Telling Two Sides of a Story
Abilene Christian University recently hosted an interesting event. “Soulforce” came to their campus. Soulforce is having an “equality ride” bus tour. What is this? From their own website, this description is given:
The Soulforce Equality Ride is a journey to change the heart and mind of America on the issue of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality. Following in the footsteps of the Freedom Rides of the 1960’s, the Equality Ride uses principles of non-violence to confront military and religious colleges and universities with policies banning enrollment of LGBT students. The Equality Riders reflect on the lessons of history, which have shown past religion-based discrimination against women, people of color, and religious minorities to be an unacceptable abuse of the sanctity of religion. At each of the 19 schools on the 51-day bus tour, the young adult ambassadors of the Equality Ride bring this simple message to students, faculty and administrators: Learn from history; end religion-based discrimination.
However, there are two ways to tell of the visit of this group to Abilene’s campus. Abilene Christian’s press release talks about how things went on campus. It tells of how the students were friendly and kind. It also talks of how many were very open about how the school is against homosexual behavior. You may read the press release by clicking here.
To be honest, that seems pretty good to me. It might not be the best way to go about it, but it seemed, when I read their press release, that things went well and stayed basically on the up and up.
However, then I read the press release from Soulforce. It said many of the same things, including information about the campus not being for homosexuals. But there was a very important fact that was not in Abilene’s press release. What was it? Soulforce had been invited to worship on Sunday night! They took communion!
In other words, they were welcomed with open arms. That’s scary to me. Again, let me say that anyone is welcome to come into our services, but we cannot allow them to think they are okay where they are. Most surely, we don’t need to allow them to eat the Lord’s Supper. Jesus did not die so that people would be comfortable in their sins. You may read Soulforce’s press release by clicking here. Note the differences in the two press releases. And also notice the title to this press release. I didn’t see Abilene’s release talking about that!
I guess there are two sides to every story!
By the way, in response to the Equality Ride’s statement above, let me say that there is no such thing as religion-based discrimination. We are simply following what God wants, and He is the One we are trying to please. If men and women would conform to His will, there would be no such thing as discrimination. It’s when people do not follow God that discimination (or the appearance of it) happens.
I’d like to thank my sister, Amber Tatum, for sending me the links to these press releases.
