The Demerit System... the Bane of Holiness

[FSSL]

People need to vote with their feet and stop attending such weaker brother institutions.

We shall always have the weak among us.

 

[FSSL]

AmazedbyGrace: Please note. I did not delete your post. I split it from this topic because it will make for a perfect thread in its own right and will not derail this one.

Here is the location of your new post! http://www.fundamentalforums.org/the-fighting-forum/amazedbygrace-discussion-regarding-bible-college-rules-(split)/

 

[Anchor]

You want to hear about inconsistent, unfair, etc.? Institute some kind of church discipline (accurately according to scripture, of course) in a moderately sized church with lots of extended family units and you will hear about it. 

The problem is not the system, it is sinful human nature.

Sure. Biblical discipleship is messy and hard work. However by-passing the biblical model for discipline, no matter how easy it makes things, fosters a wrong idea of sanctification. Mathew's assessment was dead-on!

Why is there such a reaction to preserve a demerit system? Has Christianity become so lazy that it prefers a secular Pharisaical system instead of implementing biblical discipleship?

Unless I'm misreading there are not a lot here, and especially moi, that are trying to "preserve a demerit system."  I could care less.  Whether you call them demerits, facts of negative grace, or just a stroll down memory lane from time to time with a spiritual/other authority, the matter of fact is that in any setting--school; work; etc.--somebody is keeping some sort of tally that will be referenced when the need for correction becomes apparent. Sooner or later that tally, if consistently negative, is going to add up to "you're either incompetent or insubordinate; neither one is acceptable, so ...(leave; you're fired; or whatever may be the next appropriate step)."

The demerit system is only one of many forms of this tally keeping.  It is not the bad guy, so your premise is completely bogus. 

As I stated earlier, I prefer the fine method, which is in general keeping with real life.  You park your car wrong, you pay a fine.  You return a library book late, you pay a fine.  You wear the wrong thing to work, you pay a fine (a day's suspension w/out pay in many places). You file your taxes late you pay a fine.  You get the picture.

The goal of church or Christian education is discipleship.  The problem with discipleship is not that there is a demerit system or some other system at fault, it is in people--the discipler and disciplee.  You want to have a perfect system, fore go all the people.

 

[cave_dweller]

People need to vote with their feet and stop attending such weaker brother institutions.

We shall always have the weak among us.

It is that condescending attitude that I love about you man. No one says demerits are to make you holy. They are there to be a set of guidelines they want the students to live by. The demerits are for those who wish to cause problems, not the ones who want to be there and serve God. Also, last time I checked each student must read the handbook before enrolling. NEWSFLASH! If you don't agree with the rules then don't attend. It makes no sense to willingly put yourself under the rules, and then whine and cry about them.

 

[AmazedbyGrace]

People need to vote with their feet and stop attending such weaker brother institutions.

We shall always have the weak among us.

It is that condescending attitude that I love about you man. No one says demerits are to make you holy. They are there to be a set of guidelines they want the students to live by. The demerits are for those who wish to cause problems, not the ones who want to be there and serve God. Also, last time I checked each student must read the handbook before enrolling. NEWSFLASH! If you don't agree with the rules then don't attend. It makes no sense to willingly put yourself under the rules, and then whine and cry about them.

Places like PCC won't release their rule book to prospective students until they travel to Pensacola to pay and register. Why is that?

Also, there are MANY unwritten rules that are brought out when the admin finds them convenient to use against someone (WCBC, BJU, PCC, etc.).

Word is getting out. Most potential students are able to google these places and will find what MANY former students are saying. The "Rate My College" site for PCC is loaded with interesting comments: 470 Negative vs 713 Positive. You just can't dismiss it as irrelevant.

http://www.studentsreview.com/FL/PCC.html

 

[AmazedbyGrace]

The very first negative review I read from the Rate My College site:

