Life as a Chip

My “Unpopular” Opinion

Throughout my whole life, I have had friends that are homosexual whom I deeply care for and appreciate as individuals with whom I have shared many fond memories. Our friendships have been built upon similar interests, passions, and hobbies. I was raised (and I strongly believe) that my friends who are homosexual are no different from me in how they should be loved and cared for.

As a follower of Christ, however, I believe that living a homosexual lifestyle is one that is not pleasing to God.

To many, this statement may seem contradictory to the first paragraph. They question how I can love someone and yet have such a strong sentiment about their lifestyle. They so tightly bind the value of someone with the life they are living that they are unable to separate the two, and therefore have trouble not seeing the contradiction of compassion towards one and not the other.

However, I believe that God loves all of His children — in all of their successes and failures, happiness and grief, wealth and poverty, faithfulness and betrayal. Despite anything that we may do (“positive” or “negative”), God values us, cares for us, and unconditionally loves us.

And yet, we still do things that are not pleasing to Him. The Bible is full of do’s and don’ts, rules and regulations that craft the greater picture of who mankind is, and yet were not originally made to be. When we do things that are not aligned with God’s intended plan for us (whatever it may be), the Bible calls it sin, and says that it is not pleasing to God.

But again, this has NOTHING to do with how God values, cares for, or loves His children.

As a follower of Christ, I believe this is the example that I am to follow. It is possible (and commanded) that I love those around me, regardless of our differences. And yet, there still is the ability for me to be against their choices — particularly ones that I believe to be not pleasing to God (or sinful).

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Regarding Belmont Faculty, Administration, and Staff:

Belmont is a Christian University that legally has the right to make certain rules regarding the people they choose to hire as Faculty, Administration, and Staff.

A section of their Mission Statement states:

“Belmont University is a Christian community. The University faculty, administration and staff uphold Jesus as the Christ and as the measure of all things. Students encounter Christian values relevant to personal growth and spiritual maturity and are expected to commit themselves to high moral standards.” (http://chip.mx/eNjhc3)

As a part of upholding Jesus as the Christ and as the measure of all things, I believe that they can choose to not employee those that are living a lifestyle that is not pleasing to God.

This choice is not a statement against the value of the individual. I would imagine (and hope) that all involved parties within the administration still have compassion for any individuals. Jesus calls us to love one another as God loves us, and as such, to diminish the value of an individual would be inherently against their own mission statement.

It must be reminded, however, that the value of the individual and the lifestyle that they live are two separate things — one can love and have compassion for someone and still disagree with the life they live.

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Regarding Belmont Students:

Belmont has a diverse student population from all backgrounds. To believe that all of the students are heterosexual is as foolish as believing that all of the students are Christian. Yet, there is not a single student who should feel like their value is any less than anyone else on campus.

In the Mission Statement, it states that “Faculty, administration and staff commit themselves to guide and challenge students to develop their full potential in order to lead lives of meaning and purpose”. As such, students who are homosexual should never feel threatened, devalued, demeaned, or otherwise singled out from the rest of the student body. This is what we’re commanded (as mentioned earlier).

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So is it possible that there is a perceived double standard between faculty, administration and staff and the students?

In a word, yes. To deny employment to a homosexual, and yet admit a homosexual as a student are two separate actions that have two separate justifications.

Faculty, administration and staff (to my understand) are required to sign and/or commit to the University’s Mission Statement. As part of their job requirements, they are to adhere to the mission and values of the University, and as such, are required to uphold a lifestyle that is pleasing to God.

Students, on the other hand, are not required to sign and/or commit to anything regarding their beliefs or values (beyond a basic student agreement). As such, there is a much different standard than that of faculty, administration, and staff.

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Regarding Coach Howe:

The catalyst at the center of this discussion is the firing / resigning of Coach Howe, former Belmont women’s soccer coach who parted ways with the university in response to her announcement to her team that she and her partner were expecting a child.

Do I believe Belmont handled this situation correctly? Absolutely not. On all fronts, Belmont has done a poor job through it’s communication and handling of the situation, from their denial of firing Coach Howe to their non-committal / lack-of-official statements since.

At the heart of it, however, I believe that the anger, bitterness, and accusations hurled at Belmont as a result of the past week have been unwarranted and misdirected. As stated above, I believe that as a Christian University that is upholding the Mission Statement that each faculty, administrator, and staff is required to commit to, Belmont was perfectly within legal, ethical, and moral rights to let Coach Howe go.

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I don’t even remotely believe that my opinion is going to be popular. Based on the response from the community that I’m exposed to, I know that I am a solitary voice among many opposing me.

As a follower of Christ (first and foremost) and as a alum of Belmont (far secondary), however, I could not stay silent in this matter.

Do I hope this whole situation sparks a conversation? Absolutely. This is something that is appropriate for both sides to discuss so as to better educate all parties involved.

But to wish the downfall of Belmont and/or accuse them of not being an example of a Christian University is something that I just cannot agree with.

** My opinions here purely represent my own beliefs, and do not represent any official statement from my affiliation with Belmont, with my day job, or my church. **