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Principled Ideas from the Centennial Institute

Volume 8, Number 5 July 2016

2016 COLORADO CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS
By Dr. Robert George

For my friends, so many

of you my young friends,
the days that many of us
knew of socially acceptable
Christianity
are
over.
The days of comfortable
Christian orthodoxy are
past. The days when it was
okay to be a Christian, a
serious Christian, a serious
believer, someone who
spoke out on the basis
Dr. Robert George is one of the most
of his or her beliefs, who
thoughtful conservative minds in modern
acted on the basis of his
time. He addressed the largest graduating
or her beliefs, those days
class in Colorado Christian University
history, encouraging students to embrace
are gone. It is no longer
the cost of discipleship in Jesus Christ.
easy, and throughout your
lives it will not be easy to be a faithful Christian, a truly
faithful Christian, an authentic witness to the Gospel.
A price is demanded and must be paid. There are, to
use that phrase made so famous by Dietrich Bonhoeffer,
costs of discipleship.

Publisher, William L. Armstrong

Editor, Jeff Hunt

other words, a tame Christian, a Christian who is ashamed

of the Gospel, or who is willing to act publicly as if he or
she were ashamed of the Gospel, is still socially acceptable.
But a Christian who makes it clear that he or she is not
ashamed of the Gospel, must be prepared to take risks,
make sacrifices, pay the price.
Life and Marriage are Integral to the Gospel

The saving message of Jesus Christ includes integrally the

Gospels proclamation of the profound and inherent and
equal dignity of each and every member of the human
family, beginning with the child in the womb, extending
to the mentally or physically disabled person, and all the
way to the frail elderly person or the person suffering
from dementia, or one in a permanent or persistent coma
or vegetative state. And the saving message of Jesus also
includes the idea that marriage is the conjugal union of
husband and wife. As we are taught in Genesis 2, the man
shall leave his mother at home and cleave unto his wife and
the two shall be one flesh. Believing these things about the
dignity of each and every member of the human family, no
matter how small, no matter how frail, no matter how weak,
no matter how poor, no matter how vulnerable, believing
that marriage truly is the conjugal union of husband and
wife, is a crucial part of what it means to be a disciple.
Now of course these teachings are not the whole of the
Gospel, nobody claims they are, Christianity
requires much more than their affirmation.
But let no one be deceived, they are integral
The Costs
to the Gospel, they are not optional, they are
of Discipleship not dispensable, they cannot be cast aside so
we can talk about the stuff that doesnt raise
peoples hackles.

Now of course one can safely identify oneself

as a Christian and even be seen going to
worship services at church, but thats because
the guardians of those norms of cultural
orthodoxy that have come to be known as
political correctness, do not assume that
identifying as a Christian or going to church necessarily
means that one actually believes what the Bible proclaims
and teaches on issues such as marriage, sexual morality,
and the sanctity of human life. There are whole Christian
denominations now that have thrown out the Biblical
teaching and proclamation on those issues. So no one will
assume that simply calling yourself a Christian or going
to church on Sunday really means that you really believe
the politically incorrect stuff about the Gospel. Now if
one in fact does not believe what the Bible teaches, or for
now at least, even if one does believe those teachings but
is prepared to be completely silent about them, well then
one is safe. One can still be a comfortable Christian. In

To be an authentic witness to the Gospel is to proclaim

the truths about the sanctity of human life and about
marriage, along with the rest. Jesus said, If anyone wants
Dr. Robert George holds Princeton Universitys celebrated McCormick
Chair in Jurisprudence and is the founding director of the James Madison
Program in American Ideals and Institutions. He served as chairman
of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom
(USCIRF), and before that on the Presidents Council on Bioethics and as
a presidential appointee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights.
Centennial Institute sponsors research, events, and publications to enhance
public understanding of the most important issues facing our state and nation.
By proclaiming Truth, we aim to foster faith, family, and freedom,
teach citizenship, and renew the spirit of 1776.

to be my disciple, let him take up his cross and follow me.

Stephen Thomas Scheffel was absolutely right in recalling
for us Jesus promise, At best, we will be treated as he was
treated. But we Christians in the West, having become
comfortable over many decades and centuries, having
become influential, important, accepted; we had forgotten
for many, many decades, or we had ignored that timeless
Gospel truth about what it means to be a disciple. It means
taking up the cross. Well, my friends, there will be no
ignoring it now.
Powerful forces and currents in our society press us to be
ashamed of the Gospel, ashamed of our faiths teachings
on the sanctity of human life in all stages and conditions,
ashamed of our faiths teachings on marriage as the conjugal
union between husband and wife. These forces insist that
the Churchs teachings, the Bibles teachings, are out of date,
retrograde, insensitive, uncompassionate, illiberal, bigoted,
even hateful. These currents bring pressure on all of us, and
on young Christians in particular, to yield to its insistence.
They threaten us, they threaten you with consequences if
you refuse to call what is good evil and what is evil good.
They command us to conform our thinking to their new
orthodoxy or else just to keep silent.

