Ok, well its been a while since I offered anything of any substance on this forum so I believe its time for alittle academic exercise.
If there is one thing that gets my blood boiling its when christians develop programs in the industry and sling around God's name like he has something to do with the harm and pain a child faces on a regular basis in places like these. I hate it when they claim to be christian and doing God's work, because if there is one thing they are not doing its Gods work.
Because of my schooling and some of my studies I have a unique abilty to combat those that claim to be doing the work of God. So, what follows is a Biblical commentary on Magnolia Christian Center.
If you will orient your self to this web page please.
http://http://magnoliachristiancenter.net/Respect.htmYou can take a look at their camp quicky, a 30 to 60 day boot camp like program meant for instant obidence.
Magnolia Christian Center offers a new type of camp designed for the teenage boy who needs immediate intervention by trained instructors to teach discipline, respect, and pride in young men who are headed for trouble. The focuses on structure, discipline, and exercise to reach troubled teens who might not respond to other programs.
Ok, now, some would ask, so what, sounds all good and bible like, dicipline, respect, pride. But the fact of the mater is not what it teaches, but how it tries to teach it. If you consider the idea of a camp like this, with a 30 to 60 day time table, it is a quick fix issue. This quick fix is not what God looks for. God does not look for obidence. God looks for a change in heart, and God looks for love. You cannot have discipline, respect, or pride if there is not underlying principle support. Principles can only be developed in the long term and not with one hour of core value trainning a day. Obidence does not fix humanity, love does, this program seems to be lacking.
Moving on to next section
http://magnoliachristiancenter.net/Structure.htmPlease observe the picture on this section of the young man looking alittle severe. I dont know if this is part of the disapline camp, but chritianity is hardly militant, and I quiet firmly disagree with orginizations that try to mix the two.
Moving down the page I direct your attention to the fact youth attend devotional groups. Forcing any youth to attend a church service, devotional group, or whatever, is very much against some basic christian principles. The Christian God is a God of choice, either you chose to do what he wishes you to, or you don't, God does not force indviduals to complete mundain tasks under the new covenant. We are useless to God if we are joyless and are forced to attend biblical services.
Next Page
http://magnoliachristiancenter.net/Faith.htmMore of the same about being forced to go to a church service, but I would like to point out that they are given by a Brother, a person with no professional theological education, which as a teacher, can open up the doors to herecy and false teaching. If the school is teaching large groups of students there should be some one with formal theological trainning.
Next Page
http://magnoliachristiancenter.net/Mcc.htmIn this section we see a major warning sign for any program, I draw your attention to number two.
2. Exhibit a strong feeling of pride in the program and in his beliefs.
The three words... "In the program" seem alittle uncomfortable to me.
and number nine
9. Displays an instant and willing response to orders.
This part worries me theologically because scripture tells us to "Render to Ceaser what is Ceaser's" Which basicly means follow the rules of an earthly athority, but there is a limit... "Render to God what is God's" (its all one verse by the way, for those that dont know) and that God is no longer a God of rules and regulations, but one of relationships. Great biblical men did not have Instant and willing responce to orders, and still managed to work for God, infact, many Great scriptual men had athority issues. (Abraham, Moses, David)
That covers anything of the site worth much, thank you. I hope you have found this interesting. Comments? Questions?
Oh, I almost forgot the most important part! Spanking is unethical if not done by parents, you cant pass that responsiblity off. Under the New covenant spanking is not made unethical but its not really supported either. Under the Abrahamic Covenant one could kill a unrulely child, I dont think Magnolia Christian Center would like to be accused of following that biblical principle.
These are all my opinions.