Grand Rapids Pundit

Bigotry at Cornerstone University

Posted by: GRPundit on Wednesday, 18th Apr, 2007

On Monday and Tuesday in Grand Rapids we will see the difference between those who call themselves Christian and those who act like Christians.

A bussload of young Christian gay men and women, called Soulforce, will be coming to Grand Rapids to protest bigoted anti-gay policies at two local colleges - Cornerstone University and Calvin College.

Each of the two schools has a policy that discriminates against gays. For instance, Cornerstone’s student handbook has the following guideline:

“Television

Students are to exercise discernment in television viewing based on the above guidelines. Beyond considerations regarding the content of a program, the discerning believer must also consider the point of view or judgments that are made regarding certain issues. Subjects like racism or homosexuality may be portrayed in a program, but consideration should be given as to whether the subject is ultimately celebrated or condemned. “

So, basically, Cornerstone students are prohibited from watching anything on TV which casts a positive light on gays.

However, the most telling part of this saga is the reaction to the visit by both Conerstone and Calvin. To get any sort of in-depth coverage, one has to turn to the Detroit News:

As two Grand Rapids colleges they’ll visit in late April illustrate, sometimes they’re welcome, other times they’re not.

Rex Rogers, the president of Cornerstone University who claims in his blog that gays are in the “grip of sin,” warns Riders won’t be allowed on campus because, in his view, their “purpose is to undermine and attack the very basic biblical values that we say we believe in.”

Down the road, Calvin College also teaches that gay sex is wrong but is inviting Riders to a worship service, meals and to tell “what it’s like to have been on a bus ride for two months on a cause you believed in,” says Shirley Hoogstra, vice president for student life. The Riders offer her students a chance “to welcome well the stranger at your gate,” she adds.

It sounds like Cornerstone is simply afraid to let students even talk to the Soulforce riders. They might actually make sense! Well, we can’t have hearts and minds changed, now can we?

Of course, we believe that any private institution has the right to make its own rules and those who enter those institutions should understand and abide by those rules. However, the Soulforce people are simply attempting to change hearts and minds by showing people that gays are just regular people who want to live their lives in peace.

Cornerstone could take some lessons from Calvin on how to act like true Christians toward their fellow human beings.