First, it was a Nashville newspaper, with its slanted article featuring one digressive church, touting that churches of Christ are shedding their isolationist position. “Isolationism” is always bad. It’s a cousin of intolerance.

Then, Abilene Christian University announced its new president, Phil Schubert, who had promised to continue the university’s direction toward a general evangelical position, when he stated,

“We need to strike an appropriate balance between a quest for academic excellence and an unwavering commitment to the spiritual development of our students; between the need to honor our own Church of Christ heritage while embracing the growing influence from broader Christian circles; and between the need to ensure a firm grasp on our values and traditions while promoting a culture which encourages new ideas and an innovative spirit.”

Then, just days thereafter, Ken Starr, who started among us but left us long ago, promises to become a Southern Baptist on (or was it before?) becoming president of that denomination’s largest center of learning, Baylor University. The Baptists are fractured, and though there are many among them qualified for the position, the power brokers decided on his star power (no pun intended) for potential fundraising ability as much as anything. “… Baylor regents chairman Dary Stone took the attention given Starr in stride, saying he will raise the university’s national profile.”

Faithful brethren sometimes feel embarrassed or ashamed when the world and the media point to people in our midst, like these, who deny the Lord who bought them, or when ministries or schools abandon biblical teaching to merge into the religious world at large, looking to establish themselves as a legitimate entity. Continue reading →