STAFF EDITORIAL: Biola must continue in challenging conversations
This week, I’ve had the opportunity to speak with numerous people involved with the Biola Queer Underground controversy. I’ve emailed with the Underground, I’ve interviewed Chris Grace, I’ve talked with four alumni who have come out since attending Biola, I’ve spoken to students struggling with same-sex attraction, and I’ve chatted with numerous Biolans.
I’ve monitored all 209 comments that showed up on the Chimes website. I’ve read blog posts by John Shore and Andrew Kelley.
Each person I’ve spoken with has put forth a different opinion on the Bible’s approach to homosexuality. Even people who would agree on a doctrinal statement have different reasons and backstories for why they support it.
There are some refrains I’ve heard countless times: dialogue, grace, holiness, compassion, sin, understanding, fear.
And for good cause, as they are all critical words. Whether or not you agree with the ideas set forth in Biola’s Statement on Human Sexuality, as a Christ-follower, you must agree that “we aspire to be a gracious community that promotes openness and honesty.”
Challenge to move beyond stereotypes to engage in difficult discussions
There is one question that we should all be asking in this time: How do we have a conversation about deeply sensitive and controversial issues with a firm regard for truth?
Biola, that’s a question that it’s time to start answering as a full community. I commend the administration for having done this in unique ways over the past year, tackling addictions and sexual assault as awareness weeks.
Students, you have shown a passion for displaying God’s heart in the most broken of places through dealing with things like homelessness and human trafficking.
But, for both students and administration, I would claim what we have done to this point is not enough. We have allowed a fear created by stigmas and stereotypes in the church to prevent us from engaging in some of the most difficult of conversations.
Face-to-face discussions need to happen, Biola — not comment wars, Facebook posts or speeches. We, as a community striving to seek out the Truth, must do that every day, in deeply personal and rooted ways.
Panel discussions, policy reviews and formal meetings will get us only so far. We will only accomplish something long-lasting and significant through relational conversations held between people interested in pursuing God’s holiness together.
In this dialogue, brothers and sisters, may we make the holiness of our conversations our pursuit. Eternally, this matters far more than convincing our friends to agree with our biblical doctrine, despite doctrine’s value.
I urge you, Biola, as we head into finals week and summer, do not stop talking. Please continue to pursue the conversation regarding the complex topic of homosexuality. I believe we can arrive at biblical and solid conclusions regarding doctrine, but we must seek God’s grace first. I echo Paul’s exhortation to the Ephesians to speak “such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those hear.”
Your Turn. Post a Comment
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John Reid
Yes this is a comment. However it is only to say that this was well communicated and hopefully it will be well received from students on both sides of the spectrum regarding the Biola Underground.
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Elizabeth Sallie | editor-in-chief
Thanks, John. I really appreciate it.
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Ryan Lunde
"How do we have a conversation about deeply sensitive and controversial issues with a firm regard for truth?"
An insightful question and a good exhortation. I'll have to keep thinking about what such a conversation looks like in the church as well as the university. -
Zack Cousins
You put into words exactly what I've been thinking. Thank you.
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Erik Holmlund
Hear, hear. Good words Sallie.
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Kelsey Osterman
Sallie...blessed to know you. It is your heart, seen in this editorial, that makes you such a great journalist. Sure, you have ambition, dedication, intelligence and a strong desire to pursue the truth. But the fact that you can do all of that with such compassion and understanding...that amazes me. Thank you for sharing these words of wisdom with us. May we, as a university and a Christian body, continue to pursue God and love each other, in every friendship, in every discussion, in every area of life.
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Chase Andre
This is journalism at its finest, Sallie: holding a social structure—both the students and the administration of this university—in check. We would all do well to model your handling the truth in such gracious, holistic, and yet, uncompromising ways. I'm proud to have worked on your team this year. And I'm proud to be at a university that might engage in difficult topics as you propose that we do. Thanks.
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A Gay Christian
Yes. That is all I want.
Thank you for your heart Elizabeth.
