Stay the Course

The apostle Paul, as he neared the end of his life, wrote to Timothy in 2nd Timothy chapter 4, stating:
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Paul rightly recognize that while there may be struggle in this life, we are serving the One who gives us victory in the midst of our challenges. He wrote in 1st Corinthians chapter 9:
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.
25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.
27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

We are all in the race of life - and in a sense, we are all competitors, not against other people, but against the enemy of our souls and...against ourselves and our worldly desires.  We are called to identify with Christ in His crucifixion, to die to self, so that we might experience His resurrection power. We can develop determination and practice perseverance so that Jesus might be glorified in us. He gives us the ability to triumph as we hold on to Him. 

+++++

Isaiah 50 contains an expression of determination and can encourage us to hold fast to Him - we can find these words:
7 "For the Lord God will help Me; Therefore I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set My face like a flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed.
8 He is near who justifies Me; Who will contend with Me? Let us stand together. Who is My adversary? Let him come near Me.
9 Surely the Lord God will help Me; Who is he who will condemn Me? Indeed they will all grow old like a garment; The moth will eat them up.
10 "Who among you fears the Lord? Who obeys the voice of His Servant? Who walks in darkness And has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord And rely upon his God.

Jonathan Varkey is a professing Christian who has served as a biology professor in Texas. A recent Faithwire article referenced a CBN report that...

...a biology professor for the past 20 years, Varkey consistently taught the same facts about the human reproductive system without any problems. But that changed last year, when he received a notice of dismissal.

“I was surprised and I was shocked, because, you know, never expected for such a letter from, or such an email from, the school because I’ve been teaching that for that school for the last 20 years and without any complaints,” he said.

Varkey believes his lessons on human biology and sex being determined by chromosomes X and Y sparked complaints leading to his dismissal.

“On the 12th of January [of 2023], I received an email from the vice president of the department of the school that they are doing an ethic violation investigation on me, so I responded to his email and asked him, ‘What are the complaints?'” Varkey said. “So, what he said was the human resources will contact me.”

The professor said, although he asked about complaints, he received no response from HR and didn’t get a chance to defend himself before his firing.

Varkey was told that he had offended LGBTQ students because of his comments - about...biology! 

First Liberty Institute stepped in to defend Varkey and recognized a number of constitutional violations regarding the way he was treated. First Liberty even filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.  The Faithwire piece notes that:

Kayla Toney, associate Counsel at First Liberty Institute, told CBN News her legal firm was initially “outraged” after initially finding out about Varkey’s plight, noting the fact his “speech had been targeted” was deeply concerning.

“There were many First Amendment violations that we saw right away, first his religious exercise,” Toney said. “He is a committed Christian; he’s also a pastor in addition to his role as a biology professor. So, we think there was some religious targeting by students who knew he was a pastor and thought they could accuse him of something like religious preaching.”

The attorney said her client was “simply teaching straight from the textbook and following those lesson plans that he had used for 19 years.”

She also referenced "academic freedom concerns" and the lack of due process afforded Varkey - he did not have a chance to face his accusers.  

Through the efforts of First Liberty, Varkey and the school, St. Phillip's College in San Antonio, have reached a settlement through which the professor has received his job back. The professor commented to CBN: “I was so excited...And thank the Lord for that outcome.”  The Faithwire article says:

The professor said he hopes his successful quest to fight for his job will inspire other Christians who might face similar issues and barriers.

“I would say, don’t quit, because there are people very supportive just like First Liberty,” he said, urging people to be brave and take a stand. “Stand for the truth.”

Some things are worth fighting for.  We have to make a Biblical determination about what is and isn't worth devoting time, effort, and mental and spiritual energy to fight. But, certainly this is a battle worth fighting - a professor's loss of a job and an impact on more people because of his willingness to stand for truth.  Yes, Professor Varkey could have taken the loss and went and found other employment. But, he believed an injustice was done and that he was experiencing reprisals because of his faith. This was clearly worth it. 

As Jesus taught, there is an enemy who unleashes his destructive power on people's lives. He wants to make us ineffective for the Kingdom and to restrain the advancement of God's Kingdom on earth, which is what Jesus has called and equipped us to do.  Once we make the decision to follow Christ and perhaps take a bold step in a particular area, He gives us the capacity to see it through.  He gives us power so that we don't give up.  Through our struggles, He builds character in and through us.