What do Dartmouth, Brown, Harvard, and Yale Universities have in common? Yes–they are Ivy League schools located in New England. However, all of these universities started with the mission of academically advancing the Gospel. How is it that these schools, which were started approximately 200-400 years ago as Christian charters, become extremely liberal, and dare I say antagonistic, towards the Gospel?
There are different reasons why this has happened, however, the core reason was compromise. Whether it was compromise for financial reasons, compromise because of the rise of secular thought and social sciences, compromise of sound doctrine, or compromise because of coveted notoriety in order to gain student body. Indeed, these schools did not become compromised overnight. It was a gradual process.
This was not merely executed by human ingenuity. In my view, this was strategically and tactically planned by the powers of darkness. As Paul writes,
“We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over the present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).
The powers of darkness strategized, “If we can break down the Academy of Christian education and replace it with secularism, it will work its way into the Church, down to the grammar school level, and into the home itself!” And look where we are today. Many have been deceived to believe that transgenderism and homosexual marriage are “morally viable” lifestyles.
This strategic plan of eroding Christian universities is not unique. When we look at biblical history, we see the same strategy being applied that led to gross immorality and idolatry in Israel–whether it was when Joshua and the elders were deceived in allowing the Gibeonites to remain in the land (Joshua 9), the compromise of using golden calves to represent Yahweh in the Northern Kingdom (1 Kings 12:25-33), or Samson uniting himself with Delilah (Judges 16). Whenever we compromise our integrity and fidelity to the Gospel, it is only a matter of time before the Gospel becomes tragically diluted.
Take note of how secular influence has invaded the Church. In an attempt to be relevant, churches avoid talking about sin, ordain homosexual pastors, and create environments of worship that are very similar to a rock concert. If our churches continue to flirt with the temptation to be relevant for the sake of the culture, the end result will be no different from our once godly Christian institutions. As Jesus would say,
“Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Luke 14:34-35)
