Gary Varvel: Taylor students have bought into Pence caricature

Jesus said the world would recognize his followers by the way they love one another (John 13:35). But students and alumni at Taylor University, a small Christian college in Upland, must not have gotten the memo.

Vice President Mike Pence was invited to be the commencement speaker at Taylor’s graduation in mid-May. But thousands of people have signed a change.org petition demanding that invitation be rescinded.

Why? Because the “Trump-Pence Administration’s policies” are “not consistent with the Christian ethic of love we hold dear.”

After reading some of the hateful comments left by signers of the petition, I must ask: What kind of love is this? I’d expect this kind of hostility from students at a secular college, but not from Taylor students.

Franklin Graham responded on his Facebook page writing, “What are these people smoking? This reminds me of [Apostle] Paul’s words, ‘You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?’ (Galatians 3:1).”

Good question. My answer: The Taylor students and alumni have been deceived by a politically prejudiced caricature of Pence and his faith.

A caricature is an exaggerated image in order to create a comic or grotesque effect. A good one should bear some resemblance to the person.

I know Pence. We were good friends back in the 1990s, and we had many discussions about family, politics and the Bible. I can honestly tell you the image the media has painted of him is unrecognizable.

For example, last year, The New Yorker’s Jane Mayer mocked Pence’s “religiosity” in a 14,000-word screed called “The Danger of President Pence.”

A book by Michael D’Antonio and Peter Eisner called “The Shadow President: The Truth About Mike Pence” called him a “Christian supremacist.”

Danger? Supremacist? Don’t make me laugh. Pence’s sense of danger is wearing a short-sleeved, collared, button-down shirt.

From the comments of the Taylor protesters, some have a problem with Pence’s biblical view of traditional marriage. Others questioned his faith, saying Pence couldn’t possibly be a Christian and in good conscience support President Trump.

I respectfully disagree. It’s possible for people of faith to serve in government and have a godly impact.

In the Bible, Joseph served the King of Egypt, Daniel served the kings of Babylon, and Esther became the queen of Persia. All three had an impact on the country’s leader, and I believe Pence has come to this “royal position for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14).

In February, Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, said on Fox News, “This president has done more to protect and promote religious freedom than any president in my lifetime. I served in the Marine Corps under Ronald Reagan, admired him greatly. This President in two years has done as much, if not more, than Ronald Reagan in advancing these core values that make America great.”

I agree.

Fortunately, Paul Lowell Haines, the president of Taylor, has not given in to the protesters. He praised Pence as a “good friend to the university over many years” and “a Christian brother whose life and values have exemplified what we strive to instill in our graduates.”

If the Taylor students plan to live their Christian faith in public, if they want to learn how to stand firm on biblical principles and respond with grace and love in the face of fierce opposition, then Pence is exactly the person they should want speaking at their graduation.•

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Varvel is a political cartoonist and illustrator who retired from The Indianapolis Star last year. Send comments to ibjedit@ibj.com.

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