What Do You Feel About World Vision’s Controversial Decision?
UPDATE (5:05 p.m.) World Vision Reverses Decision on Employees in Same-Sex Marriages: World Vision released a statement (see below) this afternoon confirming it has reversed its decision to allow its American branch to hire employees in same-sex marriages: “The board acknowledged it made a mistake and chose to revert to our longstanding policy requiring sexual abstinence for all single employees and faithfulness within the Biblical covenant of marriage between one man and one woman. … We are brokenhearted over the pain and confusion we have caused many of our friends, who saw this decision as a reversal of our strong commitment to Biblical authority.”
Read the official letter here from World Vision.
I’m reminded that we live in a constantly changing world. We have heroes and villains. There are people who live the motto: Life is not about me or life is all about me. We argue, we value, we fight, we love, we disagree, we find harmony- every day changes.
Yesterday, I read about World Vision’s controversial decision that has today caused a blast through the Christian community. Our family has been World Vision sponsors for years financially supporting two beautiful children living in India and the Middle East. I spent time reading the statements from Richard Stearns and read the additional comments from others on social media. My greatest concern was immediately for the children and orphans around the world who will most likely lose sponsorship from churches and supporters, financial support, and ultimately be the ones to suffer. This breaks my heart. I want to stand united to care for the needs of children. Sponsorship is a commitment to the child, however when the ministry I sponsor makes a monumental decision, it makes it difficult to know what to do. World Vision states: “We are called to serve the neediest people of the earth, to relieve their suffering and to promote the transformation of their condition of life.” We wholeheartedly support that decision. What is the truth?
Today, it feels as though World Vision has robbed the sanctity of marriage and family and robbed the care for orphans and poverty. Now believers and non-believers will question truth… what is right and wrong?
John Piper’s article states: “This is a tragic development for the cause of Christ, because it trivializes perdition — and therefore, the cross — and because it sets a trajectory for the demise of true compassion for the poor.” This means that, without repentance and change, World Vision will go the way of worldliness and weakness. A great superstructure will remain for a season, but the Christian soul will disappear. And who will suffer most? The poor. Therefore, for the sake of Christ and his call to true compassion, World Vision’s decision is tragic. I pray they will repent and turn back to their more faithful roots.”
“Nor is it fair to put the entire spiritual burden on sponsors in this case. Stearns said, “It’s my hope that all of our donors and partners will understand it, and will agree with our exhortation to unite around what unites us… I’m hoping not to lose supporters over the change.” That is intellectually dishonest. At no point does a Christian organization with a predominantly evangelical base make a policy change surrounding gay marriage and truthfully expect it not to offend.” (Jen Hatmaker’s post here.)
I encourage you to pray, pray, pray fervently before you make a decision on sponsoring or withdrawing your sponsorship with World Vision and consider with all your heart the child. My passion grows stronger to encourage you to live out-loud James 1:27. Pray through and seek wisdom and understanding on your decision.
Let me know in the comments what you feel about World Vision’s decision and how you feel it will affect the sponsorship for thousands of children around the world.
“World Vision’s American branch will no longer require its more than 1,100 employees to restrict their sexual activity to marriage between one man and one woman.
Abstinence outside of marriage remains a rule. But a policy change announced Monday [March 24] will now permit gay Christians in legal same-sex marriages to be employed at one of America’s largest Christian charities.
In an exclusive interview, World Vision U.S. president Richard Stearns explained to Christianity Today the rationale behind changing this “condition of employment,” whether financial or legal pressures were involved, and whether other Christian organizations with faith-based hiring rules should follow World Vision’s lead.
Stearns asserts that the “very narrow policy change” should be viewed by others as “symbolic not of compromise but of [Christian] unity.” He even hopes it will inspire unity elsewhere among Christians. Read the rest of the article here...
Kari – As a non-profit Awareness guy for a mission that teaches values/marriage sanctity in Latin America and one who is committed like you to ‘the least of these’ today I am just being silent – grieving – knowing that every ‘help’ agency has now been spotlighted for introspection in a new way that is now negative. Thank you for your comments and your ministry!
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This is such a tough subject. I know that Christian organizations would like to think they will always hold to a certain standard because they can’t imagine those things not holding true, but I wonder what the church a hundred years ago had to say about hiring divorcees that have remarried. Today we can easily find compassion for and understand the love of God in their new marriage. Right now this current issue is hard for the church. If it were me I wouldn’t change my support, but this is something each person should take to God in prayer.
