Marginalizing Christian Faith

When I was in college I often attended meetings of the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. I found it to be an intelligent group of Christians who were devoted to understanding the faith and communicating on a level appropriate to the college population. Although most of my Christian activity was connected to my church, I always appreciated the influence of InterVarsity.

InterVarsity Logo

Now comes news that the California system of state colleges and universities has denied official student group status to InterVarsity throughout the state. The problem? InterVarsity won’t allow non-Christians to serve as leaders of the group. That stance is considered “discriminatory.” A Christian group wanting only Christians to lead it? How horrible!

Yes, we’re now in the twilight zone.

What does this mean, in practical terms, for InterVarsity? It means the organization, since it is no longer accepted as a legitimate student group, won’t have free access to campus facilities. It will have to pay for that access, which will cost thousands of dollars per year. It also will no longer have status to speak with professors and students like other campus organizations. In other words, it is considered outside the pale, not welcome on any of those campuses.

Religious liberty continues to be undermined in this country. The attacks are becoming more transparent. They will be couched in “nondiscriminatory” language, but they are attacks nonetheless. And behind it all is a strident, purposeful anti-Christian agenda.

If Christian colleges and universities think they are safe, they need to think again. I’ve noted this before, but it bears repeating. At any time, the federal government can say to Christian colleges, “Follow our rules or lose all student loan funding.” One of those rules will be to stop “discriminating” against homosexual “orientation.” If that happens, we’ll find out rather quickly which Christian colleges are truly Christian and which use Christian talk as window dressing.

Under the Obama administration, the pressure will continue, but in states like California, it won’t matter who is president; some states will take it upon themselves to marginalize Christian beliefs. I’m reminded of the exhortation of the apostle Paul to Timothy:

For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. . . .

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

That call to faithfulness reaches down to this present generation. Will we heed the call?