August 9, 2016

Dr. [PRESIDENT]

Office of the President

[MAINLINE EVANGELICAL UNIVERSITY]

[ADDRESS]

[CITY STATE ZIP]

Dear Dr. [PRESIDENT],

[PERSONAL NOTE] I have been aware of the great aggravation caused by [IDENTIFIED LEGISLATION], and I have acquainted myself with [UNIVERSITY]’s response. I am certain it is similar to the concerns of every Christian university in [STATE].

This afternoon after speaking with a [UNIVERSITY] instructor – a friend of ours – and hearing from her about the struggles faith-based universities face over this issue, I would like to humbly offer an option. Would you, your board, and other eminent stakeholders genuinely consider doing the one thing that would resolve it completely?

Would you consider divesting the university from the government completely? I have always wondered why institutions of higher learning led by followers of Christ feel they must be obligated to Caesar in any way. As much as [UNIVERSITY] or any university declaring full abandonment to Christ is non-profit, tax-exempt, incorporated, licensed by the state in any way, it is betraying its commitment to Him in some measure. As much as it expects to receive tax benefits, grants, subsidies, or rely on government largesse for a portion of its student enrollment, it is making itself beholden to the laws and by-laws of the state, and currently it finds itself facing compliance with the distressing requirements of [LEGISLATION].

If [UNIVERSITY] was not obligated to the state in any way, however, then the problem disappears. [UNIVERSITY] is already fully protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. As much as [UNIVERSITY] is obedient to Christ and fulfilling the Great Commission, then Caesar will commend it as God says he will in the 13th chapter of Romans. If [UNIVERSITY] personnel, whether teachers, administrators, or students break the law, the state is already obligated to prosecute said individuals, and justly so. Most importantly, God has already blessed [UNIVERSITY] with His divine provision, protection, and growth.

On the other hand, what more does a contract with the state provide the chemistry professor, the engineering professor, the literature professor whose instruction is woven with the gospel? What more expertise and ministry capability does a contract with the state of any kind, for any purpose, for any benefits add to what God should already be doing at [UNIVERSITY] in great abundance?

I understand that there is the consideration that this is a radical step. I understand that lawyers and finance officers will argue against it. But in its simplest form [UNIVERSITY] is already considered tax-free by the state, no documentation required. As long as all stakeholders do genuinely have Jesus’ name on their lips, there is no reason to have to try to clear things with Caesar. It is perfectly reasonable for [UNIVERSITY] to have its own board with its own accountability protocol – if these are not sufficient, then what improprieties is [UNIVERSITY] committing that require state intervention?

This is not a call to protest, challenge, provoke or question the duly ordained authorities. This is not an enraged request for anyone to willfully deny their lawful obligations regarding their tax liability. This is not a request for us to refuse to respect government officials, pray for them, even minister to them – our Lord unequivocally expects us to do so. It is, however, a call to leave them be to do what they are given the duty to do, and that includes pass things like [LEGISLATION].

This is why I believe – with the deepest respect – it is misguided for followers of Christ to try to convince legislators to reject the bill, for it is the church pleading with the state about what the state is legitimately doing. As it is, Christian university lawyers are striving mightily for accommodations so the schools are exempt from this or that part of the law. That God’s people have to beg the state for some kind of qualified submissiveness for anything related to [LEGISLATION] is extraordinarily embarrassing, and in my view so disrespectful to God.

In this instance, as dramatic a move as it would be, the church embodied in [UNIVERSITY] should be confidently abjuring itself from the state for the expressed purpose of boldly living out its true creed. If it does so and [UNIVERSITY] is beholden only to Christ and His law of love, again, the state cannot do a thing to enforce anything in [LEGISLATION] because it wouldn’t apply to [UNIVERSITY].

[PERSONAL NOTE] I still wonder, if so many can’t afford to go to [UNIVERSITY] because of financial concerns, where is all the money that isn’t earmarked by government? Are there simply not enough scholarship contributors to sustain [UNIVERSITY] and its mission?

Why can’t all the money required to send out the next generation from [UNIVERSITY] come exclusively from bountifully sowing followers of Christ? Isn’t the money Caesar presently distributes already confiscated from the wealth of someone from which it has been expropriated? Is it really true [UNIVERSITY] needs Caesar to survive, or is it at all possible the middle man may be laid off? Maybe it is too optimistic for Christ followers to process all the financial appropriations without having to go through the state. Maybe we’ve been doing it this way for so long we’ve just gotten used to it, too calcified to think it could be different placing ourselves wholly under God’s provision.

Yet here is [LEGISLATION].

I do consider this opportunity a wake-up call for the church and all the institutions supporting it, including our fine Christian universities. If [UNIVERSITY] were to take such an action, I can easily see the very best that could happen is a clear clarion call to the faithful coming from one of the largest Christian universities in [STATE], other universities heeding the call, and millions of followers of Christ standing on principle and getting busy with a remarkable expansion of the Kingdom. Already we are about ministering God’s grace, mercy, and healing for the sexually wounded and confused, and at the same time giving the highest regard for sexual morality. That means something. But as I read and hear about the great consternation felt by those in Christian leadership positions over this issue, I am truly saddened. It appears we have lost our virility, our courage, our wisdom, our willingness to go to the cross with Christ.

Please know that I am perfectly aware that this recommendation may easily be dismissed out of hand, its author considered the most naïve person on the planet. I’ve had worse. But I am also hopeful that perhaps, just perhaps the church will start doing the apocalyptic things that demonstrate to lost and dying people that we do actually mean what we say, that we actually love those who need Him so much, that we actually do trust in Christ for all things including the flourishing of a university that builds godly men and women even without a cent coming from Caesar.

Above all I do encourage you to continue to pray with your closest colleagues in the Lord, and would humbly ask that you include this consideration in your prayers.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

David Beck

[ADDRESS]

[CITY STATE ZIP]

[PHONE]

[EMAIL]

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Note:

The issue at stake is a state law that requires Christian universities to do things that would signify a substantive abandonment of firm Scriptural principles. Key features of that legislation would require these universities to accommodate the immoral practices of those who favor the LGBTQ+ social arrangement agenda. Among several, one example is more ready processing of court challenges to requirements to attend chapel in which censure of sodomous activity may be shared.

This page was originally posted by David Beck at yourownjesus.net on August 10, 2016