Thursday, February 4, 2010

Where is the Line?

I might be about to lose any friend I had and forgo any acquaintance speaking to me ever again--but I must take a stand. I do this with great prayer and a bit of anxiety. I pray you accept this with the love and conviction with which it was written.

This post comes on the heels of an e-mail I received from our college president last night. It was sent to every student at HSU and informed us as to the upcoming visit to our campus by a group called SoulForce. SoulForce is an activist group for gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, and transgender individuals. Their visit was allowed by our college administrators and will be allowed to meet with a group of faculty and student representatives at the beginning of April.

Although HSU's President did make clear our college's standing on the belief about marriage being between one man and one woman, his idea about allowing them here to "learn, grow, and share our faith with others" did not set well with me. PLEASE hear me out before you write me off as a judgmental person with no love or care for the lost....

I am a firm believer in the phrase, "Love the sinner.....hate the sin....." As a professional sinner myself, this statement literally means everything to me. I know how it feels to be in the utter clutches of sin and be loved because of who God made me to be--in spite of what I did. I am not protesting the visit of the group because I hate the people. I am protesting strongly because I hold to the belief that as a college, we must make a stand and a statement that we do not support such acts. In allowing them here, as one of the three colleges they are visiting in Texas, we make a statement to the rest of the country that we are tolerant of such immorality.

I look at this situation in comparison to the words of Solomon to his son in Proverbs 7. Here he warns his son about "a youth who lacked judgment" (7b) who "was going down the street near her corner, walking along in the direction of her house at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in" (8-9). As this young man neared the house of the prostitute, "then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent" (10). She seduces the young man with words that dripped of lies that tickled his ears and his desires. "With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk" (21).

In my eyes, SoulForce is that prostitue--and HSU, if not carefully guarded, will become that "youth who lacked judgment". When we allow immorality to visit our school, speak with our representatives, and count us as one of their activist visits, we allow ourselves to be open to the influx of opinions that do not know or understand what our motives are. Granted, our president might have the best intentions for witnessing to these people. But I guarantee you that the gospel and the Bible's stand on homosexuality, transgenderism, bi-sexuals, and lesbiansism is nothing new to this group. They have heard it before, and have chosen to close their hearts to it.

That story about the prostitute?.....does not have a happy ending. "All at one he (foolish youth) followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life" (22-23).

Hardin-Simmons, I ask you, how do you think yourself so strong that you allow immorality behind your doors of conference and not expect to reap effects of it? The young man from Proverbs thought himself strong enough to walk near the prostitute's house and be unaffected....and he fell. We are no different. God's Word warns us about the prostitute....and it says that "Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng. Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death" (26-27).

Yes, I love those SoulForce people. Yes, I want to see them saved. But what they stand for is an abomination to the face of God and should not be endorsed by a Christian college. And that is, in the eyes of the public watching, what Hardin-Simmons is doing by allowing them to visit. If we don't take a stand and "toe the line" here, where will the tolerance stop?

Our president asked that we join him in making this a matter of prayer--and I will certainly be doing that. Please join me?

I pray that you hear this with the tender passion I feel in my heart for this issue and accept it with the love and concern with which it was written.

Because He lives,
Sarah

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sarah-
When I received that e-mail, I had the same thoughts and feelings towards the idea. I support your beliefs on this, don't feel as if you are alone on this. Thank you for writing this, it expressed how I felt as well.

Anonymous said...

I respect your statement, but, are you sure that allowing them to speak at your school is condoning the behaviour?

Isn't it just in the interest of free speach and and open dialogue between different opinions?

God bless you!

Lavonda Pflug said...

What a mess we find ourselves in. So when is the visit supposed to take place or has it already? Sounds to me like your president should have been asking for prayer BEFORE he made his decision to allow their visit.

May God act on behalf of His children so He will be glorified!

God's Gal Sarah said...

Pinkfluffydust: thanks for the comment! If this group were stating that they were gay and left it at that, we could approach them as non-CHristians who needed the gospel. But this particular group professes to be both Christian and gay. This is not possible according to the Word of God. (Lev. 18:22, 1 Cor. 6:9) Because they claim to be our brethren, yet claim this lifestyle, we must treat them as God directed according to 1 Cor. 5:9-11.....we must not associate with them.

Aunt Vonda, they are coming at the beginning of April. I'm praying and preparing NOW for it. And YES, I scratch my head at our President making the choice and then asking for prayer. I don't know that that's usually how it should work when something this big hangs in the balance.

Anonymous said...

But... I don't understand. Ofcourse they can be christians! They believe in Christ, that's being a christian. What you can question is whether or not they are good ones.

But I respect your opinion, and thank you for taking the time to answer me.

I wish you a blessed life :)