wife to be mother and father to any children born of their

union, conferring upon those children the inestimable
blessing of being brought up in the love of the man and
women whose coming together brought them into being.
And giving those children the benefit of both maternal and
paternal influences and care. We hold that the norms that
shape marriage as a truly conjugal partnership are grounded
in its singular aptness for the project of child rearing. But
because we believe those things, powerful people and
institutions say we are homophobes, bigots, people who
dont believe in equality, they even say we represent a threat
to peoples safety, and we should be ashamed.
There Are Costs of Discipleship Today

So when we are invited to distance ourselves from

these teachings or to go silent about them, when we are
threatened with opprobrium or the loss of professional
opportunities or social status if we do not, we are being
pressured into being ashamed of the Gospel, which means
to give up faith in the Lordship of Christ and the hope of
his triumph, the triumph of goodness and righteousness
and love. To be a witness to the Gospel today my friends,
is to make oneself a marked man or woman. It is to expose
oneself to scorn and reproach. To unashamedly proclaim
We Believe
the Gospel, in its fullness, is to place in jeopardy ones
security, ones personal aspirations and ambitions, the
And yet we believe. Do we not? We as Christians, as
peace and tranquility one enjoys, ones standing in polite
Colorado Christians, as followers, as disciples of Jesus,
society. One may, in consequence of ones
we believe the truth in its fullness about
public witness, be discriminated against
the dignity of the human person and the
or denied educational opportunities and
nature of marriage as proclaimed in the
Unashamedly
the prestigious credentials they may offer.
Bible and taught by the Church for 2,000
Proclaim
One may lose valuable opportunities
years. We believe that every member of
for employment and professional
the human family, irrespective of age or
The Gospel
advancement. One may be excluded
size or stage of development or condition
from worldly recognition and honors of
of dependency, is the bearer of an inherent
various sorts. Ones witness may even cost one treasured
dignity and an equal right to life. We hold that the precious
friendships. It may produce familial discord and even
child in the womb, as a creature made in the very image
alienation from family members. Yes, there are costs of
and likeness of God, deserves respect and protection. And
discipleship today, heavy costs. The days of comfortable
so, because we believe those things, powerful people and
Christianity really are over.
institutions say that we are misogynists, we are waging a
war on women, we are enemies of reproductive freedom,
So there is for us simply no avoiding the question. Am I or
we are intolerable, and we should be ashamed.
am I not willing to stand with Christ by proclaiming his
truths? Its a simple question. But its the question everyone
And we believe, do we not? That the core social function
who claims that he is a Christian must face. Fearing to place
of marriage is to unite a man and a woman as husband and
CENTENNIAL REVIEW is published monthly by the Centennial Institute at Colorado Christian University. The authors views are not necessarily
those of CCU. Designer, Justin Jones. Illustrator, Benjamin Hummel. Subscriptions free upon request. Write to: Centennial Institute, 8787 W.
Alameda Ave., Lakewood, CO 80226. Call 800.44.FAITH. Or visit us online at centennial.ccu.edu.
Please join the Centennial Institute today. As a Centennial donor, you can help us restore Americas moral core and prepare
tomorrows leaders. Your gift is tax-deductible. Please use the envelope provided. Thank you for your support.
- Jeff Hunt, Director
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Centennial Review July 2016 2

And what did he say? I tell you, I do not know the man.
in jeopardy the wealth we have piled up, the businesses
Even Peter, cursing and swearing, I tell you I do not know
we have built, the professional and social standing we have
the man. Well, thats not how the challenge is
earned, the security and tranquility we enjoy,
going to come to you and me. The challenge
the opportunities for worldly advancement we
will come today in a different form. Do you
cherish, the connections we have cultivated,
stand for the sanctity of human life and the
the relationships we treasure, will we silently
Wrong
dignity of marriage as the union of husband
acquiesce to the destruction of human lives or
Side Of
and wife? And we will be tempted because of
the demolition of marriage? My friends, the
the social pressures we now face, to in effect
challenge to our faith today, does not come in
History?
say, I do not know the man. But we must
the way that it came to Peter. You remember
never yield to those pressures.
Peter, warming himself in front of the fire on
that terrible late Holy Thursday night and early
God and God Alone is Our Judge
Good Friday morning when the maid comes to him. Jesus,
Powerful forces tell us that our defeat in the cause of
being persecuted, facing trial, going before Pilate, sent to
marriage and in the cause of human life are inevitable.
Herod, sent back to Pilate. Peter, one of the few who didnt
They warn us that we are on the wrong side of history.
just run away. Peter, warming his hands by the fire was
Youve heard that, right? They insist that we will be
asked by the maid, Surely you were this mans disciple.