"I to this day have nightmares about having to go back to PCC. I know many people had a great experience and I am happy they did. I met many great friends and teachers and my education was top notch, however being it was unaccredited it has completely hindered me both in a career and potential graduate school. I was homeschooled and raised in a strict Baptist home. A lot of the rules at PCC weren't that different from home - but eventually other new, offshoot rules started coming out. I'm embarrassed to tell people where I went to school.
Rules you won't know about until you go: you won't ride in an elevator or walk in a stairwell with anyone of the opposite sex. You cannot study with someone of the opposite sex in the library - you can't talk to them even. If your brother or sister (whichever is opposite your gender) attends the school and you try to talk to them, you'll be asked to separate. (This is not just in the library but anywhere mixed groups aren't allowed to socialize). When you explain that you're siblings, they'll say that's great but you are tempting the other students to do wrong so take it elsewhere. When I attended (01-05) I was sent back from registering for classes because my sandals had a toe divider between the big and second toes. No one could explain to me why this was wrong, only that it was. As a girl you'll be ridiculed in the local shopping areas by any number of people. Everyone knows who you are and they think you're part of a cult, regardless of how polite you are. You won't be allowed to wear pajama pants in your room until you literally are getting in to bed. You can't walk out of your room to get water while you're in pajamas - you must change back into a skirt. Spring break is a week of 5 church services a day. You won't be able to do anything by yourself (as a female) until you're a senior. You're required to go to all "fine arts" (concerts and plays) and you're looked down on if you can't find a date. If you purposefully or accidentally touch someone of the opposite gender, you will be socialed - followed around by a floorleader and unable to talk to ANYONE of the opposite sex. Generally this lasts for two weeks. If you read the newspaper or magazines in the library, you'll notice stories and pictures blotted out with big white stickers. If you get a J. Crew catalog in the mail, you'll be called up to the deans office and warned to open the magazine in your room - and strongly encouraged to stop receiving the catalog, due to the pictures of women in swimsuits. When your parents come to visit you, you'll have to get written permission from the school to go off with them, and you have to tell the school everywhere you plan to go. With your parents. You won't be allowed to attend any other churches, only the campus church. When visitors are on campus, YOU must be on campus. So at Thanksgiving, you only get Thanksgiving off, and even then you have multiple required things you have to be at - because God forbid the campus not look full and happy. You'll be asked to tattle on your friends and fellow students, and if you don't you will receive demerits. If you don't take your trash out every day, you'll receive demerits. If you don't make your bed every day, you'll receive demerits. If you get out of your bed after lights out for any reason, you'll receive demerits. I would never recommend this school but I also wouldn't care if people decided to go. I think it is a very personal decision and certainly some people handle it better than others. I would HIGHLY encourage students and parents to go and visit the school during regular school periods - talk to students, not just the one that's assigned to you."

 

[qwerty]

People need to vote with their feet and stop attending such weaker brother institutions.

We shall always have the weak among us.

It is that condescending attitude that I love about you man. No one says demerits are to make you holy. They are there to be a set of guidelines they want the students to live by. The demerits are for those who wish to cause problems, not the ones who want to be there and serve God. Also, last time I checked each student must read the handbook before enrolling. NEWSFLASH! If you don't agree with the rules then don't attend. It makes no sense to willingly put yourself under the rules, and then whine and cry about them.

Places like PCC won't release their rule book to prospective students until they travel to Pensacola to pay and register. Why is that?

When I was checking out colleges, they had no problem sending me one. In fact, every college I was considering sent me a copy of their rule book. Not their "need to know" book they send when you apply, but the actual rule book.

If someone travels to a college without knowing the rules they will have to abide by, the deserve what they get.

 

[Binaca Chugger]

I want a biblical system and you are not using the Bible to support your system.

I think your foundational argument is flawed.

The demerit system is a set of rules for community, not a system to influence holy living. 

Life is full of rules for community.  Even an online business that allows you to travel has rules for community (if you don't deliver - people give you negative ratings and your business suffers).  This forum has rules for community.  The Bible is full of rules for community.  Clearly stated rules brings clearly stated consequences.  Try driving across this country without any rules for the community of drivers. 

It seems like you are really upset about people who enjoy the power trip of assigning demerits.  Everyone agrees that this presentation of pride is wrong, no matter where it presents itself in life.

The demerit system can only influence spiritual development as any set of laws can.  A counselor may notice an individual is having problems in a particular area of life and begin to approach the individual.  The individual must make the decision to conform to Christ in order to grow in his journey of conformity to Christ.

By the way - Read Romans 13.

 

[Mathew Ward]

The demerit system is a set of rules for community, not a system to influence holy living.

Here is the first sentence from Crown Colleges student handbook...

"Every personal standard held by a believer should arise from a simple and sincere desire to honor Christ by living a holy life."

Then they are going to outline what those rules are in order to live what they think a holy life is.  If you can perform it then you must be holy.

 

[Binaca Chugger]

The demerit system is a set of rules for community, not a system to influence holy living.

Here is the first sentence from Crown Colleges student handbook...

"Every personal standard held by a believer should arise from a simple and sincere desire to honor Christ by living a holy life."

