Arizona School Board Cancels Christian Teachers for Being “Committed to Jesus”

“So are Muslims allowed to come to the Ark Encounter?”

I said, “Of course, they are.”

She said, “What about Catholics?”

I replied, “Definitely.”

She said, “And what about gays?”

Who Do We Want to Visit?

I then stated, “Look. We want everyone to come. We invite all eight billion people on earth! Now, we are a Christian organization, and our staff are required to be Christians, so they exhibit a Christian worldview in all they do. However, we want everyone who possibly can visit to come and enjoy this facility and learn what we believe . . . and even be challenged by it.”

This reporter seemed to think that we discriminated against our guests and only wanted Christians! Nothing could be further from the truth as we want everyone to come and visit!

Canceled—and Then Un-canceled

Another example of this kind of thinking by secularists in regard to our ministry occurred in 2018, when I was scheduled by a Christian group to speak at the University of Central Oklahoma. Well, the school’s LGBTQ group had me canceled for my supposed “hate speech” because I believe marriage is only between one man and one woman.

I want those who disagree with me to understand that we would have to have the same foundation before we could have the same worldview.

Now, due to pressure from many quarters (politicians, media, supporters, etc.), the university actually ended up re-inviting me, and also invited my colleague Dr. Georgia Purdom, to give a public presentation. The LGBTQ group came to the talks. Now during my talk, I explained something very important. I shared that I build my thinking on the Bible, and that’s why I have the worldview I do.

I told the audience that if someone doesn’t build their thinking on Genesis like I do, I totally understand why they have a different worldview than me. But just because we have a clash of worldviews, doesn’t mean I hate them. Not at all, as God commands Christians to love everyone. But I want those who disagree with me to understand that we would have to have the same foundation before we could have the same worldview.

Hiring Only Christians?

Now, some secular groups have complained that we only hire Christians at AiG and our attractions. But I understand—and they should, too—that atheist groups will want to employ atheists to spread their message. They would not want to employ a Bible-believing Christian like me. Planned Parenthood wouldn’t want to employ someone who was ardently pro-life and therefore would go against their mission. A Muslim group wouldn’t want to employ someone who didn’t agree with the Koran. That’s all called free speech, freedom of religion, and the free exercise of religion.

Now that’s what I believe. But as I have said over and over again, much of the LGBTQ movement doesn’t want what I just described. They don’t want freedom of religion or free speech—they want total compliance and acceptance, or they will discriminate against those who don’t agree with them.

Christians Are Committed to Christ So They Can’t Teach in an Arizona School

In the news recently was a classic example of this LGBTQ intolerance and discrimination. An Arizona school board is canceling a contract that allows teachers from a Christian university to come to the school for their teacher training in the classroom. What’s the reason they’re canceling this contract? One school board member said, “My concern is when I go to Arizona Christian University’s website, [they are] ‘committed to Jesus Christ, accomplishing his will and advancements on earth as in Heaven.’”

Who is that school board member? According to one report, “Valenzuela describes herself on the district’s website as ‘a bilingual, disabled, neurodivergent Queer Black Latina . . . who loves a good hot wing (but only with the right ranch) and things that sparkle.’ She also frequently wears cat ears.” In fact, three of the board members are part of the LGBTQ community.

Those claiming discrimination are often the most prejudiced, intolerant, and discriminatory of all.

That news report further states, “School board member Kyle Clayton also blasted the university for ‘teaching with a Biblical lens.’” In other words, Christians cannot have the free exercise of religion.

The religious freedom group, Alliance Defending Freedom, has taken up this case and stated, “This is such an obvious and egregious violation of the law that’s been clearly established.” Sadly, the current administration in the USA, from the president down, has fostered this hostile environment toward Christianity by having a major agenda of trying to force sexual humanism on the culture.

Those claiming discrimination are often the most prejudiced, intolerant, and discriminatory of all.

So What’s the Answer?

What’s the answer to all this? It’s sharing the gospel message with everyone—even those who hate, misrepresent, and malign us. They need to repent and turn to Christ so they can be freed from their slavery to sin and their hatred of Christ and his people, and so they can have forgiveness and new life in him!

Get More Answers on Answers News

This item was discussed today on Answers News with cohosts Dr. Kaia Kloster, Dr. Georgia Purdom, and Patricia Engler. Answers News is our weekly news program filmed live before a studio audience here at the Creation Museum and broadcast on my Facebook page and the Answers in Genesis Facebook page. We also covered the following topics:

• Peter Pan’s new “Lost Boys” are . . . girls.
• A forbidden planet was just discovered that “shouldn’t exist.”
• Tennessee bans drag queen shows for children.
• And more!

Be sure to join us each Monday at 2 p.m. (ET) on my Facebook page or the Answers in Genesis Facebook page for Answers News. You won’t want to miss this unique news program that gives science and culture news from a distinctly biblical and Christian perspective.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,
Ken

This item was written with the assistance of AiG’s research team.