No, I won’t be able to make it; my family has all been hit with the “flu bug;” I’m the only one who has missed it. I will be at FHU, though; may God bless your Meeting, and I hope to see you at FHU!

David

Scott McCown

Given the fact that Lowery’s wife is also participating in the Worldwide Convention of the Christian church (to be held in Nashville this summer), this latest development is not surprising.

At any rate, all is not bleak. There are PLENTY of brethren who are determined to live the Truth, stand for the Truth, and win others to Christ!

David W. Hester
Minister, Springville Road church of Christ

My heart breaks. I offer up a prayer for those who trust Lipscomb and other schools to assist in bringing up their children. I have many friends and relatives with degrees from DLU and enjoyed a lecture series or two there a number of years ago.

Regretfully, although I am disheartened I cannot say I am astonished. Many warned of such events and departures. The influnce of prominent preachers in the Nashville area who embraced an ecumentical church mentality years ago, those who joined a campaign featuring a prominent “crusading” evangelist, welcoming him to their city and embracing his message have had their effect on DLU. Schools follow their supporters.

There is hope. While withdrawing support from institutions that have gone the way of the world may not have a great impact — they already receive support from those who agree with them — we can salvage the universities and colleges that apparently hold firm. We can pour our support to those schools and become involved in their lectureships. We can communicate with their leaders and influence the direction they take in the future. We can encourage our students and children to atted those schools that take the difficult stance of remaining true to God’s word. We can thank them for their commitment.

There may not be one school that we can agree with 100% of the time. They may have teachers and guests that we have issues with. They may have some in the community around them that influence students in faculties in ways we do not appreciate, but we can — we must — hold them accountable to not publically endorsing error and thus making our job at reaching the lost more difficult.

In essence making evangelism more difficult is what DLU and their president accomplished. What they could only forsee as an opportunity to open doors, becomes closed doors on the street. How can a sister in Nashville convince her friend the importance of immersion as the point of contact of faith and grace, when DLU’s actions suggest that they disagree? How can a brother teach a class of young people about the heart-only accompaniment of singing when a “unity choir” sang apparently with mechanical orchestration?

My heart breaks, and I plead with God to give me wisdom and strength to do what is right. I pray that He will help the leaders of DLU and other schools to make choices that will benefit God’s people more than the institutional coffers and community reputation.