Those who delve into the realm of higher education often focus excessively on America's prestigious universities like Harvard, Yale, and Stanford. These institutions are regarded as influential cultural giants, and the debates surrounding them are sometimes viewed as symbolic battles reflecting the nation's future. This perspective, though not entirely incorrect, is limited.

In recognizing the importance of prestigious universities like Harvard, we often overlook the significant impact of other schools in diverse contexts. These lesser-known institutions can sometimes wield more substantial influence, and their strengths and weaknesses can be more impactful than events in the Ivy League.

I argue that the moral collapse at Liberty University in Virginia could be one of the most significant education scandals in the United States. That isn't solely due to the shocking details but also because Liberty's misconduct mirrors and intensifies the crisis engulfing Christian America. It embodies a cultural and political approach that distorts Christian theology.

Recently, Fox News reported that Liberty University might face an unprecedented $37.5 million fine from the U.S. Department of Education. The investigation focused on violations of the Clery Act, a federal law mandating federally funded colleges and universities to disclose information about campus crime publicly. To put this in context, consider that Michigan State University paid $4.5 million for its mishandling of the infamous Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal. While Liberty's fine isn't confirmed, a leaked Education Department report, detailed by Susan Svrluga in The Washington Post, strongly suggests why it could be substantial.

Svrluga's report portrays Liberty as a university that discouraged reporting crimes, underreported claims, and falsely advertised its Virginia campus as one of the safest in the country. The report exposes grim incidents, such as Liberty's failure to alert the campus community about gas leaks, bomb threats, and individuals credibly accused of repeated acts of sexual violence, including a senior administrator and an athlete. A campus safety consultant described this report as the most damning Clery report ever seen.

If this were Liberty's only scandal, it would rightfully be a national headline. However, it's far from isolated. I have been closely monitoring Liberty University's ethical decline for years, and a long list of scandals and legal battles plague the school. One of the most well-known involves Jerry Falwell Jr., the former president of the school and son of its founder. Falwell resigned amidst allegations of sexual misconduct involving himself, his wife, and a business associate named Giancarlo Granda, who was initially a pool boy.

Falwell's national prominence stems in part from his early and vigorous support for Donald Trump within the evangelical community. Legal disputes ensued between Falwell and the university. In September, Falwell filed a scathing amended complaint, alleging that other high-ranking Liberty officials and board members had committed sexual and financial misconduct yet were allowed to retain their positions.

But the story doesn't end there. In 2021, ProPublica published a comprehensive report describing how Liberty mishandled claims of sex abuse and harassment on campus. The university used its strict code of conduct, the Liberty Way, against victims of abuse, leveraging prohibited conduct against them in disciplinary proceedings.

The narrative takes an intriguing turn. The writer Paul expresses intense frustration at the internal sins of the church but holds a surprising perspective regarding those outside the congregation: “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. ‘Expel the wicked person from among you.'”

Not every Christian institution is marred by scandal. Individuals of integrity lead many vibrant Christian colleges. Yet, as systemic misconduct unfolds in institution after institution without real accountability, many within the church display a concerning tolerance for even the most wayward, dishonest, and cruel individuals and institutions in American Christianity. Simultaneously, there's a harsh and angry approach towards those outside the faith, contributing significantly to American polarization and further corrupting the church.

In this moral framework, internal criticism is viewed as a threat, weakening American evangelicalism and potentially fueling external hostility and the ongoing secularization of American society. However, Paul's stance challenges this notion. One of the church's most prominent apostles did not shy away from critiquing a church facing far more significant cultural and political challenges, including brutal persecution by the Roman state, than the average evangelical can imagine.

Why? Because he recognized that the church's well-being was not determined by the state or the church's non-believing neighbors. Liberty University's significance goes beyond being an academic powerhouse in Christian America; it symbolizes a fundamental truth of evangelical life—the enemy of American Christianity is within.

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