Testimony Infractions

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Protecting Your Testimony: Why & What

Why?

Living in a manner that glorifies God is our utmost purpose (I Corinthians 10:31-33). We are instructed in James 1:27 that: Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this… to keep himself unspotted from the world… The Testimony section of the Student Life Handbook highlights several areas that Christians must guard themselves against causing damage to their testimony and the testimonies of the Lord and Maranatha.

Students must abide by these biblical mandates at all times (including during breaks, vacations, and holidays). Commission of one or more of the following infractions, or failure to report the commission of one or more of the following infractions, will result in disciplinary action and in many cases, suspension or dismissal.

What?

Following is a list of some egregious sins that bring reproach to the Lord, yourself, and Maranatha.

  1. Abortion, or assisting someone to obtain
    Exodus 20:13 Thou shalt not kill.
    Matthew 19:18; Psalm 127:3
  2. Substance abuse; possession consumption, distribution, or attendance where alcohol, drugs, or tobacco is used
    • Alcohol;
      Proverbs 21:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
      Ephesians 5:18
    • Tobacco products, possession or use; other controlled substances 
      1 Corinthians 6:19-20 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
  3.  Bullying 
    Matthew 19:19b Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
    Leviticus 19:18; Proverbs 6:16-19; 1 John 2:9, 3:15
  4. Dishonesty
    • Cheating (including plagiarism);
      Romans 12:17 Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
      Proverbs 10:9
    • Lying/Deceit
      Ephesians 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another.
      Proverbs 6:16-17, 12:19,22; 101:75.
  5. Divorce
    Matthew 19:6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
    Malachi 2:15-16; Hebrews 13:4
  6.  Doctrine, serious deviation, and/or promotion of the same.
    Mark 7:7 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
    2 Peter 2:1; Titus 3:10
  7. Gambling
    Hebrews 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
    Matthew 6:24; Luke 12:15; 1 Timothy 6:9-10
  8. Illegal activity
    Romans 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same. 

    • Illicit drugs or drug paraphernalia; possession, use, or distribution
    • Hazing
    • Forgery
    • Assault and/or battery
    • Arrest, failure to report of self or another student
    • Lewdness
    • Fraud
    • Vandalism
    • Stealing (including theft of computer software).
      Exodus 20:15 Thou shalt not steal.
  9.  Occult activity/practices
    Ephesians 4:27 Neither give place to the devil.
    Galatians 5:19-20; Revelation 21:8
  10. Inappropriate Communication
    • Profanity
      Exodus 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain 
    • Public or Private (social media)
    • Vulgar/Crude Language
      Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
      Exodus 20:7; Proverbs 18:21; Matthew 12:36
  11. Racism
    Matthew 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
    Genesis 1:27; Acts 10:34-35; Romans 2:11; Galatians 3:28
  12.  Rebellion, a manifestation of a destructive influence or spirit of controversy, or the engendering of a spirit contrary to the purpose and principles for which Maranatha stands.
    1 Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
    Proverbs 17:11; Ephesians 5:6; 1 Peter 3:10
  13. Sexual immorality or harassment or violence
    1 Timothy 5:22b Keep thyself pure 1 Corinthians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

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