Share this article
“We
bear witness to the redemption offered only through faith in Jesus Christ. The
staff we engage are equipped by belief and practice to bear this witness. We
will maintain our identity as Christian while being sensitive to the diverse
contexts in which we express that identity.”
The
above words are taken from the Core Values of World
Vision, one of the most
highly rated and respected Christian relief organizations in the world. World
Vision assists people in over 100 countries through sponsorship and other
methods of assistance, to achieve improved quality of life, in the name of
Jesus.
World
Vision has historically required its employees to be “sexually abstinent if
single and faithful within the covenant of marriage.” Those identifying
themselves as homosexual have been required to be abstinent.
In
an electrifying move, Richard Stearns, president of the U.S. branch of World
Vision announced on March 24th that it would change its policy and allow
“married homosexuals” to be employed by the organization. The U.S. branch
office is located in Federal Way, Washington and has about 1.100 employees.
Washington was one of the first states to legalize same sex marriage.
Mr.
Stearns stated that he was seeking to “unify” Christian Churches with the move.
He called the decision “a very narrow policy change that should be regarded as
symbolic not of compromise but of unity.”
This
change” will make our policy more consistent with our practice on other
divisive issues. It also allows us to treat all our employees in the same way:
abstinence outside marriage, fidelity within marriage,” stated Mr. Stearns in
the Christianity Today interview.
Just
forty eight hours later, World Vision reversed its decision to hire married
homosexuals, acknowledging it “made a mistake.”
In
their letter, Wednesday, Stearns and Jim Bere, board chairman, noted that many
had come to them “in the spirit of Matthew 18 to express concern and love and
conviction.” Mr. Stearns is here referring to Jesus’ teaching on how to
confront sin in the church.
“We
have listened to you and want to say thank you and to humbly ask for your
forgiveness,” the letter says. “We ask that you understand that it was never
the board’s intent to cause confusion and pain.” continued the leaders.
Opinions
surrounding the policy change and subsequent reversal are divided between those
who saw the decision as a departure from sound Christian doctrine and those who
welcomed the result as more inclusive of diverging opinions among fellow
believers.
Many
evangelical Christian leaders voiced their opposition and criticism of the move
by World Vision. Among these, Franklin Graham, president of the Billy Graham
Evangelistic Association and Samaritans Purse, declared that he was “shocked
“at the decision.” Mr. Graham also questioned whether “supporting sins and
sinful behavior can unite the church.”
Many
supporters of World Vision have decided to withdraw support to the organization in the wake of this
decision.
On
the opposite end of the spectrum were” liberal evangelicals” who lauded the
step as creating a more inclusive environment in the church.
Reacting
to evangelicals who have suggested that Christians should withdraw their
support from World Vision, Rachael Held Evans, an author and self styled
liberal evangelical, writes,” Organizations don't get 'farewelled' for hiring
divorcees. People don't get kicked out of their churches for struggling with
pride or for not wearing head coverings when they pray. The notion that the way
to 'punish' World Vision is to withdraw support from its efforts to feed,
clothe, heal, comfort, rescue, and shelter 'the least of these' is so contrary
to the teachings of Jesus – particularly Matthew 25:31-46-it's hard to know
where to start."
Interestingly, Ms. Evans also, later redacted her impassioned statements admitting that perhaps she should have waited to respond when her emotions were not quite so heightened.
Interestingly, Ms. Evans also, later redacted her impassioned statements admitting that perhaps she should have waited to respond when her emotions were not quite so heightened.
Clearly,
the issue of same sex marriage and the church’s response to it is one of the
most polarizing issues in the body of Christ today.
While
the Bible clearly prohibits the practice of homosexuality, it does not single
it out but the Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 6: 9-11, lists homosexuality
along with adultery, theft, drunkeness, greed, and slander as sins that would
keep us out of the Kingdom of God.(NIV)
The
sacrifice of Jesus covers all sin and through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit
we can change behaviors, just as Paul reminded the Corinthian’s, “that is what
some of you were.”
Jesus’
commands that love is to be the identifying mark of true Christians. Many
Christians passionately feel that confronting sinners is unloving. Perhaps the
definition of love has been altered in today’s church?
”Sometimes
love requires us to tell the truth and oppose behavior that is harmful,” acknowledged
Frank Turek of the Cross
Examined Ministry.
No comments:
Post a Comment