Sermon at the Fount

During the first two days of classes, Indiana State had some unusual public speakers on campus.

A group of three traveling evangelical preachers arrived at the fountain in front of the HMSU around noon on Wednesday.

The preachers began by promising fire and brimstone, shouting at any student within earshot about the sins of man and that the consequence was hell.

The student body responded with anger and frustration, quickly turning a "sermon at the fountain" into a heated exchange of opinion and ideas.

The preachers are three of hundreds around the country traveling from college campus to college campus preaching their values.

Mitch Metzger, one of the traveling evangelists said, "The Bible teaches in all scripture to rebuke, correct and train in right living. We hope to enhance the morality and character of the student body as they learn their particular career. We teach morality so that students can be more balanced. We consider ourselves moral doctors."

Metzger became a Christian during service in the United States Marine Corps, he said. For the past 20 years he has served as a missionary in the Philippines, coming back to the U.S. every three years to do this type of evangelical preaching. He carries with him a drill instructor's whistle to command attention or scorn wrong answers and in the style of John Wayne carries a Bible holster as if it were a six-shooter.

Jed Smock was banned from campus a few years ago, but recently has been allowed back on campus due to legal battles. A former ISU student, evangelical Smock said, "I am very happy to be back at my alma mater. The Alliance defense fund came to the rescue because the university violated my right to free speech. Free speech is very valuable. I hated bringing lawyers into it but it was necessary."

During the sermon, Walter Beck, a junior English major, joined Smock onstage to openly debate from his standpoint on satanism.

Beck later said, "Philosophically speaking we are different in our beliefs but we are all showmen. I'm not religious, but LaVeyan satanism is a great counter to Christian beliefs. People live for a show; I enjoy getting people riled up. This is America. Anyone can say whatever it is they want. I wish more people would do that. We don't have to agree; we all have the right to speak. Political correctness is scaring people out of speaking their minds."

Both preachers spoke on many topics including drugs, drinking, marriage, pornography, the death penalty and homosexuality. Smock took the stance against homosexuality saying, "There is no such thing as a homosexual, only homosexual acts; there are males and females. There are normal males like myself, and there are abnormal males like most of the men around here. You have normal females and then you have abnormal females like witches."

Metzger said homosexual sin is worthy of death, but the death penalty wouldn't work. "If we made a law to kill all gays, it wouldn't work. It would be too hard to prove, it would tie up the courts because there would be lines of millions of homos. It would take over a thousand years, it would be a mess. The death penalty might not come to a homo but they will get their due on judgment day," Metzger said.

Many of the preachers' comments came with harsh criticisms from the crowd.

Eric Gutierrez, a sophomore music performance major who is openly homosexual, said, "This man is the reason people turn away from God."

Joey Layman, a junior information technology major said, "Well apparently since my mom is a lesbian, she should be killed."

"Their approach is all wrong, they are not coming from a standpoint of love, they are overcritical, they talk to people as if they have a higher authority than that of other students and Christians," said Zosimo Arreola, a sophomore pre-law major who works with the Intervarsity Fellowship of Christians. "I also am a Christian but I use love and understanding, compassion, and I listen other than telling them they are wrong in a condemning manner."

Dillon Ruggan, a senior human resources major said, "These guys are basically cherry-picking from the Bible and it is ridiculous. They are exploiting people in different groups."

"I don't agree with the message and I think they are using a lot of faulty logic in their arguments, but I still support the idea that they can speak," said David Yeiter, a junior philosophy major.

Nick Hamm, a freshman open preference major, said "I feel they are not truly preaching the Bible, they are preaching their ideas. They are twisting their ideas to fit the Bible, they just don't see what they are doing."

ISU first lady Cheri Bradley said, "Within the realms of decency people have the right to opinions. We have the right to choose not to listen."

During the days of evangelizing, Smock's Bible was stolen.

"We have received the type of reaction we expected. Most students react emotionally rather than logically, a lot like women," he said.