THIRD SEMESTER part 4, chapter 75

John Barach Jr. writes of his expulsion. If I’m not mistaken, there were five expulsions in early 1965. This is number two, of three stories that will appear.

“Several couples had Special Permission (SP) to attend a weekend hockey tournament together. Prior to that event, there was an evangelistic campaign led by a guy named Argue. We were allowed to go to it as a couple, but I could wish I had never gone. It soured me on evangelistic campaigns ever since. My wife says she can no longer enjoy the song, "Just as I am" because they played all 37 verses of the song that night. The appeal he gave urged, "If you have a neighbour who is not saved, come forward." "If your paperboy is not saved, come forward." On and on it went. Then to top it off, he reported in the newspaper that hundreds of people came forward and were saved. What a liar.           

“The kitchen staff was aware they would all be late and held back some supper for their return. I was the first in line in the kitchen to fill up my girlfriend’s and my plate. The other guys were doing the same. So I came out of the kitchen and sat with my girlfriend ready to eat. That's when the assistant dean came in and saw me with my girl, which he figured was against the rules. As he called me out and told me to sit at a different table, I tried to explain that we had been at the hockey game and had an SP. Meanwhile all the other fellows stayed in the kitchen watching to see what would happen since their fate was going to be the same as mine. No reasoning with him was working, so I got up to go to another table and as I passed by him, I gave him a shove and sent him across another table. Well, that was the straw that led to my expulsion. I felt I was living within the rules, but he created his own interpretation of them as he went.

“I was expelled in 1964-65 for pushing the Assistant Dean. Later reports of my punching him were unfounded. But the clincher, which resulted in my expulsion, was not so much for pushing him, but for lack of repentance for the deed.

“One room in the dorm was designated as the prayer room; but instead of going to the Assistant Dean to ask for forgiveness, I went to the prayer room. I felt that I had offended God with my attitude and actions more than with my pushing him. Apparently I failed in the cross examination by the President, Dean, and Assistant Dean because I did not show the proper "signs of repentance" (i.e., tears).

“The following year I was allowed to return, but the attitude of Mr. Rose was 180 degrees the other direction. I am so thankful to him and his wife for the kindness they showed toward me.

“I found it strange in 1964-65 that I could talk to any girl in the school except the one I was dating. My roommate was dating as well and I talked with her a lot to convey the messages he wanted me to give her. My roommate did the same for me.

“After I left, I sent my girl a rose and her roommate took a picture of her with it which "comforted" me in my expulsion.

“Today, I don't feel bitter about the experience. It was a time of transition from the days of the Pink-and-Blue-sidewalk mentality of Bible colleges.

“Other schools had the same problems. A good friend of mine and I went to a Prairie Bible Institute conference in the summer of 1963. His fiancée attended there. Doug and I sat side-by-side in a nearly empty auditorium and his girl sat in the seat in front of us. She and Doug carried on a long conversation with some very endearing words. Though they were engaged, they couldn't talk directly to each other.

“I had a friend who, I think, was rushed into marriage in order to escape the strict dating rules. Their marriage did not last very long ... about a year, I think. That was another of the tragedies of those years. If he had been free to date her properly, they might have discovered sooner that they were incompatible.”

I am not defending the actions of these friends. I am questioning the process, which led to unfortunate results. No one received individual counsel. A person failed, was tried, judged and sentenced in a very impersonal way. I wanted a greater sensitivity from Christina leaders. But that was not the nature of the times. Rules reigned. It was the 60’s and absolute authority was crumbling. Those under authority wanted to know the why of rules. Government and educational authorities had abused their power and were being challenged across North America. I doubt we were completely aware of the full cultural situation. I wasn’t. I was aware of the Biblical passages being taught about love, grace, and compassion. Where was the example?

We were imperfect youth asking questions and generally trying to do the right thing. It felt like we were being told to do as I say, not as I do. I for one had questioned that thinking since I was thirteen. Tell me what God says about living the Christ life in this imperfect world. How is that done?  So my question was, what does God want of struggling Bible college students? Was it really absolute blind obedience? Even God did not ask that. The world was changing. How would we face this new world?