During a recent National High-School Journalism Conference, Dan Savage, the founder of the popular anti-bullying campaign “It Gets Better,” was tasked to give a speech on anti-bullying. However, in the middle of his speech some 100 high school students quietly walked out. Why? For some reason, the speech moved in the direction of “Christian-bashing” that included cursing, sexual innuendo, and attacking the Bible. He even heckled those who refused to listen to his rants and described them with an offensive phrase.
One blogger writes: “It’s significant—and extremely ironic—that Savage would feel the freedom to display such intolerance during a speech that was supposed to be about bullying prevention…. Using profanity to deride the Bible—and then mocking the Christian students after they left the room—is obviously a form of bullying and name-calling…. Too many times in the name of ‘tolerance,’ Christian students find their faith being openly mocked and belittled in educational environments.”
One account of the incident comments: “And for some of [the] students—they felt like the anti-bullying activist was in fact—the bully.”
It is so easy to read about such attacks on Christianity and cry, “Foul!” But perhaps it can be a learning opportunity for followers of Christ as well. For we, too, can be just as inconsistent in our attempts to promote or to defend our faith. That is, if we are not careful, our passion to uphold the Christian faith can easily undermine that same faith by our very unchristian attitudes and strategies.
It is to the credit of the Christian students and their advisers who walked out on the speech that they acted with a distinct Christian demeanor. In a statement after the incident, organizers of the conference made it clear that they “left quietly, peacefully, without trying to draw attention to themselves. They did not try to interrupt the speaker or loudly protest his remarks.” Their tactful conduct was a winsome witness that provided a striking contrast to the belligerent behavior of Mr. Savage.
“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God” (1 Peter 3.15–18 NIV).
—Keith Jainga