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Expelling gay student wasn't Christian

By Jeremy Tackett, The Lexington-Herald, April 24, 2006

Last week, in a move that many outside the Baptist church have labeled "intolerant," the University of the Cumberlands expelled a student for being gay.

But is intolerant the correct word? It would be much more appropriate to attach some other adjectives, including mean, hurtful, unjust, unfair, lopsided, hasty or unloving.

We at Open Door Ministries are Baptist college students who have spent the last few years studying this issue and attempting to reach out in love to the homosexual community on the University of Kentucky campus.

We apologize for the actions of the Cumberlands administration and any perception that this was a "Christian" thing to do. For too long, we have let a few speak for the masses. These individuals seem to always fall on the fringes and just as often seem to have a motive other than sharing Jesus Christ with the world.

The student, Jason Johnson, was disciplined as an example to other students who may be in a lifestyle that aligns neither with Christianity nor the doctrines of the Baptist church.

Echoing biblical principles, the punishment would fit the crime if the same penalty is levied against any student who infringes on any part of their moral contract. But based on firsthand, on-campus information, that is not the case.

Many other instances exist of students breaking their moral contracts. Students have been caught drinking and engaging in pre-marital sexual activity. But in a number of these cases, the penalty included a warning (for the first offense) and some type of counseling program. In cases involving multiple infractions, expulsion from the school is an option that has been exercised.

If the goal was to uphold biblical principles, shouldn't the same warnings and counseling programs have been offered to Johnson, who was kicked out because of his homosexuality? Why do we insist on viewing homosexuality as a greater evil and treat gays with harsher judgment than other sinners?

Today, we encourage each member of the Christian community to demand something that is often overlooked: equality. Equality even when it isn't the popular thing in your particular circle.

We do not support immoral lifestyles or advocate premarital sex and homosexual practices. We claim Jesus as our example, just as do those who made the decision to take a hard-line against this student.

So if we claim Jesus as an example, why don't we follow it? He didn't support prostitution, but that didn't stop him from standing with a prostitute when religious leaders wanted to stone her to death.

Did the university have the legal right to take this action against one of its students? Possibly. However, even if the answer is "absolutely," that's the wrong question to ask.

It is the job of a community of followers of Jesus Christ to concern themselves with finding the best way to show the love of Jesus. Therefore, we do not support this action even though it was taken by a Christian group.

We believe that there is a bigger picture here, a greater good, a right move. It is wrong to single out and punish any group in the name of Christianity. Those who should be held to a higher standard are those who claim leadership in the Christian community, not those who are in lifestyles with which we may disagree.

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