Yesterday’s protest didn’t make a huge splash on campus, although people are talking about it. Today the college president, who was scheduled to speak on chapel, yielded his time to archbishop Akinola. The president’s introduction of Akinola was very affectionate, which was to be expected as President Litfin is extremely conservative: he thinks Wheaton should be churning out more missionaries and does not think the church should accommodate homosexuality at all. So Litfin waxed eloquent about how we should learn from Akinola, and then Akinola waxed eloquent about what a wonderful institution Wheaton is and how lucky we are to be surrounded by Christians.
Akinola’s main message was this: “Bad company corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15:33). He had the audience recite this passage aloud several times. You don’t know what’s out there in the world, he said. “Thank God we are all Christians” here on this campus. When you leave to go into the world you will encounter “the evil, the wicked”. It will be so horrible you won’t know what to do… I can’t remember the conclusion of his message because I tuned out at this point.
What I read between the lines was Akinola trying to justify his stance on homosexuality and other issues. He would regard gays as “bad company” and say Christians shouldn’t associate with them because they will be tainted by their evilness. (This supports the report of Akinola jumping back in disgust the one time he shook a gay person’s hand.)
In a broader context, Akinola is espousing the Christian view that draws a very deep line between “Christian” and “other”. I’d say that many people at Wheaton have been trying to get rid of that attitude, which has occasionally been comforting. But it is a deeply held view among conservatives that Christians should not be part of secular society, and even progressive individuals here believe firmly that a Christian can’t have a deep friendship with a non-Christian, for example. The Christian who is willing to approach non-Christians as their equal instead of as a target of evangelism is very rare indeed.
Finally, Akinola said that our task as students here is to become “deeply rooted in the love of Jesus Christ,” so that we can be equipped to deal with the evils of the world. Such blatant hypocrisy just boggles the mind, but no doubt in Akinola’s twisted logic, refusing to engage with unbelievers and gays is showing the love of Jesus.
I am sorry that you experienced this on any level much less the level you are writing about. I am a Christian and although I have thought myself a conservative, I do not think like them at all. You are right the love of Jesus covers all people and the blood of Jesus covers all sins. As followers of the Christ, we are not the judge or the jury of any mans heart. And we are to love those who are different from us a not just the ones that think alike. How would the world ever know this Jesus if no one can interact with someone else. The speaker you mentioned seemed to speak in oxymorons, and should probably be asked directly what he is talking about.
Any way love ya man!
BTW-how did you end up at Wheaton? I have heard good and bad about that place?
Hi friend, I’m Joe from Conversation at the Edge/Justice and Compassion and other corners of the interweb thingame.
Don’t let the [expletive]-ers get you down. If bad company corrupts good character, who knows what has happened to the ‘holy’ by being in the company of Akinola eh?
Anyway, this is BS theology. The bible doesn’t teach anything of the kind, if anything quite the reverse. Moses didn’t have to be holy before God used him. Noah built an ark then made the sacrifice and then got drunk and naked. Jonah was so ‘Godly’ that he ran the other way when he heard voices in his head. Jesus made rather a habit of hanging about with people of bad character. Oh dear, I didn’t mean that pun…
You hang in there, y’hear? Here is wishing you a healthy dose of strength and good humour. Peace to you.
Think you’re 100% on point here, even though we disagree about the root of homosexuality.
Akinola is obviously taking 1 Corinthians 6:18 out of context where is says to “flee from sexual immorality”. Reading that passage in the context of the entire Bible, execution of that passage would refer to situations like Joseph when his Master’s wife tried to seduce him. If a person is so attracted to men in a homosexual manner that he needs to run away before he acts out, then so be it. Maybe that’s his deal?
It’s not a Christian’s place to judge sin, but there seems to be significant evidence (actually direct orders) for people within the church to correct each other in love if one is engaged in repeated and open sin. Unfortunately most forget about the “in love” part… Of course, many practicing homosexuals avoid church because of real or imagined persecution (or lack of approval) so that last statement doesn’t apply to most.
