a new kind of purity

At our last business meeting I said, “THIS YEAR OUR FRATERNITY HAS BEEN MARKED BY APATHY.” We waited too long to reply to the phi lambs (our “sisters”) to compete this year in SING. We have maybe a fourth of our members showing up to mixers, and we have unenthusiastic participation in party’s we sponsor (with our own money). At first glance this behavior may seem to be unacceptable but more and more I am questioning what I said at the last business meeting. Is it really we are “apathetic” (not interested or concerned; indifferent or unresponsive) in relation to KYX and what we represent? Or is it something else?
KYX alums and Christians before us have honorably established many organizations on campus that have given believers ways to hold meetings and encourage one another in the faith. But has this behavior taken away our ability to communicate with people outside our circles? Is this behavior hindering our ability to collectively interact with groups outside of ourselves? Is there something that goes on in our meetings that sets up boundaries, walls, rules, or laws exhibited in judgments and indifference that hinders our ability to communicate and love those outside of our religious nick? Have we become apathetic in response to this?
I am afraid we, just like many Christians have become ‘cultural commuters’ in our lives. We go out and see the freedom in the “lost” world, and then we go and read of the freedom in the “Christian” world. Then we get lost in our ability to freely interact with both worlds, getting stuck in rigid built up guilt and shame from these rituals we partake in.
Out of this struggle I have seen two competing visions. One of which I admit I have know for far too long in the church. The second vision I have seen in the grace that has been shown to people very disengaged with the church. What must come out is a new kind of purity. Purity from out-of-control partying and sexing, and purity from something else I can’t articulate right now. Either way purity must be sought after in the name of Jesus Christ. I hope and pray that this apathy that is luring around our heads is not out of anything but a desire for something real. I hope it is out of a disheartened experience and is fuel for a freedom that has not been seen on campus yet.