Angie Chen
Don't turn the other cheek
don't mean to be a
pessimist. But sometimes, I wonder if anything will happen. When I heard
about the plans for Christ Awareness Week, I doubted it would impact
campus. And I'm a Christian.
Christ Awareness Week is
like other sociopolitical weeks that USC supports annually. Five days out
of the academic year, students from a university organization join together
to tell others about their beliefs or interests. This week, Christian USC
fellowships will give away food, perform music and dance in Hahn Plaza and
hold events in Bovard Auditorium on Tuesday and Thursday nights to reach
students. Instead of rallying support
for football games or upcoming fundraising activities, though, these
Trojans will give testimonies on why they believe in God and how God
affects almost every aspect of their lives.That's why I had my
doubts.College is either a
four-year party at the beaches and in clubs, or a never-ending nightmare of
finishing your degree with a decent GPA. While USC was founded as a
Methodist university, it is safe to say that today, many students are
apathetic toward religion on campus. Some may not have time for it. Others
simply do not have the patience or the capacity to motivate their spiritual
growth.My concerns were not for
students lacking time to hear about God and Jesus Christ; I worried that
students would not even stop to listen because they have falsely
pre-conceived notions about Christians. Admittedly, some of these
stereotypes are justified, but others are simply not true.So as this week begins,
before walking past Tommy Trojan at noon and rolling your eyes at "those
religious freaks," I'm debunking some stereotypes that people associate
with Christians.Critics argue that
Christians are hypocrites. Others may believe that Christians act superior,
or that they are maniacal religious zealots. But Christians are not
hypocrites, unless they are not human. To expect someone to be
perfect, as Christ was, asks the impossible, since they are only mortal.
Christians, whether they are devoted to God or pursuing their own paths,
struggle with moral ethics and temptations, as everyone does. It is wrong
for Christians to live a double standard that they force on others, but it
is wrong for others to not acknowledge that Christians can make human
errors too.Some are quick to point out
that Christians may also act superior, or snobby, toward non-Christians
because of this unique perspective, a stereotype that also finds its way
into judgments of other religions. My friend once asked me with
apprehension whether he would be welcome at an Asian-American Christian
fellowship, since the group appears to be a gathering of only
Christians.Think of Christians,
instead, as a circle of people. These people are not turned inward with
their backs to the world to shut out those who are not of their kind.
Christians face outward, with arms open in friendship. While they pursue
ideals that may not fit easily in the workplace or in some social
surroundings, they welcome others without compunction to share their time
and beliefs with them.The last common stereotype
of Christians, the Christian "crazie," makes me wince. Friends who debate
with me point out Jonestown, Waco and Heaven's Gate. Then they hear that I
am from Texas. They'll snicker about the people in Garland, Texas, who were
convinced that God would appear on television on a specific day at a
certain time to broadcast directions to leave for heaven.I have two defenses. First,
many religious groups like the ones mentioned above are not Christian. They
often mix and match their own religious beliefs together from Christianity,
Buddhism and New Age alternative religions, as the religious group in
Garland did. Sometimes, too, these people have Christian beginnings but
break away from their church under a charismatic leader who manipulates his
followers to fulfill a personal manifesto, as in Jonestown and Waco.To say that these people
are still Christian, and to accuse the entire faith of these examples, is
like saying our nation's forefathers, because they spoke English and
practiced British traditions, were still British when they broke away from
England to form the United States of America. Lastly, I admit that many
Christians are zealous. They are passionate about God, and they want to
share the good news with everyone who hasn't heard yet. Some people come on
too strong and turn off listeners because they don't know how to voice
their beliefs tactfully. But their intentions are good, even harmless,
since they are only words. What an individual will learn and apply from
those words is the power that Christians speak of and believe in.I may have my doubts about
Christ Awareness Week, but I also have faith. When I or someone else
proclaims their Christianity this week, I hope that people listen patiently
and with an open mind.Angie Chen is a sophomore majoring in print journalism.