At least for now, the good news is that these standards only apply to new teachers. But will Minnesota school districts eventually adopt them for all teachers to avoid having duplicate standards?

Let me stop here and say I can imagine two very different reactions to what I’ve just written. Some of you are upset but not surprised. You clearly see the threat to educators who seek to serve in our public schools while remaining grounded in a Biblical worldview (even though we know we can’t impose our worldview upon our students) but have long seen it coming, especially in states like Minnesota. 

But I know others react differently. You love your students deeply (as hopefully all of us do), including your students who identify as LGBTQ or as part of other historically marginalized groups, and you see these standards as simply an effort to love and include these students to correct past injustices and improve their educational and social outcomes. You might want to write the standards differently (or maybe not), but you don’t see them as a threat. 

As you can probably surmise, I  would place myself more in the “upset but not surprised” camp. However, to those in the “not a threat” camp, know that I am passionate about loving all of our students, including those who live lifestyles and come from backgrounds that are not our own. I practiced this when I was in the classroom, and I am a father to three Hispanic children that I love dearly. And I certainly find value in Spirit-led self-examination and reflection about our attitudes and behaviors toward others. 

My concern about terms in the standards like “anti-racist” or “white supremacy” is not because I believe we should turn a blind eye to racism. It’s because I reject the definition of those terms imposed upon us by academics and cultural leaders steeped in critical theory (also called “cultural Marxism” by some). Critical theorists’ conception of racism is not about loving individuals from different ethnic backgrounds and skin colors as Jesus demonstrated—it’s about boxing them into identity groups and overwhelmingly focusing on how much political, economic, and social power the groups hold at the expense of the others. I believe these constructs are more likely to breed toxic prejudice and mistrust than true racial reconciliation and healing.    

Secondly, as God has created us male and female, I conclude that human flourishing is best achieved when we live in accordance with our God-given sex. Affirming students’ gender confusion is not loving or Biblical. And as we get better studies, scientific research is coming into alignment with the truth of the Scriptures on the gender issue.

For a Biblical critique of critical theory, I have been blessed by the work of apologist Neil Shenvi, and would recommend his work here, here, and here. For additional reasons that Shenvi clearly explains, I believe that teaching in a system governed by these standards would present significant challenges. 

Finally, some might say, “Yes, but the standards are vague and we can satisfy them in a variety of ways. They need good teachers and aren’t going to run Christians out.” While implementation and enforcement are indeed unknown at this point, the vagueness is actually one of my primary concerns. 

The head of Josef Stalin’s secret police, Lavrentiy Beria, famously said, “Show me the man, and I’ll show you the crime.” The presence of loosely defined and culturally loaded terms like “equity,” “affirm,” “privilege,” or “anti-racist” give politicized school officials all they need to decide that a specific educator is “not meeting the standard.” How much affirmation is enough? How much “understanding” of an educator’s “privilege” or bias is needed to meet the standard? And how would they demonstrate it? 

Should the standards become applicable to all Minnesota educators, then specific instances like these can be fought in court if necessary. But the greater damage may be done silently. How many followers of Jesus that God is calling into our public schools may see these standards and choose to go elsewhere? In fact, when these standards were being drafted in 2022, several Minnesota House Republicans pointed out that they “send an undeniable signal that only teachers who are politically aligned left of center need apply.” Exactly.

So what should we do? First, let’s pray. God is often up to things behind the scenes that we can’t even imagine. Let’s put our trust in Him, and not give in to fear or outrage. Second, Christian Educators is evaluating legal options. If you are (or know) a student who is preparing to become a Minnesota public school educator and have an interest in potential involvement, please reach out to me. 

Would Jesus Sue the Roman Empire?

In response to the ongoing lawsuit by Christian Educators regarding the Biden administration’s Title IX rewrite, I recently became aware of one of our members choosing to distance from CE over her belief that we are becoming too political. In conversation with our leaders, this member said that she “can’t imagine Jesus supporting the filing of a lawsuit against Rome.” 

I empathize with this concern. In my role, I have to frequently hold the line against attempts to involve CE in political efforts. Not a week goes by that I don’t communicate to someone that we are a 501c3 ministry and not a political organization, and our mission is not to get involved or take a position on…fill in the blank. 

But I do feel we have a responsibility to be involved in this lawsuit. Of course, Jesus was not a citizen of the Roman Empire and didn’t have the legal right to sue, nor did he have the right to vote for his rulers. On the other hand, Paul was a citizen of the Roman Empire, and in the last several chapters of Acts repeatedly asserts his legal rights as a Roman citizen for the advancement of the Kingdom. Additionally, unlike our Biblical heroes, we are citizens in a democratic republic, meaning that as individuals, we carry a responsibility to have a voice in our government—a responsibility that we need to steward faithfully before God. 

When I think about the children around the nation who are being influenced to question their God-given gender, leading them down a path of social transition, and life-altering/permanent medical transition that leaves them mutilated and sterilized, my heart breaks. I have a firm conviction that if we didn’t take a stand against this unjust rule, I would be accountable before God. 

That being said, ministry to and with educators is always and overwhelmingly the primary thing we do. That is the heart of Christian Educators. I pray it always will be.