Posted on 03/25/2014 1:24:07 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Shortly after I broke the news on my radio broadcast and on social media, Christianity Today confirmed the report: World Vision has decided to embrace homosexual "marriage" among its employees and to recognize practicing homosexual employees who profess faith in Jesus as true Christians.
This is a betrayal of the gospel, a betrayal of the Lord, a betrayal of the family, and a betrayal of the countless thousands of Christians who have put their trust in World Vision as a legitimate Christian organization.
In no way does it contribute to "building a better world for children" – one of the fundamental goals of World Vision. In fact, it does the opposite.
Last June, World Vision U.S president Richard Stearns stated that, "No one ever died of gay marriage," thereby trivializing the importance of the issue, as if it contrasted with the organization's mission of providing tangible relief to suffering humanity.
Today, he went much further, claiming that this radical, unbiblical move is actually a "very narrow policy change" that should be viewed as "symbolic not of compromise but of [Christian] unity."
What? World Vision redefines the nature of marriage – the most fundamental institution of society, ordained by God in Genesis 2 as the lifelong union of a man and a woman and reaffirmed by Jesus as such in Matthew 19 – and ignores the explicit and repeated condemnation of homosexual practice throughout the Scriptures and then claims it is a "very narrow policy change"?
What? World Vision mocks the sentiments, convictions, and sensibilities of countless thousands of its Christian constituents, rejects the historic testimony of virtually all branches of Christianity, decides to take a terribly controversial stand on the most socially divisive issue of the day, and then claims that this is "symbolic not of compromise but of [Christian] unity"?
With all respect to the massive amount of good that Richard Stearns and World Vision have done in helping the poor and needy for many years now, his words strain Christian credulity.
Stearns stated, "We're not caving to some kind of pressure. We're not on some slippery slope. There is no lawsuit threatening us. There is no employee group lobbying us. This is not us compromising. It is us deferring to the authority of churches and denominations on theological issues. We're an operational arm of the global church, we're not a theological arm of the church."
No slippery slope? No compromise? By sanctioning homosexual relationships, World Vision is "deferring to the authority of churches and denominations on theological issues"? Worst of all, World Vision did not make this decision under duress or pressure, making their decision all the more inexcusable.
Stearns said, "It's been heartbreaking to watch this issue rip through the church. It's tearing churches apart, tearing denominations apart, tearing Christian colleges apart, and even tearing families apart. Our board felt we cannot jump into the fight on one side or another on this issue. We've got to focus on our mission. We are determined to find unity in our diversity."
Is this not the height of self-deception? Does World Vision not realize that they have just exponentially increased that "tearing apart" of believers? Do they actually think that this divisive, destructive policy change will unite Christians around serving the poor? Does their board, which overwhelmingly approved the policy, actually feel that they have not "jump[ed] into the fight on one side or another on this issue"? It would be like saying, "Because politics can be so divisive and we don't want to get into the fight, we'll just vote for the Democrats."
Anonymous sources informed me about this coming change two weeks ago, telling me how the convictions of committed Christians within World Vision were scorned when the new policy was announced. This is the way to find "unity in our diversity"? (One family activist suggested to me that the organization be renamed World DiVision.)
The fact is that World Vision claims to be a Christian organization, with phrases like this on its website: "World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization . . . . Motivated by our faith in Jesus Christ . . . ." As Stearns reiterated, "World Vision is committed to our Christian identity. We are absolutely resolute about every employee being followers of Jesus Christ. We are not wavering on that."
Well, if claiming that two men can "marry" and their sexual acts be holy in God's sight is not "wavering," then words have no meaning.
That's why listeners to my radio show who supported World Vision called in today to express their shock, feeling deeply betrayed.
One caller said that he and his wife recently decided to sponsor a child through World Vision after being introduced to them at a Christian concert in New York City that featured Casting Crowns. Now he was flabbergasted to hear that they were recognizing "gay Christianity" and same-sex "marriage" among their employees.
According to the World Vision website, their first Core Value is that "We Are Christian," even stating: "We proclaim together, 'Jesus lived, died, and rose again. Jesus is Lord.' We desire him to be central in our individual and corporate life."