Love John Piper’s comment!
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What Do You Feel About World Vision’s Controversial Decision? http://t.co/boz6ZX3IlQ
To carry the banner name Christian comes with responsibility. To be a program of grace is certainly true. But also a program of truth. John 1 says Jesus was “full of grace and truth.” Sometimes in today’s culture to stand for truth means to go against the tide of popular sentiment, even while remaining fulll of grace. I believe World Vision has LOST its vision of what it trully means to be a ministry full of Christ’s grace and truth. For this, I am sad.
Yet we are all Christians and we all sin daily. We carry the banner of Christian-Being-hands-and- feet and sin. Repeatedly. And still serve. Knowing the depths of our sin. How many of you will boycott church knowing your pastor is a sinner? Or your family dinner because you will eat with sinners? Is it the money? You tithe and pay the salary of sinners. Casting stones is reserved for one alone. Yes we have a responsibility. To be the hands and feet of Jesus. To be honest and truthful in that service. And then to continue to serve. Who doesn’t serve alongside sinners? As for me and my family we will keep feeding children and building wells and stopping human trafficking 1 child at a time regardless of the sin or orientation of those who receive our checks.
IT’S WRONG… PLAIN AND SIMPLE… NO ARGUING… JUST GOD’S TRUTH… WHAT’S THE PROBLEM… DO WHAT’S RIGHT.. IN ALL THINGS… NO ON SAME SEX.. IT’S NOT NORMAL… GOD SAYS… IT’S “UN NATURAL”… OK.. IN A NUT SHELL…
World Vision.. has lost their vision and are now WORLDLY VISION.. VERY VERY SAD INDEED
Actually it is very natural. Because sin is natural. It’s in our nature. Which is why we need Jesus, because we all sin by our nature. You and I. Our pastors and all of those who serve sin. Naturally. And then Jesus. We get to claim His goodness and truth and seek to serve as He did because His blood has washed away what nature could not, our sin and condemnation. Which is why we can serve as sinners. Claim truth, speak truth, and continue to serve because His perfect nature paid the penalty that our sinful nature could not ever repay.
Yes Kimberly, I’m not advocating to abandon World Vision, which would mean abandoning the kids. I do think it’s perfectly fine to call them out on decisions they make you disagree with, but not sure a boycott is the answer here. Keep serving and keep loving but don’t ignore falsehood and sin. A delicate balance which Jesus mastered.
UNTO HIM FOR SUCH IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.. THEY WILL NEVER BE ABANDONED, JESUS IS LORD.. EVEN TO THE BIRDS OF THE FIELDS
No way!
Very well said.
I can’t shake this feeling that this is a distraction from the great work World Vision does. I pray lines of communication stay open, people keep a level head, and they do not let the devil get a foot hold where he obviously is trying really hard to. These children are the issue and I know that God works all things for the good of those who love him, so I am hoping that people who have never looked at World Vision before today take a closer look and consider helping a child.
http://www.rageagainsttheminivan.com/2014/03/on-world-vision-gay-marriage-and-taking.html#sthash.z79EF8P3.gbpl
I am wishing they would have just removed their ban on sexual conduct code for employees. It’s contradictory to just change one moral code and not it all. I agree (with above blog) that if someone wants to help whether Christian or not, great! I first grieved for the children, and second for the legalist who no doubt will bash homosexuality as ‘the worst sin’ in this case. Because if they had just lifted their sexual conduct code I doubt this would be much of an issue if at all. If they had said ‘we’ll allow Christian gluttons, Christian addicts, or Christian legalists’ everyone would have been either accepting or stunned they even mentioned it. Just my opinion…
Their stance is basically, “we aren’t a Church so we’ll leave theological decisions to the church and remain para church” I guess that works if you don’t have a statement of faith rooted in scripture. But don’t take the tax exemption as a religious organization, just be a humanitarian aide non profit at that point. I’m really disappointed since most evangelical Christian organizations have clarified their statements of faith including definition of marriage over the last 5-10 years, even more so with state laws changing and Obamacare. Having Biblical standards doesn’t automatically make an organization a legalistic organization. Grace is still grace, and if the addict or glutton or sexually immoral confess and seek to serve Christ as called in scripture then Grace abounds. However when an organization tolerates / embraces continued sin with no repentance, that does not promote unity in the body but rather evil. By their stance, World Vision decided to sit on the fence and be luke warm on sin. I love the aide they provide and the fact that God may still use them in the lives of those they serve. However I would classify them simply as a nonprofit from this point forward. I’m proud of the global Christian non profit I work for making the stance they have. It’s not popular in the mainstream, but God has honored it. BTW, it’s really interesting how those who want to actively pursue sin with no regard to what Christ has called them to, characterize themselves as victims. When in truth, those that follow Christ with a continually repentant heart willing to live and die for Him (and attempt to drop sin habits through Christ’s power) are those who will be persecuted… from those inside the faith and those outside the faith.
