from Christian Concern
Dr Aaron Edwards is challenging his dismissal from a Bible college because of a Twitter post. He explains why he continues to challenge his treatment with the help of the Christian Legal Centre.
Three years ago, I was fired by the evangelical college where I had worked as a programme leader and lecturer for seven years, for a single tweet which challenged evangelical reticence to see the severity of homosexuality invading the Church.
Despite having a good academic CV with over a decade of experience in research, lecturing, and leadership, despite numerous publications in internationally respected journals, and a long track record of excellent student feedback, to this day I cannot find suitable full-time employment as an academic lecturer.
When the twitterstorm was raging, I knew my career might be the price to pay for standing for truth. But despite all the stress and disruption the dismissal has caused for my family and I, I do not regret a single word of my tweet. There are times in a Christian’s life when the need of the hour is to speak the truth that needs speaking, when it needs speaking, how it needs speaking. As the apostles said before their accusers, “we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20).
As ever, I am so grateful to be supported by the Christian Legal Centre. I still remember when I first came across Christian Concern some years ago. A liberal colleague of mine told me how one should not associate with them, how they were bringing Christianity into disrepute in the eyes of the world. How fitting that several years later, this “disreputable” organisation would be the one to come to my aid when I myself had become the “disreputable” one to that very college. God has a funny sense of humour!