In a scene familiar to many at the University, the Consuming Fire Fellowship returned Tuesday to Free Speech Plaza.
The Consuming Fire Fellowship is a Christian congregation from Woodville, Miss., that follows a strict, literal interpretation of the Bible. This interpretation leads them to disagree with many Christians on campus.
“I would say that their ministry style is not anything close to what we would do,” said John Boudreaux, director of the University’s chapter of the Campus Crusade for Christ.
The ministry style Boudreaux spoke of earned the Consuming Fire Fellowship attention and distaste from many on campus.
“Their Christianity is not the Christianity that I know,” said sociology junior Claire Condrey. Condrey is a member of the Wesley Foundation, a service organization with the United Methodist Church.
“I don’t think you can live your life and be a good Christian – or a good person – if your only motivation is not to go to hell,” Condrey said.
Mitch Sherpas, chemical engineering junior and student leader in the newly formed Jesus Revive LSU group, also disagrees with some of the group’s methods.
“It is not Christ-like, and it is not what we are called to do,” Sherpas said.
Sherpas said he does not agree with the Consuming Fire Fellowship’s tactics of singling out certain groups then generalizing and condemning them. He also said the Consuming Fire Fellowship stretches the meaning of certain scriptures for their own ends.
“It’s not the right methodology, and it’s not the right place to be done,” Sherpas said.
The Consuming Fire Fellowship’s literal biblical interpretation affects their beliefs in a way some say is backward. One of these beliefs is that women should be confined to primarily domestic roles.
“If someone wants to live their life and be a homemaker, that’s fine,” Condrey said. “I do not believe you should raise your young children to think that they need to sit in the back and cook.”
The Consuming Fire Fellowship also preaches that Roman Catholics are not true Christians. Literature available from the group cites arguments against Catholics.
The Rev. Than Vu is a minister at Christ the King Parish and Catholic Center at LSU. Though he has no direct experience with the Consuming Fire Fellowship, he disagrees with criticisms of Catholicism that claim Catholics do not take the Bible seriously.
These criticisms, Vu said, may be the result of differing interpretations of the Bible.
“In spite of what some people may say, no one interprets the entire Bible literally,” Vu said.
Sherpas said that like the Consuming Fire Fellowship, he believes in a literal interpretation of the Bible.
He said, however, that he disagrees that man is able to live a life completely free from sin.
Sherpas said people are constantly tempted, and he does not think anyone can expect to live without sin, as the Consuming Fire Fellowship says.
Boudreaux explained his belief that sin separates man from God, but he said that does not mean God does not love those who sin.
“God loves us in spite of our sin,” he said.
This is in direct contrast to the messages and signs of the Consuming Fire Fellowship, including one that reads, “God Hates Sin.”
“Our lead point is that God loves everyone,” Boudreaux said. “I don’t seem to get that as much from them.”
—–Contact Daniel McBride at [email protected]