Then they are going to outline what those rules are in order to live what they think a holy life is.  If you can perform it then you must be holy.

Yes and no.

All good rules for community are Bible based, since the Bible is the basis for living.  Even silly rules, like, no ironing on the floor, influence good stewardship (not having to replace melted carpet).  I think what most Bible colleges attempt to do is state that we should have rules to live by that are formed from a desire to honor Christ in our daily life.  If this is not your goal, you are in the wrong community (go to State U).  After this foundational statement, they proceed to outline their rules for community.  Only the goofy assume that doing these things will make you holy, and yes there are goofy people at each institution (at HAC we called them HACkers).

 

[rsc2a]

[quote author=Binaca Chugger]Yes and no.

All good rules for community are Bible based, since the Bible is the basis for living.  Even silly rules, like, no ironing on the floor, influence good stewardship (not having to replace melted carpet). [/quote]

And rules that state you should avoid your siblings because they have different plumbing than you?

[quote author=Binaca Chugger]I think what most Bible colleges attempt to do is state that we should have rules to live by that are formed from a desire to honor Christ in our daily life.  If this is not your goal, you are in the wrong community (go to State U). [/quote]

False dichotomy. There are plenty of folks in State U who "have rules to live by that are formed from a desire to honor Christ in [their] daily life". They just also want to be employable upon graduation (among other reasons).

[quote author=Binaca Chugger]After this foundational statement, they proceed to outline their rules for community.  Only the goofy assume that doing these things will make you holy, and yes there are goofy people at each institution (at HAC we called them HACkers).[/quote]

The vast majority of these rules aren't about community, but control and conformity. Pure and simple.

 

[Binaca Chugger]

I want a biblical system and you are not using the Bible to support your system.

I think your foundational argument is flawed.

The demerit system is a set of rules for community, not a system to influence holy living.

Demerits are punitive. They are not the rules themselves, but the punishment for not obeying the man-made set of rules.

As Christians, we are to do two things:warn and work toward restoration. This anonymous, capricious, tattle-tale system does not satisfy what the Bible outlines for a community of believers to dwell together.

Every community has rules for community.  The demerit system is not a good method by which to run a church.  It is not a good method by which to run your home.  However, in a school setting, it works very well.  The demerit is the punishment.  The counsel is the attempt at restoration.

It has been brought over from a secular model and "baptized" by school admins to penalize. There is no attempt to help a person grow in godliness. It is a tool of conformity to manipulate behavior in whatever direction the school admins desire.

I very much disagree.  If you are in a bad system, you may have had such an experience.  But this blanket statement is easily proven false.  In my own life, the admins made personal attempt to help me grow in godliness.  As a teacher, I made personal attempts to help students grow in godliness.  As a principal, I made personal attempts to help my students and their parents grow in godliness.  Not every demerit slip gets a counseling session, but trends certainly do.

By the way, my kids went to a large IFB church's "Christian" school that did not have demerits.  Any problems would be handled by telling the kids they made Jesus sad and we should be better Christians.  Result?  Bullying that left one of mine in the hospital.  Punishment?  "None needed, they were just being boys you know.  We will talk with them and tell them to ask God to forgive them."  Are you surprised that no apology came?  I have a HB friend who went to a different large IFB "Chrisitan" school with a similar system.  When sexting started, there was a lax attitude and no real correction.  Even the public schools have stronger rules for community.

By the way - Read Romans 13.

I have. The government has the right to kill.
[/quote]

Hmmm...  Yes, the government has a right to kill, but that is in Genesis.  Try reading it again, and maybe this time include the teachings of Matthew 5:41 (in case you wonder if we should obey silly rules placed upon us that don't make sense to use and cause us difficulty).

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

You want to hear about inconsistent, unfair, etc.? Institute some kind of church discipline (accurately according to scripture, of course) in a moderately sized church with lots of extended family units and you will hear about it. 

The problem is not the system, it is sinful human nature.

Sure. Biblical discipleship is messy and hard work. However by-passing the biblical model for discipline, no matter how easy it makes things, fosters a wrong idea of sanctification. Mathew's assessment was dead-on!

Why is there such a reaction to preserve a demerit system? Has Christianity become so lazy that it prefers a secular Pharisaical system instead of implementing biblical discipleship?

