My neck snapped around with the same intense curiosity that forces me to look at a car wreck, but I wasn’t on a highway. I was innocently walking on the Oval last week when a huge sign reading “Satan Rules this world, Seek Jesus” obstructed my view of the library.
As a practicing Christian, I am used to the discomfort of watching misguided fanatics on campus proclaiming doomsday. Like many of you, I have learned to ignore the bad publicity these self-proclaimed “evangelists” thrust on my faith. However, on Thursday my decision to deal privately with these rough fanatics changed when I brushed past a sign-holder who yelled, “Wicked sinner! You are going straight to hell!” directly in my face.
When I calmly turned to the man and his sidekick to inform them about the true state of my soul, I was rewarded with death stares – in my attempt to quiet his accusations I stirred up the hellfire and brimstone. He began ranting Scripture after Scripture; each one taken out of context and twisted beyond recognition. I gave up all hope of sane reasoning when he called Ohio State an evil, pagan institution of Satanic origin. (He also threw in that he had attended Michigan on a football scholarship, which made perfect sense.)
After one more round of his “You’re going to hell!” routine, I walked away determined to combat these less-than-loving “evangelists” who defame the very gospel they claim to preach.
Students of OSU, I implore you to take these persons and their claims for what they are: a horrible misrepresentation of God and a despicable misuse of Scripture. The reality of Scripture is, in Jesus’ words, “… all that really matters: Love God with everything in you and love your neighbor as yourself.” I cannot comment on these people’s love for God. (Unlike them, I realize condemning people to hell isn’t my job), but their gross distortion of “love your neighbor” is laid out quite clearly.
To those of you who, like me, are suffering from Post-Traumatic Evangelism Syndrome, please contact an ordained minister or priest associated with a local church for a true and balanced view of Christianity. And from now on, don’t look for Jesus on the Oval, because he just isn’t there.
Rebecca MillerSeniorPsychology
