Yes, I graduated from that Tarleton State University. Twice.
The Tarleton State University that makes national news every time I turn around. And it’s never good.
A few years ago I read about a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day party—complete with Aunt Jemima costumes and buckets of fried chicken—on CBS news, among other places. The white students who hosted the party claimed that there was no disrespect intended. I have my doubts. So did the University and the community.
Soon after, the Ku Klux Klan (yes, they are still alive and well in Texas) held a rally to support the students and protest the discipline that the University deemed appropriate. A KKK spokesman said, “We stand behind anybody’s freedom of speech.”
Then there were the alien sightings. I won’t go into that other than to say that there seems to be a close connection to alien sightings and the KKK.
And last week, my alma mater made the national news again.
What was all the fuss? An openly gay theatre student chose to direct and produce the play Corpus Christi, which depicts Jesus and His disciples as homosexuals. I won’t discuss the details—if you know how to use the internet you can read them yourself.
Tarleton President, Dr. Dominic Dottavio, made it clear that neither he, nor the university, supported the play. In fact, he found it offensive. Yet, being a state school, they had no legal right to cancel it.
The play itself disgusts and offends me, as it would any Bible believing Christian. And I am disgusted that one who professes Christianity would choose to produce it. And I was disappointed when I heard that it would be performed at Tarleton.
But I am equally disgusted at some of the response.
The University was not funding the play—it was funded entirely by the student. Yet David Dewhurst, the Lt. Gov. of Texas, repeatedly charged the university with using tax payer dollars to pay for the production. And when the play was ultimately cancelled by the class professor, who cited safety concerns, Dewhurst took credit. But that’s a politician for you.
What disgusts me most is the reaction from some who claim to be Christians. The university was flooded with threats—even death threats, and all in the name of Jesus. Jesus? The Prince of Peace?
Even the good ole’ KKK, who a few years ago claimed to “stand behind anybody’s freedom of speech,” planned to be on campus for the play. And no, it wasn’t to support the theater department.
The gospel is based upon historical facts. Jesus is the Holy God incarnate. He did not have a sinful nature, nor did He commit sin, nor could He have. It is blasphemy of the worst kind to charge Him with sin. This play is blasphemous and disgusting. I hope that the student who planned it eventually sees that.
On the other hand, Jesus’ harshest criticism was for the self-righteous. Who did He keep company with? Harlots and tax collectors. That’s one of the reasons the religious folk hated Him. I suspect that if He were here today, he would have lunch with homosexuals, and much of the “Christian” world, at least in the South, would still hate Him.
Hate and racism are not compatible with Christianity. Self-righteousness is not compatible with Christianity. Much of the good ole’, white boy morality is not compatible with Christianity. Based upon my knowledge of the New Testament, I would say that prostitutes and homosexuals are closer to the Kingdom of God than many of us who attend church every Sunday. They are certainly closer than the KKK or nuts like the “Rev.” Fred Phelps of Wesboro “Baptist” church.
No, I’m not embarrassed by Tarleton State. It is a state school, after all. And my identity is not tied to the college I attended. I do, however, identify with Jesus Christ and His followers. So it is those who hate, and claim to do so in His name, who embarrass me. It’s time they realize that they are not following Jesus. And it’s time that they stop taking His name in vain.