Unless I'm misreading there are not a lot here, and especially moi, that are trying to "preserve a demerit system."  I could care less.  Whether you call them demerits, facts of negative grace, or just a stroll down memory lane from time to time with a spiritual/other authority, the matter of fact is that in any setting--school; work; etc.--somebody is keeping some sort of tally that will be referenced when the need for correction becomes apparent. Sooner or later that tally, if consistently negative, is going to add up to "you're either incompetent or insubordinate; neither one is acceptable, so ...(leave; you're fired; or whatever may be the next appropriate step)."

The demerit system is only one of many forms of this tally keeping.  It is not the bad guy, so your premise is completely bogus. 

As I stated earlier, I prefer the fine method, which is in general keeping with real life.  You park your car wrong, you pay a fine.  You return a library book late, you pay a fine.  You wear the wrong thing to work, you pay a fine (a day's suspension w/out pay in many places). You file your taxes late you pay a fine.  You get the picture.

The goal of church or Christian education is discipleship.  The problem with discipleship is not that there is a demerit system or some other system at fault, it is in people--the discipler and disciplee.  You want to have a perfect system, fore go all the people.

Hope all is well with you and your family.
Have you been speaking semi regularly in Chapel at Grace BBC in Winston?
If that's you, call me next time you're there and ill come hear you....and go to the altar. 

 

[Anchor]

Hope all is well with you and your family.
Have you been speaking semi regularly in Chapel at Grace BBC in Winston?
If that's you, call me next time you're there and ill come hear you....and go to the altar. 

About once a year for the past several years.  You can find the messages online on their website and use your office desk an altar. 

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

Hope all is well with you and your family.
Have you been speaking semi regularly in Chapel at Grace BBC in Winston?
If that's you, call me next time you're there and ill come hear you....and go to the altar. 

About once a year for the past several years.  You can find the messages online on their website and use your office desk an altar. 

Will do....

How is camp shaping up this year?

 

[FSSL]

People need to vote with their feet and stop attending such weaker brother institutions.

We shall always have the weak among us.

It is that condescending attitude that I love about you man.

Oh... sorry... I didn't know you considered yourself weaker.

No one says demerits are to make you holy. They are there to be a set of guidelines they want the students to live by. The demerits are for those who wish to cause problems, not the ones who want to be there and serve God.

So this must be clarifying or walking back what you said above: "However, the concept of demerits is put the students in an enviroment that gives them a better chance to live holy."

I assume, then, you did not read Crown College's statement above: "Every personal standard held by a believer should arise from a simple and sincere desire to honor Christ by living a holy life."

Everyone knows that Bible Colleges conflate the idea of spiritual maturity with those who have zero demerits.

Also, last time I checked each student must read the handbook before enrolling. NEWSFLASH! If you don't agree with the rules then don't attend. It makes no sense to willingly put yourself under the rules, and then whine and cry about them.

NEWSFLASH!!! The student handbooks are grievously shortcoming in revealing all of the nonsense rules.

 

[Anchor]

Hope all is well with you and your family.
Have you been speaking semi regularly in Chapel at Grace BBC in Winston?
If that's you, call me next time you're there and ill come hear you....and go to the altar. 

About once a year for the past several years.  You can find the messages online on their website and use your office desk an altar. 

Will do....

How is camp shaping up this year?

Excellent.  You need to come visit.

 

[FSSL]

Every community has rules for community.  The demerit system is not a good method by which to run a church.  It is not a good method by which to run your home.  However, in a school setting, it works very well.  The demerit is the punishment.  The counsel is the attempt at restoration.

It is precisely the counsel that gets bypassed. The anonymous demerit-giver secretly turns in his/her slip and you have to defend yourself within 5 business days.

Since the demerit system is not a good method to run a family or church, on what basis can you simply say that it is a good method for a Bible College? Why is the 17-21 year old segmented out for demerits if that same system is not good for the ages 0-16 and 22-99?

Why not just change up the system to better emulate discipleship?

It has been brought over from a secular model and "baptized" by school admins to penalize. There is no attempt to help a person grow in godliness. It is a tool of conformity to manipulate behavior in whatever direction the school admins desire.

I very much disagree.  If you are in a bad system, you may have had such an experience.  But this blanket statement is easily proven false.  In my own life, the admins made personal attempt to help me grow in godliness.  As a teacher, I made personal attempts to help students grow in godliness.  As a principal, I made personal attempts to help my students and their parents grow in godliness.  Not every demerit slip gets a counseling session, but trends certainly do.