God bless. -
KL
I realize that posting this in comments rather than face to face falls short of our goals, especially considering the content of your article. But for practicality's sake, since I'm an alumni and don't often have a chance to speak face to face with current students, I'll have to put in my two-cents here:
While I do think we can all agree (for the most part at least) that open and honest dialogue is necessary to work through the difficult issues brought up by the BQU, the problem is that face to face conversations cannot safely happen for those who continue to identify as LGBTQ because of their fear of expulsion.
It's easy for those who are not LBGTQ to say that we should all talk openly and honestly, but the only way that can realistically happen is if Biola clearly changes their policy so the openly LGBTQ students will not face disciplinary actions for identifying as LGBTQ. This isn't an argument that Biola should change their policies, but just that open and honest dialogue cannot truly happen until those policies are changed. You can't ask people to be open and honest and then punish them for being open and honest.
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Jason
Hear..hear..Sallie ..Cheers with my glass of beer held high. Sorry, even though I am a born-again Christian I still have an inner struggle with my Catholicism roots. I know! Let's have a dialogue, a discussion if you will. I will not stay underground forever. Biola needs to know about me and my kind. I think Biola should change its policy and have a bar on campus for those who struggle like me. And then we will all sit around the table with our drinks and have honest dialogue....maybe....
Just a satire ladies and gentlemen. No offense to LGBT or Catholics. Love you both. Just having a little fun with the silliness of this all. -
jerry lewis
The normative rules of courtesy impel me to beg pardon of “Monica,” who said to me “I am a reporter for the BIOLA Chimes” when she telephoned me on my cell phone from 562-756-2000 on 6-15-12 and again on two later occasions. My apologies, Monica, that I must tell you that your interview of me is not only postponed, but cancelled, and cannot take place either in person as you requested, nor by email.
Although I cannot vouch as regards authenticity, I have received via snail mail an essentially anonymous letter from the “chief of campus safety” which orders me to cease communicating or interacting with anyone at or associated with the school. Although such demands to give up rights to free speech are unlawful, I am treating the letter as a request from Dr. Barry Corey to stop championing for human rights, dignity and equality through correspondence. I plan on abiding his request.
There exist many gay students at BIOLA, just as they exist at all Christian schools. This should not surprise; because they are wholesome, compassionate and dedicated, and hard-working, and filled with the profound capability for grace that living well demands of the gay citizen.
It could not have been hard to find my address or other info. The security guards could have just called or emailed. I use my name.
Unfortunately the message from the authorities there to the Queer Underground is one of intimidation and danger.
CORDIALLY,
jerry lewis -
Another Gay Christian
Well stated Elizabeth. I'm glad you didn't take sides. There needs to be a platform where we can all meet and feel safe and free to discuss our point of view, stories and experiences.
I'm also grateful for your comments regarding social media and this topic at Biola. Nothing is solved through this pontification and it is essentially one-way monologues. While FB and the Chimes have contributed to the dialogue, person-to-person is where the reality comes in.
That said, those gay Biolans cannot participate in such a discussion until the policy changes. While I applaud your call for face-to-face conversations, for gay Biolans the choice to engage is a choice to get booted.
Until there's a policy change, any face-to-face discussions on gays and Christianity with current students will probably be lacking a crucial and persecuted voice.
You can't have a meaningful dialogue about gay Christians without them. -
Eric Oberhausen
You may "echo Paul's exhortation to the Ephesians to speak 'such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those hear.'"
But I give you something else Paul also said:
Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Homosexuality is still a sin in God's eyes, and He will destroy those with this sin. You cannot be gay and be a born-again, repentant Christian.
It's one thing to struggle with the desires, and "DENYING" yourself and taking up your cross to follow Jesus is Biblical, but being a "GAY Christian" is a paradox, and does not exist. A true Christian is a new Creation in Christ. The old is gone.
As Jack Van Impe says it, these types of people are mug-wump Christians. Their mug is on one side of the fence, and their wump is on the other. You cannot serve two masters. One will love one, and hate the other.
You don't see people calling themselves Christian Rapists. Sin is sin, and is not to be glorified, and homosexuality is an ABOMINATION in God's eyes. This is what He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for.