University bans Chick-fil-A from campus

The New York Daily News responded to President Trump’s Oval Office address on border security with a cover depicting the president as a screaming baby in a temper tantrum. The headline reads: “It’s Wall About Me.” Talk show hosts and Hollywood celebrities also panned the president’s remarks.

Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi came in for ridicule as well. After their response to the president’s speech, one critic likened them to “the creepy twins from The Shining.”

Are you surprised by any of this?

In other news, Rider University in New Jersey recently asked students what fast-food restaurant they would like to see on campus. Once it became clear that Chick-fil-A was their choice, the school’s leaders excluded this option, citing concerns over the company’s alleged attitudes toward the LGBTQ community.

Chick-fil-A’s spokesman responded: “We have no policy of discrimination against any group.”

Clearly, Rider University’s leaders cannot say the same.

“Our iniquities have risen higher than our heads”

We can respond to our divisive, post-Christian culture in one of three ways: we can condemn those who disagree with us, we can condone behavior the Bible forbids, or we can speak the truth with compassion.

Here’s why God’s people should always choose the third option.

After the Jews returned from their Babylonian exile, some of them married Gentile women, a clear violation of God’s word (cf. Exodus 34:11-16). Ezra, their priestly leader, was a man of impeccable personal integrity (cf. Ezra 7:10). Nonetheless, when he learned of the people’s sin, he prayed: “O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens” (Ezra 9:6, my italics).

Note Ezra’s remarkable solidarity with his people. Even though he had not committed their sins, he identified with their need to repent.

When the children of Israel worshiped a…