Posted on 03/27/2014 9:27:39 PM PDT by John Leland 1789
The U.S. branch of World Vision based in Federal Way, Washington has about 1,100 workers with an annual budget of one billion dollars per year. The current president, Richard Stearns, announced this week that same-sex “marriage” was now acceptable but they would still require their employees to confine their sexual activities to be within marriage. Same sex “marriage” may be acceptable to World Vision but not to God. The Bible still teaches that perversion is still an abomination and is not approved or acceptable by Him and all true believers. Maybe part of World Vision’s problem is they have a “World” vision but not a Biblical vision. After a few hours of explosive Internet complaints, World Vision President Richard Stearns and board Chairman Jim Bere wrote to their supporters, “We have listened to you and want to say thank you and to humbly ask for your forgiveness." We should forgive them but remember the ineptitude and irresponsibility displayed. Most of the board chose to accept homosexuality and when committed Christians refused to continue financial support, the board, feeling the heat said they saw the light. Those board members must be Junior High School kids, not mature Christians.
Out of World Vision’s one billion dollars raised last year, 18% to 33% was federal funds. They were willing to trash their biblical convictions to keep tax dollars pouring in. They should remove all religious trappings and present themselves as the secular welfare organization that they are.
Richard was dumb enough to tell Christianity Today that their decision to accept same sex “marriage” is a “very narrow policy change” and should be seen by others as “symbolic not of compromise but of [Christian] unity.” Evidently Stearns does not know the definition of “compromise” but his supporters do. Thousands of checkbooks snapped shut when supporters were told of the pro-homosexual decision. I wonder if he still believes his statement, if he ever did. World Vision had taken the most divisive position possible and he had the gall to speak of unity! Has he been smoking those funny cigarettes?
Christ made it clear in Matt. 19 that marriage was between one man and one woman. Any other arrangement is not acceptable or approved by God. Moreover, even though World Vision flip-flopped, their decision lends support to the Perversion Lobby in their demand that everyone admire them, approve them, and acquiesce to the sin that used to be called “the sin against nature” and was not even discussed in civil company. Rather than give support to homosexuals, Stearns should be counseling any homosexual (or fornicating) employees to repent of sin, receive the Savior, and return to sensible, sane, and scriptural living.
Stearns declared this decision was not “an endorsement of same-sex marriage. We have decided we are not going to get into that debate. Nor is this a rejection of traditional marriage, which we affirm and support.” Incredible! They were not going to get involved in the homosexual debate as they jumped into the middle of it–and took the side of perversion! Furthermore, it was a rejection of traditional marriage and a ringing endorsement of perversion draped with a very thin cloak of respectability. They jumped in then they jumped out of the debate having done enormous harm.
Richard said, “We have to find a way to come together around our core beliefs to accomplish the mission that Christ has given the church. We feel positive about what we've done. Our motives are pure." If traditional marriage is not a core belief than what is? Furthermore, Stearns seems to be confusing a parachurch group and the local church established by Christ. Christ’s commission, challenge, and command to His church is to go into all the world and preach the Gospel. While feeding children is commendable, it is not the primary command of Christ to His church. When masses of people turn to Christ in personal salvation, that will impact the world more than any social activity of well-intentioned people. “Building a better world for children” is one of World Vision’s purposes but coming out flatfooted for perversion was counterproductive to that purpose. Then their flip-flop showed them to be unsure, unstable, and unreliable people.
Stearns made it worse by admitting that he and his board were not pressured into making the change. No employees were asking or demanding a change and there was no legal action or any anticipated!
Stearns added, "It also allows us to treat all of our employees the same way: abstinence outside of marriage, and fidelity within marriage." First, same sex “marriage” is not marriage, never has been, never will be. And no legislative body or federal court can ever change that fact. Moreover, Stearns must not be aware of the fact that many studies for a century have documented the fact that most committed homosexual “couples” always keeps a night or two “out with the boys.” Total faithfulness is almost unknown in the homosexual household. Concern for children should be a trait of all Christians as we are reminded when Christ took children upon His knee and blessed them; however, our chief obligation is to truth. Feeding children is one of the most commendable things one can do; however, never at the expense of truth. Christians have many responsibilities including helping the needy but never as the major thrust of our work which is to share the gospel with everyone.
My wife and I have given to support impoverished acquaintances, victims of earthquakes, storms, other disasters, and provided water pumps for African villages. That is separate from our tithe. But, those gifts went to people I know that are also concerned about the souls of people. None of our money went for promotion, perks, or paychecks. Our gifts went to help people and give them the Gospel. World Vision started like that in 1950 but drifted away from evangelism to international welfare to qualify for federal funds.
I maintain that no Christian should give to World Vision and similar groups. They should give to their local church (if it preaches the Word faithfully and if not, they should leave) and to a church-connected mission that will accomplish the desired purpose. While it is important to feed and clothe desperate children, their souls are most important.
Committed Christians, interested in staying true to the Scripture will not support any person, group, church, or organization that does not take a clear, critical, and compassionate (by telling the truth) position on homosexuality. Yes, let’s help the unfortunate people of the world but it must be done based upon truth. 1 John 3:18 commands, “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”
Yes, all sincere Christians should withdraw financial support from World Vision because of this radical, reprehensible, and repulsive decision followed by their rescinded decision! And more so because of the shallow spin they put on their original decision that has now been aborted. I predict that corporate heads will roll within a few days.
Money talks and sometime it yells. World Vision heard it loud and clear.
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Not until they fire the entire board.
They did not change back because it was right or moral. They did it for the $.
I looked at their facebook page today. They have several ultra-lefty groups on their ‘liked’ list.
Along with the one world government ruled by anti-christ, there will be a one world religion, according to biblical prophecy. We tend to forget that while concentrating on the NWO.
Yes! Because you know that the Gaystapo will be out to totally destroy World Vision.
Stearns learned the definition of "compromise" from John Boehner and Mitch McConnell.
We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.
We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful man, regeneration of the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
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I pray they can get back to what they say they believe.
I had no idea this group was in Federal Way, WA.
That’s about 20 miles south of me, and at the southern tip of metro Seattle.
Geography is destiny, I guess, and in this case destiny means Far Left Politics.
There are so many ministries that can be benefited by the generosity of sincere Christians. The ones most closely connected to one’s own church are the ones that are the most accountable and accessible to the individual giver. So, it makes sense to support the ministries of one’s own church or denomination, especially if these huge international organizations are getting government or grant money.
Just my humble opinion.
"Just my humble opinion.
I concur. I am a DE-centralization man, myself, and believe that applies to more than the subject of 'national vs. federal.'
I believe the centrality in Christianity is in the Head, the Lord Jesus Christ, at the Right Hand of the Father, and in NO headquarters on earth above local, Holy Spirit-guided, Biblicist congregations of believers.
Local churches, or fellowships of local churches can have very effective charities. We do ALL such giving through our local church for accountability reasons.
Indeed.
Amen to that.
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