Never compromise the Word of God. Compromise in relationships and to solve problems can be a good thing. Compromise as it relates to God’s truth is never a good thing. It leads nowhere except in one direction — more compromise, and then moral, spiritual, and cultural failure.The recent decision by Azusa Pacific University…
Never compromise the Word of God. Compromise in relationships and to solve problems can be a good thing. Compromise as it relates to God’s truth is never a good thing. It leads nowhere except in one direction — more compromise, and then moral, spiritual, and cultural failure.
The recent decision by Azusa Pacific University (a Christian University in southern California) to change its student handbook is an example of compromise that can lead only to more compromise. Here is what the University still says it affirms:
“We hold that the full behavioral expression of sexuality is to take place within the context of a marriage covenant between a man and a woman and that individuals remain celibate outside of the bond of marriage. Therefore, we seek to cultivate a community in which sexuality is embraced as God-given and good and where biblical standards of sexual behavior are upheld.”
Good statement! But after meeting with an unofficial student homosexual group, I learned that the University dropped this line from their student handbook:
“Students may not engage in a romanticized same-sex relationship.”
That is no longer forbidden at APU. The handbook kept this line:
“Students may not engage in sexual intimacy outside the context of marriage.”
Romance between same sex couples is okay, but not sexual intimacy outside of marriage. Is your head spinning yet? Mine is. What is the purpose of same-sex romance if not as a prelude to intimacy, even if it’s intimacy in marriage, which the statement forbids? Where are these students supposed to go with their same-sex attraction expressed in romantic attachments?
This is a catastrophic failure of the University to both its students seeking godliness, and those students seeking affirmation of their sin. How will the school ever teach Jesus’ words?
“If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” (Mark 8:34)
How can this Christian University disciple students to be obedient to the faith, when it allows the expression of sinful desires and at the same time professes that the culmination of those desires must always be sinful? Is it madness? Well, it is irrational. And in the end it is walking with one foot on the Scriptural path, and one foot in a divergent worldly path. You know what happens when you put one foot each in diverging paths— eventually, you have to jump fully onto one side or the other.
One of APU’s deans foolishly said, “I’m not a big fan of who’s right and who’s wrong in this conversation, I’m a big fan of caring for people. So, my hope would be that we treat each other that way.” Here is a Christian leader of young men and women who is “not a big fan of who’s right and who’s wrong.” He is all about love. But is love inconsistent with truth? The Bible’s very definition of love says it “does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth” (1 Cor 13:6).
Jesus always managed to love people without the slightest inclination toward compromise.
This decision by APU is a tragedy.
Follow Up: After this article came out about Azusa Pacific University’s change in the student rulebook to allow same-sex romantic relationships on campus, the Board of Directors reversed that change and went back to their original standard. I am thankful for this action, but some concerned professors there have come forward describing in some detail the underlying beliefs among some faculty and administrative staff that seem contrary to the school’s mission, not less so but more so in the theology department. The battle is not over.
Yours in Christ,
Originally printed in The AFBC Pony Express. Vol. XI, No. 10, October 2018.