Excellent and exactly what needs to be said: http://www.russellmoore.com/2014/03/24/on-world-vision-and-the-gospel/
One other thought as I lay my head down… Stearns raises an interesting question about divorce / remarriage in the church… Evangelicals waited until now to get really vocal about the biblical view of homosexuality. Where the western church failed was speaking truth with Grace and Love as the church started experiencing similar topics in the early decades / scores of our country. The church segregated divorcees until remarriage and the welcomed them back, the shunned the unmarried pregnant woman until the ordeal was over and the child was being raised by family in another city. We really stunk then and we stink now at speaking truth in love and going to great lengths to live life of unrestrained obedience to the Cross out of love for the Savior in front and with them . And hold our brother accountable one on one in love. So know the nominal congregation doesn’t know how to address sin, corporately or individually. And we look as if we are now just picking on one sin right now.
Jim can you say truthfully you have no habitually sin your life? Just curious. I’m still wrestling with this homosexual issue because I know everyday I struggle with the same crap. I am so thankful for Gods grace as you said. But until I can say I have no more continual (habitually) sin I can’t judge (well shouldn’t ever judge-I’m not God) or even take a ‘stand’ against because then I know I deserve the same. If I was a person who were gay, or struggled with those tendencies (for lack of a better word) I cannot imagine the pain, loneliness, and judgement I’d feel among Christians. I can only see Jesus in all this. Jesus choosing to live life with the prostitute, tax collector and so on. Freeing women, freeing slaves, freeing all through love. Yes he did say after all was said and done ‘go and sin no more’…but that woman had a encounter with him and He knew her heart. We are responsible for helping others get to Him to prayerfully have an encounter-we’re not responsible for how long it takes. Morality is being clean on the outside…righteousness is heart change. The Pharisees were moral but their hearts black. As I said I still wrestle. And PS. I agree with some points I the nonprofit side of things and them still taking a stand in some ways and not others.
Maybe we are saying the same thing…not sure after your last comment! 😉
Jen Hatmaker shares her thoughts on World Vision- what do you feel about her 3 options to the decision? http://jenhatmaker.com/blog/2014/03/25/world-vision-gay-marriage-and-a-different-way-through
Marriage was GOD’S design, not man’s convention. There are still organizations out there serving the poor and orphaned (ex: Compassion International, Hope Chest, etc) that have long waiting lists. Let us pray doors open for them to absorb the children hurt through World Visions decision.
Thank you Allison … I admire your comment and know first hand how you stand strong for healthy marriages! Thank you for sharing your thoughts during this crazy controversy!
Rebecca, absolutely. But in my heart I hate it and I want it gone. So don’t embrace it, give up/in , or marry it, or ask others to just accept it, because that’s who I am . Sin is sin. The glutton, addict or practicing homosexual according to scripture should hate their sin, confess, move away from it , ask for help seek victory with Christ, everyday.
This will not change my mind on the precious gal in South Africa I have supported for 8 years, World Vision took me to visit her village, I got just how poor she was, I also saw the difference World Vision is making w the children
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World Vision released a statement (see below) this afternoon confirming it has reversed its decision to allow its American branch to hire employees in same-sex marriages: “The board acknowledged it made a mistake and chose to revert to our longstanding policy requiring sexual abstinence for all single employees and faithfulness within the Biblical covenant of marriage between one man and one woman. … We are brokenhearted over the pain and confusion we have caused many of our friends, who saw this decision as a reversal of our strong commitment to Biblical authority.” -Richard Stearns Read more here: http://www.worldmag.com/2014/03/world_vision_reportedly_reverses_decision
This entire thread is a perfect example of why I love Jesus, but abhor Christians.