The perfect Taylor student prays three times a day. They practice morning rituals designed to feed their spirituality and reconnect with God. They fall asleep with Jesus’ name still on their lips — and, of course, they never skip chapel.
Sounds unrealistic? There is a reason Bill Heth, professor emeritus of biblical studies, called this imaginary student a “Phantom Taylor student,” admitting the standards are unrealistic.
Yet too often, students, and Christians outside the college atmosphere, measure their spirituality by a checklist. At Taylor, the most common form of measurement seems to be chapel attendance.
“I think we have to be very careful not to buy into any legalistic perception of what it means to be a Jesus follower,” Gregory Dyson, campus pastor and vice president for Spiritual Life and Intercultural Leadership, said. “To say, ‘Hey, you're going to church. It means you're spiritually healthy.’ It's not the same thing. You're measuring two different things.”
That is not to say chapel cannot or does not add to one’s spiritual growth, of course. Chapel is designed to add to a student’s spiritual rhythms, creating a space for the Taylor campus to simply delight in an atmosphere and community of worship, Dyson said.
As Heth noted, then, this concept makes it vital for students to consider why they attend chapel.
“I would measure my spirituality by whatever and anything that grows my friendship with Jesus, and being able to share Jesus' friendship with others,” Heth said. “If you realize you're going to chapel for the wrong reasons, don't stop going to chapel. But reorient why you are going to chapel.”
In the midst of that realization and reorientation, grace is key. Holding others to a spiritual watermark is just as detrimental as the standard we hold ourselves to as well.
Alongside this, Clifton Davis, director of chapel music, pointed out that for many, spiritual discipline and spiritual maturity look different. The warning signs for our spiritual unwellness may also appear distinct from others’ symptoms.
Davis himself holds to his ‘Don’t be a jerk’ test, evaluating his spiritual health by the way he treats others. For him, the warning sign that his spirit is growing restless or is in need of recharging comes through a resistance or annoyance with the community.
“I just see in myself that is my first response: ‘You're annoying me, you're in my way. I don't have time for you,’” Davis said. “That probably means I need to go spend some time with Jesus … and say, ‘I need your strength to have a different attitude.’”
Heth took it one step further, saying that another way of recognizing spiritual detriment can often be the lack of desire to engage with God. While he emphasized again that church or chapel attendance cannot be the way we measure our spiritual health, he also admitted that at times, not wanting to attend or pray may indicate spiritual burnout.
The solution? To push through, acknowledging the fact of God’s desire for us and acting in faith through that acknowledgement. From there, Heth believes that feelings will follow.
The emphasis, however, is more on intention than legalism.
Dyson resonated with students who feel they can’t attend chapel due to mental or personal challenges. Davis, who enjoys worshiping through being out in God’s creation, emphasized that chapel is only one way students may experience and grow in their relationship with God.
Heth’s definition of spiritual measurement has no checklist attached to it. He stated that ultimately, his “Phantom Taylor Student” imagery only promotes an image of shame which can destroy a student’s perception of Christianity.
Chapel is not a measuring stick for spiritual well-being — for ourselves, or to use against others.
Our love for a holy God cannot be standardized with a human measurement. The issue is not one of attendance or appearance, pride or shame, after all. It is simply an issue of the heart, to be met with grace instead of an attendance record.