YesterdayTodayJesus
By Stephen Thomas Scheffel

First century Christians lived, worked, and worshiped in a social, economic, and
political environment that was both highly restrictive and very unforgiving. But
knowing all things, Jesus, before he was ready to leave his disciples, called upon
his followers to be notorious in deed. He warned them that even under the best
of circumstances, they could expect no more than to be treated as he was treated
during his own earthly ministry. As Jesus said in John chapter 15, If the world
hates you, know that it has hated me before it has hated you.
But following this already more than sobering prediction, Jesus went further to
share just how he desired his followers to interact with their surroundings at every
level. He called on his followers to be known for their love for one another and for
loving their neighbors, second only to their love for God.

Stephen Thomas Scheffel, Student Speaker

All of us who have experienced these past years at Colorado Christian University
would immediately recognize the unapologetic acknowledgment of him who is
responsible for all that is there, the author and finisher of our faith, JesusJesus, Jesus, Jesus.

As we depart the friendly confines of Leprino Hall, we will be entering a culture that has nearly abandoned its Christian
roots. Our beliefs are now considered to be antiquated and irrelevant, while religious liberty, at one time our nations
most treasured freedom, is now considered to be code for discrimination and intolerance.
Before us we have a few options, we could respond to increasing hostility with contempt and seclusion or, we could
respond with love and with grace. A truth so simple, yet far too often forgotten, is that as his children, we have the love
of Christ within us, we are saved by his grace, we quite literally have everything. How can we not be the most friendly,
joyful, and content people that this world has ever known? Yes life is hard, we will all face trials, the Bible even guarantees
that. But, we have the ultimate advantage, we have Jesus Christ on our side. How can that simple, yet profound reality
not infiltrate every aspect of our lives?
So what now? To have lived, studied, and grown in an atmosphere where Jesus is preeminent, now, as in the case of his
disciples and the early Christians, the challenge is taking that truth and living it out in a manner that his call on our lives
is such, that the reputation, the lasting impression of any of us, is that she is a follower of Jesus, he is a follower of Jesus.
These last four years, the goal has been to foster a place where we have seen Jesus. Now, our challenge is for others to see
Jesus in us as we embark on our future. So for us as graduates, as world changers if you will.
Yesterday Today And ForeverJesusJesus, Jesus, Jesus.
Centennial Review July 2016 3

Centennial Institute
Colorado Christian University
8787 W. Alameda Ave.
Lakewood, CO 80226
Return Service Requested

2016 COLORADO CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS
By Dr. Robert George

Dr. Robert George, McCormick Professor of

Jurisprudence at Princeton University, gives a
passionate speech encouraging young Christians to
be unashamed of the Gospel in our modern times.
judged by future generations the way we judge those who
to put ourselves on the right side of history. One thing
championed racial injustice in the Jim Crow South. But, my
and one thing alone will matter. Was I a faithful witness
friends, history does not have sides. It is an impersonal and
to the Gospel? Did I do everything in my power to place
contingent sequence of events, events that are determined
myself on the side of truth? The one whose only begotten
in decisive ways by human deliberation,
son tells us that he and he alone is the way, the
judgement, choice, and action. The future of
truth, and the life, will want to know from each
marriage and countless human lives can and
of us whether we sought the truth with a pure
will be determined by our judgements and
God Alone and sincere heart. Whether we sought to live
choices, our willingness or unwillingness to
by the truth authentically and with integrity
Is Our
bear faithful witness, our acts of courage or
and whether, here is the really tough part, we
cowardice. Nor is history or future generations
stood up for the truth, speaking it out loud
Judge
a judge invested with god like powers to decide,
and in public, bearing the costs of discipleship
much less dictate, who was right and who was
that are inevitably imposed on faithful
wrong. That is a Hegelian Marxist fantasy.
witnesses to the truth by cultures that have
The idea of a judgement of history, this judgement you
turned away from God and his law. Or, were we ashamed
are constantly being threatened with today, is secularisms
of the Gospel?
vain, meaningless, hopeless, and pathetic attempt to devise
My friends, especially my young friends, as this institution,
a substitute for the final judgement of Almighty God. You
which has formed and nurtured you in the love of Christ,
see history is not God, God is God. Thank God.
now sends you out to be salt and light to a hurting and
History, my friends, is not our judge. God and God alone
is our judge. In a certain way, the question I am placing
before you today can be stated this way, whom do you fear?
The cultural elites? The media? The big shots? The people
with influence? The beautiful people? Or do you fear God?
It will be God and not the human powers, before whom
we stand in judgement. One day we will, each and every
one of us, give an account of all we have done and failed
to do. And let no one suppose that we will be making this
account to some impersonal sequence of events, possessing
no more power to judge than a golden calf or a carved and
painted totem pole. It is indeed before God, the God of
truth, the Lord of history, that we will stand. And as we
stand there, trembling in his presence, it will be no use
for any of us to claim that we did everything we could
Centennial Review July 2016 4

deeply confused world. My plea to you can be summed

up in a single sentence. Do not be ashamed of the Gospel.

Colorado Christian University class of 2016 was the largest graduating class in the
schools history.