Soulforce's Rocky Road; Cedarville's Lonely Stand

A quick check of Soulforce's website (I won't link to it)shows that the majority of schools visited thus far have refused them access, some even having them arrested. Bob Jones University, Central Bible College, Southern Baptist Seminary, Mississippi College, Baylor, Cornerstone, College of the Cumberlands, Patrick Henry College, and Covenant College all said no or refused Soulforce desired access to the point where there were arrests. Those who have opened their doors (such as Dordt and Montreat) have been theologically to the left (as far as I can tell) of Cedarville U. on other issues, so their openness on this issue isn't as surprising. Covenant College's rejection voiced concerns similar to those I've voiced in earlier posts. It seems that Cedarville is going to stand nearly if not completely alone among the more conservative, biblical schools in giving Soulforce any platform on campus.

And making things more complex, this has already made the media, and I get the impression they will be there recording the event as well next week when the bus arrives. So, Cedarville may well be wrongly portrayed as welcoming not just Soulforce, but "dialog" about whether homosexuality is acceptable.

Finally, some community folk not associated with the college but active in our church have just heard about this and are appalled that the University is giving them a platform. The nuanced arguments that C.U. has made (and as I have said make many good points) are lost on people who have had to help others struggling with homosexual desires, or mourned with families whose children have adopted a homosexual lifestyle, or who see this as false teachers and promoters of sin being given a chance to influence 18 year olds, who are certainly impressionable (as some of their over the top responses to many other subjects they hear about on campus or in media would demonstrate). They wonder how a God honoring institution can say, "We are convinced of our position and see all the dangers of sin, but are inviting spokesmen and advocates for sin to come and present themselves as victims of prejudice and oppression at the hands of Bible believers."

I know that C.U. is doing a lot to prepare the students, and I know that they plan to do all they can to communicate to Soulforce that their position on homosexuality is not negotiable. But will they be able to control the media reports to make sure that this gets out there, and that they are seen as rejecting Soulforce's arguments even as they welcome them to campus? This is not looking encouraging.