This is such a church practice, invite someone, then realize there’s something “different” about them, conclude they are “dangerous” and eventually un-invite them.
They have every right to do whatever they want, it’s their school but I am only pointing out its lameness.
The reasoning behind it does not matter. It’s almost irrelevant. Unless it’s a morality or scandal then once you invited him, you must let him speak.
I hope the leadership of Cedarville have nothing to do with the selection committee in heaven. Can you imagine standing in St. Peter’s line, finally getting to the gate, Jesus welcoming you, saying “Well done …”. You smile with assurance because you had never read about that in the Scriptures but anyway, you’re in. Then all of a sudden a couple of men in suits and collegiate Cedarville ties whisper in Jesus’ ear and you’re told that you have been uninvited.
Hmmm, not that revenge is appropriate, but maybe we can Shane on that heaven selection committee.
As a student ministries pastor who does not preach “emergent stuff”, I am more concerned with the narrow-mindedness of the school. I am familiar with this mentality as I graduated from Liberty University. Though I had mostly a positive experience there, I discovered that you only learn what you are being taught, you are going to miss out on a quite a bit. I wished Liberty was a little more open to other ideas but regardless here I am. Thank you Holy Spirit. ;-)
In any event, those who sincerely seek will find. This will be true of many attending Cedarville. However, maybe attendance will drop by a couple because I can’t say that I can encourage any of my students to attend there.
Here’s the link from Christianity Today.
Scot McKnight blogged about it here.
Also, Scot has a link to Shane’s response on his post.
[…] to Apex Community Church A while ago, I posted that Cedarville College was lame for uninviting Shane Claiborne. Apex Community Church in Dayton had invited him so the disappointed Cedarville students could hear […]