BYX vs. UFlorida

A week ago I posted a link to an article that discussed the fact that the University of Florida will not allow BYX (Beta Upsilon Chi - Brothers Under Christ), a Christian Fraternity, to exist on it's campus. (ABC/AP has also run a story). So what's UF's problem?

Well, BYX is getting hit from UF on two different fronts. According to UF:
1) BYX is not a "real" fraternity because it descriminates by religion (you have to be a Christian to be in BYX)
2) BYX is not a "real" student organization because it descriminates by sex (you have to be male to be in BYX)

This may not seem like a big deal, but this story caught my attention. For starters, I was in BYX @ TCU. I know the handshake. The philosophy. The history. The song. The code. The mantra. What I didn't like about BYX is that it was too ego-driven. Not evangelical. On the campus of TCU in the mid-90s, Spiritual Warfare was rampant. While other Christian orgs were on the front lines battling for souls, it felt like BYX was too busy to fight (instead, they were planning their next "exclusive" party...)

So, my initial reaction to BYX not being allowed into UF was "Good riddance!" I was even talking to a college buddy, recounting the frustrations with the organization, and found myself gloating over their apparent rejection.

Then I remembered a quote from an Episcopal Minister that I blogged on several months ago who accused a church with a skate park of "watering down of Christianity to make it more palatable." If you read my post, you will find that I was rather ticked at the Minister's quotes. Unfortunately, I find my thoughts of "Good riddence" lining up with the Ministers... so should I be ticked at myself?

Unconventional Ministry takes different forms, and while I don't agree with the practices of BYX on the TCU campus in the mid-90s, I do know several people involved in BYX that have gone on to do great things for the Kingdom. BYX reaches a niche that needs to be targeted on college campuses. And by doing things "unconventionally" they can target areas that a church or other student org may not be able to get to.

BYX is going into unchartered territory here. Most BYX chapters are located in Texas, with the remaining scattered over the Bible Belt states. The addition of UF in 2006 and University of Colorado in 2007, they're getting away from "Bible Belt" schools... which means different rules apply.

UFlorida slapped BYX in the face with this ruling. You're not a frat, and you're not a student organization. You're nothing! And with the rules in place (at a non "Bible Belt" school), I can understand their conclusion. This is where BYX needs to change. Are you going to let non-Christians in? Go evangelical? Are you going to tear down the gender barrier and redefine what a fraternity is?

Knowing what I do of BYX, I doubt it. Let me tell you what I would do. I would wear the UF ruling with pride. I would then become the thorn in the University's side.

Go militant. Go underground. Go crazy. You're the organization that UF won't acknowledge. Promote that. Publish that. Let that be your theme. Since you're not approved, you can't meet on UF campus. Find a house nearby. You can't hang up signs. Start a word of mouth campaign. Create a YouTube video announcement. Go viral! You can't get school funds. Find deep pocket alumni and sell them the vision. Drop the frat boy mistique. The Emerging Generation is largely considered anti-"organized religion". Aim, target, and recruit these kids. Become the bridge, the front door that connects them to God.

This thinking is "unconventional" thinking for an already "unconventional" ministry. I pray God opens a path for your ministry on UF campus, and that many will find God through BYX @ UF.

Comments

[Jon]

Great thoughts Jeff. Creative and relevant solutions to something that's realistically going to be happening more and more...

[Heather]

BYX could enlist the aid of FIRE or the ACLJ, but the underground idea sounds cool enough, though. I'm wondering, will UofF dismiss AEPi (Jewish Fraternity) on these grounds?

What do I know.

*HeatherT*

[Late90s TCU BYX]

Jeff - randomly caught this in a blog search... I was in BYX at TCU. You may think that it wasn't evangelical, but I essentially got the gospel through my introduction to BYX. One of those mid-90s seniors asked me the question, on a scale of 1-10, what are your odds of going to heaven? I said something other than 10 and then had the BYX President explain that it is Christ alone and nothing I can accomplish on my own. The lights came on for me. I then spent three years thinking I was probably one of like three guys who said something other than 10 in that interview process. I later participated in the interviews with the new freshman and found that 80%+ of the incoming freshman said something other than 10. This opened my eyes to what an evangelical and gospel-equipping ministry BYX is for college men. How incredible is it to get to lay out the gospel to 40-50 guys in their first two weeks on a college campus? Even more remarkable is that these guys come willingly to check out BYX and not vice/versa. As you mentioned, many guys from BYX have gone on to incredible ministry opportunities. When we were in school, BYX was on four campuses. Today it is 20+ and growing at one to three per year. BYX has become a great ministry on college campuses and remains one that I continue to invest in. Best to you - Romans 12 is coincidentally my favorite chapter of the bible...