When an Assignment Asks You to Compromise Christian Conviction. Are You Ready to Look Foolish for Christ?

Recently, a firestorm erupted at Duke University. All incoming freshmen are required to read a book prior to the start of their first semester, and this year the book is one which several students conscientiously objected to reading. The book is a memoir of a lesbian and includes nude sketches.

One student who refused to read the book, Brian Grasso, stated that his Christian convictions prohibit him from viewing such images. He noted that he is not opposed to reading about diverging viewpoints, and he even expects his views to be challenged while at Duke. He wrote the following in an opinion piece at the Washington Post, 

I’m not opposed to reading memoirs written by LGBTQ individuals or stories containing suicide. I’m not even opposed to reading Freud, Marx or Darwin. I know that I’ll have to grapple with ideas I don’t agree with, even ideas that I find immoral.  

But in the Bible, Jesus forbids his followers from exposing themselves to anything pornographic. “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart,” he says in Matthew 5:28-29.

Compare that to the response over at the Huffington post where Eliel Cruz writes that the images could not be "truthfully labeled pornographic." One of them simply "depicts two women naked reading books." I suppose that might not amount to an illicit image for Cruz, but I am not quite sure how Cruz can make that determination for another person's conscience. Cruz goes on to write,

If these freshmen hope to never engage things that'll challenge their sincerely held beliefs, they're in for a big surprise, as academia is exactly the place to be challenged and look outside your worldview. 

That is interesting given the fact that Grasso is not actually trying to avoid being challenged in his viewpoints (see his quote above). 

We need to realize that we are strangers in this land and that we will appear more and more strange to a world that increasingly worships at the altar of self and sex. Self-determination and erotic liberty are trumping other rights, and any who do not get on board are seen as "dangerous to our country's ongoing struggle for equality" according to Cruz. The new dogma is "if it doesn't bother the conscience of the elites then it ought not bother anyone else's." The demand is not for tolerance (which is a good thing), but hearty approval of and engagement in whatever the culture deems good. 

We must realize, as Christians, that no matter how kind and winsome we are, we will be called foolish for following our Savior. This has always been the case. Paul wrote to the Corinthians (facing a cultural climate much like our's) that "the word of the cross is folly to those who perishing" (1 Cor. 1:18). The message of the gospel will always offend the human mind that is at war with the God who gave the message. We are foolish or naive to assume that if we simply speak the truth winsomely that we will avoid persecution or accusations of being foolish or hateful. We ought to speak the truth winsomely, but my point is don't think you can follow Christ without following his being rejected and scorned.

So, what should we do (or not do)? I have five things (I am sure we could come up with more. Maybe you could note some in the comments).  

1. Don't be discouraged. Jesus promised to be with us, and he is all we need. 
2. Don't abandon or be ashamed of the gospel because "it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe" (1 Cor. 1:21). This includes not making peace with the cultural worship of sex and self. We are to live at peace with all men even as we speak the truth in love. The gospel is our (and their) only hope. 
3. Don't own every insult. When insulted we ought to examine our motives and actions humbly and ask forgiveness when we have failed to love God and neighbor. However, there are many insults that we ought to be willing to correct. For example, when we are labeled as hateful (now if you are hateful you need to repent). Or that we are against equality. We can correct these if we are able. Though we must not demand the opportunity to do so. We entrust ourselves to God who will vindicate his truth. 
4. Do the costly work of loving others. Jesus made it clear that even unbelievers love those who love them. We, as his followers, are called to love even those who are enemies. We are to be merciful even as our Father in heaven is merciful (Luke 6:31-36). 
5. Pray for God's wisdom to navigate the decisions you will face each day. This is especially true for those of you who are students. You will find yourself in positions of having to honestly assess if what you are being asked to do is merely uncomfortable (or challenging your worldview) or if it is in fact compromising with the world. We need grace to evaluate these situations and to not let ourselves off the hook when we know our decision might result in being ridiculed by others.

One more thing that goes with each one of the points above. Be a part of a body of Christians- a church. Don't go it alone. All the five principles above are to be in the context of living in fellowship with other Christians.