Vice President Mike Pence told graduating seniors at the country’s largest Christian university they should expect to be “ridiculed” for their beliefs.
“Throughout most of American history, it’s been pretty easy to call yourself Christian,” Pence said at Liberty University’s commencement Saturday. “It didn’t even occur to people that you might be shunned or ridiculed for defending the teachings of the Bible. But things are different now.”
“Some of the loudest voices for tolerance today have little tolerance for traditional Christian beliefs,” he said. “Be ready.”
Pence told students he was speaking to them as a “brother in Christ,” not their vice president. He urged those leaving school and the more than 40,000 in attendance to follow the example of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. The three Hebrew men are mentioned in the Bible’s book of Daniel in a story about how they were thrown into a blazing furnace and refusing to bow down to an idol in the image of Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar.
Pence said graduates will “be asked to bow down to the idols of the popular culture,” but should “stand firm” and defend their beliefs “with gentleness and respect.”
He mentioned attacks he and his wife, Karen, were on the receiving end of after she began teaching at a Christian elementary school while he was vice president. Though Karen Pence taught there while Pence was in Congress, the couple was criticized for her representing an organization that does not permit faculty to have same-sex partners.
Pence also spoke at Liberty’s commencement in 2017. In both speeches, he thanked those who voted for President Trump in 2016. The school’s president, Jerry Falwell, has been an ardent supporter of Trump, both before and during his presidency.
The former Indiana governor addressed Liberty students in late 2016 and urged them to vote for Trump shortly after the release of a leaked recording that showed the billionaire businessman talking to an Access Hollywood host about how he could get away with inappropriate behavior, including grabbing women “by the pussy.”
At the time, he told students “shortcomings” were “no excuse for inaction.”
To the graduates of @LibertyU: As your own founder, Dr. Falwell, often said, “No one ever achieved greatness without experiencing opposition.” You will face opposition for holding to your faith. pic.twitter.com/XJhHn9OgEd
— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) May 11, 2019
