Every Christian should understand that the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the Christian community, is under attack, not only from the culture, but also from the government; most recently from the US Congress. Last week, the United States Senate, at the request of Senator Jim DeMint (Rep. SC), refused to remove a provision in the proposed Economic Stimulus Bill prohibiting renovation money for schools allowing religious activities on their campus. Many college campuses, of course, permit Christian religious activities in the form of Bible studies, performing arts productions, meetings, and other events in school facilities. The amendment to the Bill, which would have removed the provision, failed on a 43-54 vote in the Senate.

The proposed Bill, by virtue of barring schools engaging in such activities from receiving money, effectively places the schools’ leadership in the precarious position of having to forego any renovation funding encompassed within the Bill, in order to preserve religious activities on the campus. Given the millions of dollars a school would likely be eligible for, it would not be unexpected for many schools to end campus religious activities.

The most interesting question is why the US House would incorporate such a ban in the proposed Stimulus Bill, and the Senate would affirm it. One can reasonably conclude, that there are members of Congress, likely supported by a constituency, who seek to terminate religious activities on campuses, and are attempting to use this Bill to conspicuously provide the means for accomplishing this end.

The effort to terminate campus religious activities, which are mostly Christian, is a direct assault on the Great Commission, and the right of Christians to engage in free speech. Silence by the Christian community will be construed as acceptance of such a restriction on religious faith and expression. In response to this matter, Christians must contact their elected representatives and express opposition to this effort to terminate religious activities on campuses. Locate and contact your state’s Congressional representatives by e-mail, fax, or phone via the following web sites:

www.house.gov and www.senate.gov

Advise your elected officials that you do not desire the removal of religious activities from college campuses for any reason.