For They Loved the Approval of Men

The message of my case is not in the legal aspects. When I speak to faculty, they ask how they can stay out of the kind of circumstances I was in. My message is not how to stay out of it, but how we all ought to be involved in it.

Officially I lost my case, but I will say that in losing it, next to salvation itself it was the most important spiritual experience I've ever had.

There are examples of why that's true. I've had opportunities to share Christ with many colleagues because of the court case. I've had a chance to speak in some very hostile environments, and that was a great challenge. I was able to carry the message of Christ into places I would never have had the opportunity to do so.

However, I think the most valid reason for standing up for our faith is the scriptural reason. One scripture is John 12:42-43. My interpretation of this says, "Even some of the faculty believed in Him, but because of the administration were not confessing Him, lest they be put out of the university."

And then the second verse doesn't need the paraphrase, but it still fits: "For they loved the approval of men, more than the approval of God."

When the disciples and Jesus were crossing the Sea of Galilee, a storm came up and the disciples feared for their lives. They woke Jesus and asked, "Don't you care that we are perishing?"

None of us as faculty are going to be killed for the sake of the gospel or be imprisoned for our faith on campus. I think Jesus' response to the disciples can be directly applied to us.

When the disciples had an actual and justified fear for their lives, He said, "Why are you so timid?" and then he asked the more embarrassing question, "Why is it you have no faith?"

Why is it that we as faculty members, as people with good educations, as people who can frame a rational argument, as people who know the scriptures, as people who won't lose their lives because of the gospel, have no faith?

I hear all the arguments: "Well, wait until I get tenure. Wait until I'm a full professor." And we're going to wait our lives away and give up our golden opportunity. So how is it that I, how is it that we, have no faith?

If you do find your faith challenged on your university, my advice is to contact Christian Leadership Ministries immediately. They have the knowledge and experience to recommend what should be the best course of action to take in each case.