A Christian school in the Northeast has paid the price for standing by its convictions. When faced with the prospect of having its girls’ basketball team play another school with a trans-identifying player, the Mid Vermont Christian School chose to forfeit. But it was not enough for authorities for the team to just take the loss. The entire school has now been banned from playing in any Vermont sporting event.  

There are at least two lessons for the rest of us in this. First, we need to count the cost ahead of time if we are committed to “live not by lies.” Doing so will inevitably mean losing favor and opportunities. This school apparently had what many of us need: a “theology of getting fired.” Second, there is no way to reconcile Christian faithfulness—of loving God and our neighbor—with the new sexual orthodoxy.  

The only way to combat lies is to speak and live what is true.