co-founder, had the same sentiment after the March 2018 “Let’s Talk” event.

“I find one of the hardest things to do, is to make others care about something that doesn’t directly touch them,” he said “Let’s Talk opens the eyes of students in many regards, to issues that they may never have been familiar with.”

After Doucette graduated May 2018, junior Clayton Myers was elected SGA president. Under Myer’s leadership, SGA has continued the “Let’s Talk” series. Myers said he wants to continue the series to encourage the open dialogue on campus between students with differing opinions.

“We want it to be good conversation starters that people can have thought-provoking ideas when they leave,” he said.

Chastain, who is also a member of SGA, said “Let’s Talk” can be a great way to give students an outlet to share their opinions.

“Everyone, regardless of what your view is, should come,” she said.“Your voice should be heard as well.”

In deciding a topic for this semester’s “Let’s Talk,” Myers said he looked to what’s going on in today’s top headlines: politics.

“There are a lot of things happening in the news a lot of people are divided on,” he said. A discussion about Christians’ take on politics, Myers said, is important. “It’s our way of how we can help take care of people,” he said. “Being active in politics is one way we (Christians) can take care of people.”

Chastain said she has found importance in discussing different opinions between Christians.

“Not all Christians are going to be on the same side,” she said.“Some Christians aren’t even going to choose a side.”

Hear from the students

True Christians have the same faith in Jesus Christ, which Chastain said is the “top tier of our beliefs.” “Then, all those other issues can be disagreeable, but it’s not going to determine our faith.”

I wouldn’t be here if my family didn’t immigrate from Honduras. However, my family all went through the grueling process of becoming an American citizen. I’m not an advocate for open borders, but I am an advocate for making it easier for people to come in legally.

Humans do matter, regardless of where they come from. If you’re an illegal immigrant, am I going to treat you any less than you are? Absolutely, not. We should be advocates for Christ.

It’s not my duty to tell them to go back to where they came from because that’s not Christlike.

At that point, it’s my duty to advocate for Christ and share the gospel with them.

I don’t think Chris-tians should be pro-wall because it hinders the ability to share Christ. We can’t have open borders either, so we have to have a happy medium.

The association with specific political parties comes with an assumed agreement with every ideal supported by the said political party. This applies also to denominational separation in the Christian faith.

When I claim a specific group as part of what I believe or stand for, I am co-signing ideas that I may not even be aware that I am agreeing with.

I think it is important, as a Christian, to be wary when deciding what to put our names on. I can not co-sign to all of the ideals of the republican or democratic party, so why give anyone even the slightest idea that I am willing to? Instead, I can co-sign to Christ and place all of my belief in His word, claiming that when people ask me my ideals.

Vote on your convictions. There’s never going to be a perfect person who’s wholesome and shows every Christian value. Blade raised the question, “If you vote for a pro-choice candidate, is that a sin?” I can’t say yes or no to that, but if you’re convictions are to vote for that person, not because of that one thing, but because of the other things, versus someone who’s pro-life but you disagree with other things they do, it’s just a matter of convictions of a person.

 

A lot of times when you think about voting, you think about the higher level instead of the state and local level and how you can make a difference here.

To me, that’s way more important be-cause that’s how we get our candidates. Voting is a key part of society, and as Christians, we need to be a part of society. If you have not participated in any election before, do it now.

Even the small elec-tons we have here at SGA, participate in those because it gives you practice and experience necessary to make decisions when it comes to the presidency. You have to take steps to learn about how to do it, because politics is a part of life.

 

“From a scriptural perspective, the pro-social justice side is right about some things, while the Chris-tian moral side is right about others.

If we were to detach any political ties between the terms “Christian moral” or “social justice,” literal Christian morality is the reason why certain social justice causes are necessary.

For example, being generally pro-immigration (not meaning pro-open borders) and minority racial rights/inclusion is the embodiment of Christian morality. The Bible tells us to welcome the sojourner and to treat the foreigner as you would a native of your land.

The Bible also tells us that there is “neither Jew nor Gentile” and that all were one in Christ.

The Bible is quite clear on these two issues and if current social justice movements entail those two, we should readily embrace it as Christians.

However, at the same time, we need to be wary of certain aspects of social justice movements, especially with abortion.

There should be systems in place to help mothers who aren’t able to handle rearing a child on their own get the means to raise a child properly and healthily, which would discourage many abortions in the first place.

So, my take is a biblical take. Where the Bible aligns with current social justice movements are places where Christians ought to align themselves with the social justice stance. Where the Bible aligns with current “Christian morality” movements are places where Christians ought to align themselves.

I don’t staunchly align myself to either side of this polarization because while both sides are right on certain things, they also both embrace rabidly unbiblical principles at the same time as well.”