Abortions, Drinking, and Liberty University
July 28th, 2005 | Published in Education, Culture, Religion | 8 Comments
This seems almost unbelievable to me, but ‘tis true. Liberty University gives the same penalty (30 Reprimands + $500 Fine + 30 hours Disciplinary Community Service + possible Administrative Withdrawal) for abortion, assault, stealing, and—get this—drinking or possessing alcoholic beverages.
It sounds like a joke, but it isn’t. They must really think drinking or even possessing alcoholic beverages is as bad as having an abortion or sexually assaulting someone. At the very least, they treat it like it is. Even if you don’t agree with drinking alcohol, to put it on the same level as those other acts is ridiculous. Do they realize most of the people in the Bible (including Jesus) would qualify for their punishment? Students who are underage and drink should be punished (by law), but this makes no reference to age. It applies to all students.
But if you think it is just about drinking alcohol, you would be wrong. If you happen to even associate with those who drink The Evil Strong Drink, you get “18 Reprimands + $250 Fine + 18 hours Disciplinary Community Service.”
“For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.” (Matthew 11:18-19)
So if a student goes to a bowling alley with non-Christians who drink, and then witnesses to them, he gets fined $250 and is reprimanded.
But wait! What if a student desires to watch Jim Caviezel get his flesh torn out by a whip and nailed to a tree? The Passion of the Christ is rated R. That will be 12 reprimands plus a $50 fine. The same punishment, by the way, as “entering the space above ceiling tiles” or participating in an unauthorized petition or demonstration. Oh, and viewing pornography.
[HT: Foreword]
July 31st, 2005 at 9:17 pm (#)
Yes, but without legalism, how could they possibly keep all those people in line?
August 1st, 2005 at 1:07 pm (#)
Do you attend Liberty? Why else should you care what their policies are? Just from perusing their website I can see that they’re “a Christ-centered instituion,” and not an anything-goes, state-funded university.
August 4th, 2005 at 4:06 pm (#)
Ah yes… we must find the faults and flaws of Christian instituitions such as this, but dare we praise God for such places? I heard once that if an individual looks for a Christian church or organization that lines up with every position and belief as his own, he will find himself being the only member. Liberty has a few problems true, but their aim is to preach Christ and Him crucified. I attend this school and as you can imagine I have seen the worst of the worst and the best of the best. It is in my nature to judge and find fault, but where the good is discovered and where freedom rings true I must stay close to that place where my heart finds rest - In Christ. May we help such organizations in their pursuit and may we help ourselves in the same way.
August 4th, 2005 at 4:21 pm (#)
Joe: I can say Amen to your post for the most part. Pointing out error is essential, but so it encouraging and helping one another. I could just as easily write a post talking about the good Liberty has done, but this one just isn’t it.
January 23rd, 2006 at 4:34 am (#)
this school is a political experiment created by a group of whackos intent on pushing their agenda on everyone. a few years after its creation the school was nearly bankrupt, save for the lobbyign talents of its main man.
an “everything goes state-school” is not quite the result of letting people who are legally allowed to do something- a thing also permitted by the bible, as well as Jesus Christ Himself- happen on campus. where in the bible does it say that men can’t wear earrings but women can? where does it say that drinking should be forbidden for all people, including students over 21 AND faculty, OFF campus? this school is just concerned with creating a cultural imagine- not an honest spiritual one.
and what “good” has this school done except raise a bunch of people ill equipped to deal with the world as it really is? what has it contributed that the “everything goes state schools” have not?
and i in no way intend to be hostile towards christians, though i’m sure some who read this will accuse me of just that. i was raised christian and proudly consider myself one. but this school goes far beyond being truly christian.
March 4th, 2006 at 2:16 am (#)
I actually went there for a semester, and at first it was alright. I found out the hard way, rule after rule, as I began attending a week into the semester and was one of the last to make the registration cutoff. I actually didn’t mind “The Liberty Way” as they call it, so much. I do believe though, that Christianity, and God’s word can stand on its own. We don’t need to “defend” or “protect” it. We need to live lives the best we can, because even God wouldn’t expect more than that. But we also need to pick our battles, and make sure they’re over issues that count, so when there is a real problem, we’re not lost in the white noise.
March 22nd, 2007 at 11:07 pm (#)
“We need to live lives the best we can, because even God wouldn’t expect more than that.”
You obviously know very little about Christianity.
September 19th, 2007 at 8:30 am (#)
I am trying to decide upon a school for Professional Counseling. Liberty has the best prices and they have a solid curriculum. However, discussions like this make me a little nervous about my decision. Any advice.