Christian University Proves ‘Never Back Down’ Works in Battle with School Board

The battle to overcome the spiritual forces looking to hinder and gag the Good News that Jesus died on the cross and overcame sin and death by rising from the grave on the third day is neverending.

This is why perseverance and endurance are mandatory elements of the Christian walk.

When Washington Elementary School board member Tamillia Valenzuela expressed her concerns at a board meeting and said she would be opposed to having a contract with a Christian university over the religious and biblical beliefs they espouse, that university did not stand by while the name of Jesus was discriminated against.

Instead, Arizona Christian University stood up for the religious freedoms that the United States was founded upon, based on the freedoms granted only by God in heaven, and took the school district in Phoenix, Arizona, to court on religious discrimination charges.

Now, the school district has decided to settle the religious discrimination case.

The contract was restored with ACU, along with their “Jesus values,” and it is reported that the settlement will also include the district being held responsible for legal fees.

Representing the university was the Alliance Defending Freedom, who said the school board members “showed blatant hostility to ACU’s beliefs.

“My concerns, [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,’ said Valenzuela who describes herself as “a bilingual, disabled, neuro-divergent queer, Black Latina… who loves a good hot wing (but only with the right ranch) and things that sparkle.

“While I full-heartedly believe in the religious freedom and people being able to practice whatever faith that they have, I had some concerns regarding looking at this particular institution… And I think it’s a really good time for us to take a moment and really pause about where our values lie,” she continued.

Another member of the board, Kyle Clayton, joined in the assault on biblical values and stated they were not compatible with the classroom.

“I, too, echo what Ms. Valenzuela said when I… looked into not only their core values, but the statement of faith… [which they] ask their students to sign and live by,” Clayton said. “Proselytizing is embedded into how they teach. And I just don’t believe that that belongs in schools.”

This type of aggression toward Christ and the teaching of the Word of God must be called out and stood against in a lawful manner. There is no hate in standing up for the misrepresentation of the Word of God while children are being lied to about their gender, design and purpose.

“By discriminating against Arizona Christian University and denying it an opportunity to participate in the student-teacher program because of its religious status and beliefs, the school district was in blatant violation of the U.S. Constitution, not to mention state law that protects ACU’s religious freedom,” says ADF Senior Counsel David Cortman.

The student-teacher program that had been in place for 11 years saw incredible growth and helped in the development of well-rounded, biblically-based teachers who saw great success with students.

“Administrators have time and again asked us to send more ACU students because of the quality of our student’s work and their love and servant’s hearts for all,” ACU President Len Munsil said in a statement to The Christian Post.

“For years Arizona Christian University has partnered with the Washington Elementary School District. More than 100 ACU students have served the district, including 25 student teachers,” he added.

This sad trend is going on across the nation, and the world, as radicals who reject the design of God are willing to throw out good education and opportunities for students if the subject matter does not align with their far-left ideologies.

Arizona Christian proves, however, that God is bigger than the spiritual forces aligned against Him. So, take heart and stand strong against the enemy and remember, the battle belongs to the Lord. {eoa}

James Lasher is Staff Writer for Charisma Media.