Let it be stated plainly to the leadership and board of directors of World Vision U.S.: The Lord Jesus is no longer central in the corporate life of your organization. You have denied his lordship by your actions.
Remarkably, Stearns claimed that World Vision's moral standards have not changed, explaining that they still required "abstinence outside of marriage, and fidelity within marriage" for their employees. So, just redefine your terms, and poof! Sin disappears.
This would be similar to saying that World Vision still requires sexual purity, except that fornication is now considered pure, or that they still require marital fidelity, except that adultery is now considered fidelity.
The fact is that no matter how much two men or two women love each other, their union is not marriage in God's sight – nor will it ever be – and their sexual relations, even if totally monogamous, remain sinful in his eyes.
Now is the time for every church that works with World Vision, every Christian musician and artist that partners with World Vision, and every believer that supports World Vision to inform them that they have made a terrible choice and that they will no longer have your support.
And then, without missing a beat, partner together with other fine Christian, humanitarian organizations like Samaritan's Purse or Food for the Hungry, and continue your compassionate giving.
And for every child who will fall through the cracks because of World Vision's betrayal of its Christian principles, I say to Richard Stearns and those who made this decision together: You will have to answer to God.
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Michael Brown holds a Ph.D. in Near Eastern Languages and Literatures from New York University. He is the author of 25 books, including Hyper-Grace: Exposing the Dangers of the Modern Grace Message, and he hosts the nationally syndicated, daily talk radio show, the Line of Fire.
Just after money. Hypocritical tarts. Love the sinner, hate the sin - and definitely don’t encourage it.
Connect with Dr. Brown at http://askdrbrown.org/
World Vision is probably dependent on big corporate donors much the way the Boy Scouts are to fund their infrastructure. Gay activists have employed an effective strategy. Unless the organizations change their policies, they pressure the corporations to stop the donations. Seems to be working.
I am currently sponsoring a beautiful child in Haiti through World Vision. I want to let them know I do not approve of this, but there is no way I can withdraw my sponsorship of the child.
That’s what my mom said to me too.
World Vision gets about 17 percent of their revenue from government grants.
Spiritually blind, lost and bound for hell. They obviously love and fear men and wish to please them, more than they love and fear God. They’re calling God a liar and calling depraved men truth-tellers. They’ll discover how well that works out for them on Judgment Day. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Hmmm... No statement of sin anywhere.
This was another casualty caused by the destruction from the “firewall” of DOMA.
thanks for this posting. What a shame that we will be withdrawing our support of this child we have supported for years. I wonder if there is a way to track these kids down and continue our support, directly? They would probably get more money this way.....
I think the decision is fitting, World Vision. It’s a Vision where they UNITE with the World. Task is done.
And, ummm... It's not exactly true. Sure maybe not marriage per se, but it's hard to dispute that gayness has cost many thousands of people their lives via the spread of AIDS.
I support Gays getting married....
A gay man most certainly go out and marry a gay woman in ANY state right now!!!!
[Sure maybe not marriage per se, but it’s hard to dispute that gayness has cost many thousands of people their lives via the spread of AIDS. ]
There is a lot of other diseases like that Syphilis and even bacterial infections that are more prevalent in the gay male community due to the lack of BASIC hygiene during what they consider “sex”...
Sure. But I was responding to his quote that “nobody ever died of gay marriage” since clearly, they have.
to recognize practicing homosexual employees who profess faith in Jesus as true Christians.
So, if I murder human beings for a hobby and keep doing so, as long as I profess faith in Jesus these folks will consider me a true Christian?
Insanity!!
I can’t seem to find out too much on-line about their methodology, but they seem to be very popular among the liberal news organizations, FWIW.
He says that he is concerned to fight AIDS, among other things. What does he think that means? Free condoms? Gay marriage? I don’t think so. It has long been evident that the distribution of free condoms in Africa only makes the problem worse, while sexual abstinence works. Honest marriage works. But not gay marriage, if there even was such a thing.
I don’t know anything first-hand about World Vision, so I won’t say more. But I think I would prefer to support a solid missionary group in whatever church I belonged to.
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