My Baccalaureate Speech

I recently had the great honor of speaking at my University’s Baccalaureate ceremony, here is what I said:

My last quarter here I have had the privilege of being an academic mentor for a Christian Formation class taught by Dr Nienhuis. Part of my role was attending most of the class sessions, which, trust me, was a very good thing. Experiencing the class for a second time, I realized that it has been a kind of “capstone” for much of what I have learned about my faith while at SPU. One of the main goals of the class is to emphasize the unity that exists within all the faith traditions of Christianity. I have become increasingly passionate about this issue, especially as I observe so much division within the Body of Christ.

I think it is a part of our fallen nature to divide into groups. We see it in the world everywhere. We divide based on economics, race, education, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, gender, culture and language, just to name a few.

In Christianity it is all of these issues and more. We add in interpretation of scripture, worship style, leadership structure, baptismal practices, doctrinal statements… the list goes on.

I’ve become more and more convinced that if we want to have any voice of witness in the world, we desperately need to seek to heal these divisions. And we can. But not by our own power. Sadly, when we try and do things by our own power, we often fall short, even when our intentions are good. I’ll give you an example.

A student places a sign up that reflects an opinion. Many feel that the opinion encourages exclusion. Some are very concerned about including others, of promoting unity. So how do we react? We insult this person. We yell things at them through the window. We send hate-filled emails. We do everything in our power to make this person feel… excluded.

Ironic? Sad? Discouraging?

“Have I not commanded you?

Be strong and courageous.

Do not be afraid;

do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Sometimes being courageous is speaking out clearly, speaking with conviction and compassion for those who have no voice, even when fear is choking your own.

Sometimes it takes strength to be silent in the heat of the moment when every human emotion, every natural desire is to cry out, to insult and demean.

Fellow graduates, I pray that we will look to God for the wisdom to discern when to speak and when to be silent. I want to thank the friends, professors and mentors who have given me tastes of this wisdom, and have taught me how to find it for myself.

So, can we heal these often overwhelming divisions?

I have faith, I believe we can. I am not afraid. I am not discouraged. Because I know that wherever we go in this world, the Lord our God will be with us.

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