Why are Intervarsity Christian Fellowship and CRU valid student organizations? (by anon)

An interesting development happened the other week.  The California State university system no longer recognizes Intervarsity Christian Fellowship as a valid student organization. 

The reason given is that they violate the state’s anti-discrimination clauses which state that any person regardless of gender, sexual preference, race, religion, or creed can occupy positions of leadership within the organization.  As it stands, Intervarsity will only allow self-stated Christians to occupy such positions.  Non-Christians (and practicing homosexual Christians) need not apply.  Thus, California pulled their support from the group as a valid student organization.  Presumably, the same would go for Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU) and other faith-based student orgs, but things haven’t progressed that far yet.

However, at UW-Whitewater, these organizations are still able to function as valid student organizations.  And they shouldn’t.  Consider these UWW policies regarding student orgs:

“As part of the criteria for University Recognition, all student organizations must adhere to the concepts of non-discrimination and equal opportunity as they relate to race, color, gender, creed, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, pregnancy, political affiliation, marital or parental status, Vietnam-era veteran status, or arrest and conviction record, in their educational programs and activities. In holding with the tenets of non-discrimination, the University stresses the importance of eliminating discriminatory and/or culturally insensitive language, behavior and content from University sponsored activities and urges all recognized student organizations to cooperate in this effort.

With very narrow exceptions, student organizations may not discriminate in their selection of officers or members.”

Clearly many faith-based student orgs violate the above policy in the election of their leaders, but even more importantly, they violate the “discriminatory language” clause part because they are quite open in their beliefs that anyone who does not believe the way they do is going to hell.

They have a very particular reading of the Bible and they are not afraid to share it.  Campus Crusade for Christ, for example, has a tract called, “Heaven or Hell: Which will you choose?” and this is what it says:

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Hell

Jesus and the New Testament writers use every image in their power to tell us that Hell is real, terrible, something to be feared and avoided at all costs. Never forget that the talk about outer darkness and the lake of fire came from Jesus, who died to save us.

In His parable of the last judgment Jesus taught that some would go to eternal punishment, some to eternal life (Matthew 25:46). In other words, Hell will be as real and lasting as Heaven.

The most frightening thing about Hell is that it is spiritual separation from God, moral remorse, the consciousness that one deserves what he is getting. Hell is total separation from the love, joy, and peace that come from God.

Are you going?

“He that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36). “The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:41-42).

Which will you choose?

You must decide where you will spend eternity. Jesus Christ has paid the full penalty for your sins on the cross. “Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). Now you must come to Him just as you are—a guilty sinner unable to save yourself. Commit your life to Christ today! You can pray something like this:

God, thank You for sending Jesus to take the punishment for my sins that I might spend eternity in Heaven with You. I turn from my sin and invite You into my life to be my Lord and Savior. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Portions of this text were written by Leighton Ford. ©1974 Campus Crusade for Christ, Inc. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

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The language above is clearly discriminatory.  If you believe, you are fine.  If you do not believe, you are damned.  That’s the height of discriminatory language.  Couple that with their discriminatory practices in selecting leaders, these faith-based student organizations violate UWW’s anti-discrimination policies.  So why are they still here?