By the way, my kids went to a large IFB church's "Christian" school that did not have demerits.  Any problems would be handled by telling the kids they made Jesus sad and we should be better Christians.  Result?  Bullying that left one of mine in the hospital.  Punishment?  "None needed, they were just being boys you know.  We will talk with them and tell them to ask God to forgive them."  Are you surprised that no apology came?  I have a HB friend who went to a different large IFB "Chrisitan" school with a similar system.  When sexting started, there was a lax attitude and no real correction.  Even the public schools have stronger rules for community.[/quote]

I actually did not have a bad experience. I was a conformist that knew how manipulate the system (within reason). If you don't think bullying and sexting are a problem in Bible Colleges that dole out demerits, you have been gamed by those who know how to manipulate the system.

Your "Jesus sad" thing is just pathetic (of which I know you would agree). That is not discipleship.

By the way - Read Romans 13.

I have. The government has the right to kill.
[/quote]

Hmmm...  Yes, the government has a right to kill, but that is in Genesis.  Try reading it again, and maybe this time include the teachings of Matthew 5:41 (in case you wonder if we should obey silly rules placed upon us that don't make sense to use and cause us difficulty).
[/quote]

It appears that you need to read Romans 13 again.

Again, the demerit system is not a God-oriented method for Christian communities. Our governing authorities are secular beings. Romans 13 tells us that God has given our secular authorities the right to exact punishment (even unto death). We are also told that there are times when it is better to obey God rather than man (but that is for another time).

What we are discussing is the punitive method being used by Bible Colleges for controlling Christian communities. The Bible is clear as to how interpersonal relationships are to be handled. The Apostle Paul could have mentioned a demerit system which includes merit points as well. He didn't. He specifically said that the works of the law are not designed to make an environment better for holiness. In fact... he wonders who bewitched Christians into thinking that was the right way!

"You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?"

 

[Binaca Chugger]

It is precisely the counsel that gets bypassed. The anonymous demerit-giver secretly turns in his/her slip and you have to defend yourself within 5 business days.

oooohh.  In a properly working system, the one giving the demerits must inform the student at the time of assigning the demerits.  Next, the student may petition the administration for any reason he feels he does not need demerits.  If there is no monitoring of the student's record to notice trends that may need counsel, the demerit system is definitely missing an important aspect.  The whole purpose of discipline should be to teach correct behavior through admonishment, instruction and restoration.

Since the demerit system is not a good method to run a family or church, on what basis can you simply say that it is a good method for a Bible College? Why is the 17-21 year old segmented out for demerits if that same system is not good for the ages 0-16 and 22-99?

Because they are different.  Christian schools would greatly benefit by having such a system of stated expectations with stated consequences.

Why not just change up the system to better emulate discipleship?

It has been brought over from a secular model and "baptized" by school admins to penalize. There is no attempt to help a person grow in godliness. It is a tool of conformity to manipulate behavior in whatever direction the school admins desire.

I very much disagree.  If you are in a bad system, you may have had such an experience.  But this blanket statement is easily proven false.  In my own life, the admins made personal attempt to help me grow in godliness.  As a teacher, I made personal attempts to help students grow in godliness.  As a principal, I made personal attempts to help my students and their parents grow in godliness.  Not every demerit slip gets a counseling session, but trends certainly do.

By the way, my kids went to a large IFB church's "Christian" school that did not have demerits.  Any problems would be handled by telling the kids they made Jesus sad and we should be better Christians.  Result?  Bullying that left one of mine in the hospital.  Punishment?  "None needed, they were just being boys you know.  We will talk with them and tell them to ask God to forgive them."  Are you surprised that no apology came?  I have a HB friend who went to a different large IFB "Chrisitan" school with a similar system.  When sexting started, there was a lax attitude and no real correction.  Even the public schools have stronger rules for community.

I actually did not have a bad experience. I was a conformist that knew how manipulate the system (within reason). If you don't think bullying and sexting are a problem in Bible Colleges that dole out demerits, you have been gamed by those who know how to manipulate the system.

Your "Jesus sad" thing is just pathetic (of which I know you would agree). That is not discipleship.

We agree.  The bullying story is from grade school and the sexting from high school.  Both of them different well known churches (Maybe I was not clear, stories happened to our kids).  The difference is, that in a system where the rules are clearly defined with clearly defined consequences, the student would be suspended or expelled instead of coddled.

In this thread, I have provided examples now of 4 institutions who moved away from clearly defined expectations with clearly defined consequences (demerits), all four of which are failing to do what you are asking.  1 of those 4 quickly changed their stance and started a demerit system.

Does God give us clearly defined expectations with clearly defined consequences in the Bible?

