Vice President Pence’s wife Karen has come under withering attack in recent days from many in the media. From this “reporting,” one might think she has transgressed some obvious social boundary of a civilized society. In reality, the big “scoop” is that this Christian wife and mother, whose Christian beliefs are important to her, is teaching at a Christian school, which being Christian, holds to Christian beliefs about marriage.
Yet you wouldn’t know that from reading the headlines about her, which lead the reader to believe that the driving force of Karen’s actions is the targeting of those who identify as LGBT. As we’ve seen over and over again, those perpetrating such claims negligently (and often willfully) mischaracterize our faith.
The truth is that Karen, along with other biblically-based Christians faithful to teaching which goes back to our Jewish forebears over 6,000 years ago, believe that sexual conduct outside of God’s plan of marriage is sinful (as are a myriad of things). Indeed, all of us—including myself—have fallen short of God’s standards, a reality which allows us to be so thankful that Jesus took the punishment of God’s wrath for us.
Should we really be surprised at this public hostility toward Christian beliefs? Increasingly, social elites don’t merely disagree with religion, but see it as irrelevant or even harmful for society. The attack on Karen Pence should be a wake-up call for our fellow Christians.
A Christian school having Christian beliefs should be uncontroversial. Yet look at how it is portrayed in the “news.” In the eyes of the opponents of Christians on this issue, it’s “morally unacceptable” for Christians to hold to their own morals—even when setting up Christian schools to teach Christians. This is a battle of worldviews, and it has a spiritual component. There is no escaping it. Our friends, neighbors, and fellow citizens will eventually bear the cost of our present apathy.
You and I should not have to check our beliefs at the door of the public square, and Karen Pence shouldn’t either. If she is forced out of this teaching job, a new standard will be set: It will no longer be permissible for Christians to adhere to Christian beliefs at religious schools or nonprofits. It’s as simple as that. Additionally, this will serve as a serious blow to the ability of Christians to simply live out their beliefs.
We must engage, stand firm, and pray for and seek the well-being of those who oppose the teaching of our faith. The cultural conflict for Christian truth is for you—as much as any other believer—to engage in. If you don’t, who will?