By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org
In today’s world, anyone who stands boldly on the Word of God will be ridiculed and criticized.
Yet, it’s really not an option to not stand firmly on God’s Word. As Christians, we really don’t have a choice if we have truly given our lives over to God.
Acts 16:13 (HCSB) reminds us, “Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be brave and strong.”
James 4:17 (HCSB) says the same thing, but even stronger, “So, for the person who knows to do good and doesn’t do it, it’s a sin.”
Sometimes, that’s a lot easier to say than do, but it’s something all Christians should strive to do, especially in this politically correct world we live in today.
Yet, this concept is not new. People of faith have had to choose God over what’s popular or deemed by others to be correct for centuries. Just review the story of Daniel in the Old Testament. Daniel prayed to God daily.
Even when the king decreed that no one should pray to any god, but only to him, Daniel defied the order. He continued to lift prayers to the one and true God. As a result, he was tossed into the lion’s den, but God miraculously kept him from harm.
In this issue is a story about “one of our own” who stood for God’s Word and was criticized in some circles. Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver has served as president of Union University for six years.
Recently, Union University, under his leadership, denied admission to a homosexual graduate student because it violated the university’s sexual impropriety standards in the code of conduct that every Union student must sign.
The student signed the code of conduct even though he knew he was in violation. And, just to be clear, Union does not just single out homosexuality. Sexual impropriety includes the participation in or appearance of engaging in premarital sex, extramarital sex, homosexuality, homosexual activities, or cohabitation on-campus or off-campus.
The grad student went public on social media and garnered some support, but so has Dub Oliver and Union University.
Hats off to “Dr. Dub” and Union for standing firm on God’s Word. While some Christians and denominations are bowing to pressure, Oliver and Union refuse to do so.
Tennessee Baptists need to let Dr. Oliver and Union know that we appreciate their courage and strength to “stand firm in the faith.”
Standing for truth can’t be an option. It’s an opportunity to be seized to bring glory to God.