Again, the demerit system is not a God-oriented method for Christian communities. Our governing authorities are secular beings. Romans 13 tells us that God has given our secular authorities the right to exact punishment (even unto death). We are also told that there are times when it is better to obey God rather than man (but that is for another time).

What we are discussing is the punitive method being used by Bible Colleges for controlling Christian communities. The Bible is clear as to how interpersonal relationships are to be handled. The Apostle Paul could have mentioned a demerit system which includes merit points as well. He didn't. He specifically said that the works of the law are not designed to make an environment better for holiness. In fact... he wonders who bewitched Christians into thinking that was the right way!

"You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?"

Ooooh....  THAT is your problem..... You aren't using the KJV!  ;D

Seriously though.  Of course we are to obey God rather than man. 

The school is stating: "Here we stand, you cannot do otherwise and be part with us."  I have no problem with that.  If someone does not like the rules, go somewhere else.  When I was a principal, I told parents that we have expectations for the students.  If they did not want their children to be held to those expectations, they should simply find another school.  It was not condescending or in bitterness, just that this is what we are.

Again, we are not talking about developing holiness through the demerit system.  If that is your hope - you are hopeless.

Now, what has happened is that some people in these systems attempt to showcase their holiness by abiding by the rules with great ability.  The rules become a litmus test for holiness.  An over-emphasis on the outward occurs along with a de-emphasis on the inward and pretty soon, you have a pharisee making machine.  I will give you that.  However, in a school where the demerit system is working properly - this is not an issue.

 

[FSSL]

oooohh.  In a properly working system, the one giving the demerits must inform the student at the time of assigning the demerits.

You can see from the link to MBBCs demerit system, that it is anonymous. You are informed you got demerits by email.

I am sure that this is deployed in various ways in schools, but I have a feeling that anonymity is a common reality.

We agree.  The bullying story is from grade school and the sexting from high school.  Both of them different well known churches (Maybe I was not clear, stories happened to our kids).  The difference is, that in a system where the rules are clearly defined with clearly defined consequences, the student would be suspended or expelled instead of coddled.

In this thread, I have provided examples now of 4 institutions who moved away from clearly defined expectations with clearly defined consequences (demerits), all four of which are failing to do what you are asking.  1 of those 4 quickly changed their stance and started a demerit system.

I must have missed the other three. Northland International University has implemented a solid discipleship program. It has been going well since 2009.

Does God give us clearly defined expectations with clearly defined consequences in the Bible?

Absolutely. He has also given us, as a Christian community, a framework by which we are to restore each other. A demerit system is only off-set by earning merits (which no Bible College offers). It is a sterile, secular punitive system that does not allow Colossians and Galatians to be exercised.

THAT is your problem..... You aren't using the KJV!  ;D

ROFL!! I wanted you to understand it the first time you read it... LOL!!!

The school is stating: "Here we stand, you cannot do otherwise and be part with us."  I have no problem with that.  If someone does not like the rules, go somewhere else.  When I was a principal, I told parents that we have expectations for the students.  If they did not want their children to be held to those expectations, they should simply find another school.  It was not condescending or in bitterness, just that this is what we are.

Do you know how many unstated rules and expectations are made? Why not just require good Christian behavior? I suspect it is the litany of man-made rules that drive the need for a demerit system. Hair length, unintentional chapel absenses...

Again, we are not talking about developing holiness through the demerit system.  If that is your hope - you are hopeless.

I don't advocate that. However, our Bible Colleges conflate holiness with low demerit profiles.

Now, what has happened is that some people in these systems attempt to showcase their holiness by abiding by the rules with great ability.  The rules become a litmus test for holiness.  An over-emphasis on the outward occurs along with a de-emphasis on the inward and pretty soon, you have a pharisee making machine.  I will give you that.  However, in a school where the demerit system is working properly - this is not an issue.

How can a demerit system work properly? You do realize that a demerit system, as originally concocted, came also with a merit system. A bad deed can be erased by a good deed.

The demerit-only system puts a Bible College student into an irrecoverable situation. I have witnessed one of my own roomates getting 149 demerits. At 150, he would be expelled. It was over silly stuff... not having his bed made perfectly. Late to class. It all added up.

When anyone is in a situation where they are at the edge, there are usually one of two ways they handle it... cowering in fear, or just throwing up their hands in frustration and crossing over to 150 in a grand way.

This experience was not only true of my college but comparing notes with those at BJU, PCC and Hyles.

Since demerits do not work, and are not acceptable in a church, why do we use them in a Bible College setting?

I am arguing for a difficult, messy system that requires great patience.