What is a “conservative Christian”, anyway?
I always thought that a conservative Christian was some one who actually followed the teaching of Jesus, but did not become more than Jesus! Its a little scary that people can interrupt the parts of the Bible that serve them, and disgard the rest. I don’t bend in my belief system, i am firm and stable in it..that is conservative to me, but the same word seems to mean a lot of other things to a lot of other people. I prefer the term Christ follower…it calls for more of an action on my part and less of conforming on those around me.
Kewl blog…and again I am really sorry that people treated you like this…I believe Jesus loves you just as you are…we don’t make the changes HE does..it really is very freeing and not so confining. Peace darla
You are welcome to dialog with us at
http://www.conversationatthedge.com or ebayatheist.com
There are many people asking the same questions you are asking.
It’s also possible to be a follower of the way of Jesus without believing in Jesus
Where would Christians be if Jesus hadn’t been part of secular society? They probably wouldn’t exist.
Jesus was called a glutton, a drunkard and a friend of sinners. He was not acceptable to the polite religious society of his day.
The wall-building attitude of many modern “Christians” is neither Christ-like or loving. It hearkens back to those so intent on preserving the proper religious order that they were willing to kill those who tried to tear down the walls.
Jesus kept bad company. He seemed to think it was necessary.
As for his stance on homosexuality, it is probably part and parcel of all the rest. It would seem to me that especially if one thought it sinful to be gay, following Jesus would require you to embrace them and invite them into your church. Sadly, Christians today need more help being equipped to deal with the evils of the church than that of the world.
Lots of fair comments left here by people I agree with. Jesus himself never advocated not being friends with those who were “sinners.” Seems a shame to think the king is a bad man because there are some liars and thieves in his kingdom. Hell, if anything, it shows him to be more gentle that he lets us live here at all!
Anyway, I am going to be watching your blog, and linking to you. This is fascinating! I myself went the other way (and pretty much from reason). As you know there are thousands of theologies - at least 990 of them are orthodox Christian ones, Personally I think my own (reformed covenantal) and yours are really the only ones that remain logical within the shallow pool of reason we humans tread in.
Anyway, I just hope you will continue to keep an open mind as you live and pursue truth. Its really the only way to live.
Hi, I just found you through The Friendly Atheist. You find yourself in a rare position–not that there are so few converts, but few who have not only the desire to communicate, but the gift. You may have already encountered the storm of controversy surrounding the recent spate of atheist books and rhetoric. While this “noise machine” is absolutely necessary to establish legitimacy for atheist’s rights, the focus must at some point switch from debate to diplomacy.
I once had a good friend who was a devout, fundamental Southern Baptist. He knew I was an atheist and it didn’t matter. Why? Because he took his own religion at face value–in other words, he didn’t try to re-invent God in his own image and he respected people as his religion required. When he got married, his wife pulled him away from his secular friends, because she had difficulty socializing with anyone that wasn’t from her own church. She tried, briefly, and went out for dinner with me and my wife (who is Catholic), but it that was the only time and I lost contact with them shortly after that when they moved. I only take time to recount this story because it makes a few points that should be obvious. I find it refreshing to hear comments such as those from “overcomer” who actually seem to get it…if a person demonstrates real caring toward other humans it matters not to me what they believe.
Respect is something which has to be earned, even if you think it shouldbe yours by default. Which is where building bridges becomes of paramount importance. Beware–or rather, be aware–of the atheists who are helping to build the Wall, the web is full of popular blogs by those who seem to think we are at war. As frustrating as the religious extremists are, there are laws that protect us from them, and our constitution was carefully written to protect the lot of us. What we really need is respect, and that’s a hard road. If you haven’t already, check out the works of Michael Shermer and read his columns in Scientific American (http://www.sciam.com/directory.cfm?chanID=sa006&dirID=13). He’s a former evangelical who now tries to promote understanding of the atheist/agnostic cause. There really needs to be more organization among those of us who want to promote unity rather than build walls. ~ Mike