Yes, There are Consequences

The Bible is very clear that there are consequences for our behavior - we are instructed that as we sow, we will reap.  That is in effect if we are sowing good seeds or bad.  There are consequences for our actions.  Fortunately, we were sentenced to die because of our sin, but Jesus intervened, and by accepting Him as Savior, there is a good outcome.  We are forgiven for our sins.  But there may still be consequences for our bad behavior.  We can be motivated to depend on the Lord and His Holy Spirit to live a life that pleases Him and produces good fruit for His glory.   The Bible says in Galatians 6 (ESV):
7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

One very important lesson that we are seeing in our culture today is that there are consequences for inappropriate behavior.  For instance, people who show approval for the death of an individual are being shown the door - yes, we have free speech, but employers do have the freedom to make sure their employees don't offer a poor representation of their organizations.  But, we also live in a land where there is freedom of religion and there has been legal action taken against companies or entities that disrespect a person's ability to express their faith, even on their personal social media platforms.

Just a few weeks ago, according to The Christian Post, a professor and two administrators at Texas A&M University lost their jobs over a gender identity lesson; the article reported:  "The controversy erupted after state Rep. Brian Harrison shared a hidden-camera video online on Sept. 8 showing English lecturer Melissa McCoul dismissing a student who objected to the lesson, which was discussed as part of a children’s literature course."  The article went on to say:

After the video went viral, TAMU President Mark A. Welsh III initially removed the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and the head of the English Department on Sept. 8, citing deviations from the course's published description.

In a follow-up statement Sept. 9, Welsh announced he had ordered the professor to be fired “effective immediately.” He also said he was previously made aware of the LGBT curriculum.

In fact, the article said that the President was shown on video supporting the curriculum and telling the student the LGBT material had been taught at the school for a "long time."   The Board of Regents declared that it would audit the situation but stated they were dedicated to operating within the law.  How's this for law regarding this subject matter?  The Christian Post article stated:

In 2023, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 17 into law, which amended the state education code prohibiting public colleges and universities from engaging in specific “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) activities on campus.

President Donald Trump's January executive order, titled "Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government," threatens federal funding for public institutions that promote "gender ideology," such as allowing access to single-sex spaces based on gender identity. However, the order does not explicitly address university coursework discussing more than two genders.

The state representative who brought this situation to light, in an interview with CBS News Texas, stated, "She was discriminated on her conservative beliefs, and her first amendment free speech rights were absolutely violated. She was singled out in this class for public humiliation. She was ejected from the classroom. She was ordered to leave by the government officials. This wasn't a private action. This was a government official acting on behalf of the government of Texas."  He said that A&M's President should be fired, too, for attempting to conceal this curriculum.

Well, the President, Mark A. Welsh, did, in fact, resign last Friday.  Newsweek reported that the resignation was announced by Chancellor Glenn Hegar, who said: "President Welsh is a man of honor who has led Texas A&M with selfless dedication. We are grateful for his service and contributions. At the same time, we agree that now is the right moment to make a change and to position Texas A&M for continued excellence in the years ahead."

The fact is, attempts to push LGBT material in classrooms are now in violation of state law and could result in loss of federal funding.  As I said last week, there has been a decline in the level of approval for LGBT relationships, in a recent Gallup poll.  There is a challenge in the works to the harmful Obergefell decision legalizing same-sex marriage.  The moral house of cards may be beginning to crumble - we have sown this wind, and reaped the whrilwind - but in culture, we can be devoted to being bold to speak truth and sow good seeds.

We are in a season where people are reaping the consequences of their actions in the corporate and especially the academic world.  As Corey Miller of Ratio Christi said on The Meeting House on Faith Radio last week, in an interview that continues tomorrow on the program, the advance of progressive ideology on college campuses has had a devastating effect - bad ideas are leading to bad actions.  Perhaps culture as a whole will see that and respond in a positive way - we can play our part by praying and by being devoted to modeling the beauty of the Christian faith and the reality of the Scriptures.