It's sad. It's sadder.

(The following is my response to recent news about World Vision. For context, see this post and then this article.)

 

It’s sad that children lost sponsorships when World Vision announced they would allow employment of legally married gay and lesbian couples.

It’s sadder that children were used as pawns in a culture war. Those who opposed World Vision ordered conservatives to withdraw their support, thus rescinding sponsorship of children. Those in support of World Vision rallied the troops, raised funds and rushed to sponsor children. Did anybody actually consider the children?

It’s sad that over 1,000 World Vision U.S. employees have had the rules changed on them twice in as many days. Whether for or against the original decision to allow same-sex marriages, the emotional toil will be unrecoverable for some.

It’s sadder that for one brief moment, the LGBT community might have, possibly, dreamed of a new conversation with evangelicals. But now, that hope will be dashed, most likely causing mistrust, scepticism and irreparable damage.

It’s sad that Christian churches embrace secular, irreligious and unholy practices every Sunday morning in an attempt to attract new followers, without giving the use of such practices the slightest hint of theological consideration or scrutiny.

It’s sadder that, when it comes to real people, many churches and leaders react to those whom they don’t agree with or understand with lightening quick condemnation, labeling them as profane and hastily posturing themselves and their organizations as orthodox and theologically infallible.

It’s sad that the conversation with the LGBT community just got set back by years, if not decades.

It’s sadder that evangelicals will continue to fight, skirmish and dismiss each other, all along leaving a wake of theological arrogance and destruction behind them.

It’s sad that well-known high-level Christian leaders argue about the orthodoxy of homosexuality—on either side of the argument—using the worst of biblical studies practices, prooftexting to find a conclusion that is already predetermined while casually throwing a reference in about the true “gospel.”

It’s sadder that orthodoxy is presumed to be timeless and universal, devoid of context, place and time, without the chance of review, or revision, or conversation.

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Whether for or against World Vision, the Southern Baptists, Franklin Graham, the LGBT community or whatever, be sure of this: it's a sad day, and a sadder day than yesterday. Lord, have mercy.

 

Comments

[Linda]

Crying into my bath water... Seriously upset by all of this.

[Gary B George]

I think that it is sad when we(Christians) pick one particular sin to vilify. I do not endorse the gay/lesbian lifestyle only because God's word doesn't. I had the honor of leading a gay friend of mine to a relationship with God. Did my friend immediately give up the gay lifestyle; nope. Do I believe that my friend has an abiding relationship with God; yes. Will my friend ever change his sexual orientation; I don't know. I will leave that to God. I know that in my own life I still have many areas to work on. I am glad that God doesn't expect change all at once, and I may never have the time in this life to change in all areas. I am pondering about stepping on some bigger toes here and bring up divorce. Why don't we make people that don't fall into a very narrow definition of the word separate before we have fellowship with them? That would be about 50% of our membership. How about those who don't look like us? or dress like us? or have money like us???? There will always be reasons for us to focus on our differences, why not focus on reasons that unite us. I think that this would be a better place to live. All of this to say that I think that World Vision had the more Christ like vision with their initial stance of embracing married gay and lesbian workers, not because they were gay or lesbians but because that they professed belief in Christ. Let God sort out the details of their faith.

[Tim]

Linda, I get it. Thanks.

[Tim]

Gary, I hear in you the desire to be theologically accurate and accountable, but with a sensitivity toward grace and compassion. That is a wonderful goal. I keep thinking that if I'm going to err, I want to err on the side of grace. Thanks for the example you provide and for the gracious spirit.

[Jonathan Keller]

Thanks for the thoughtful post, Tim. I appreciate your insights and reminder of our corporate need for humility and contrition.

[Tim]

Thanks, Jonathan. Not easy decisions, eh? God bless as you continue your ministry!

[Jennifer Schaefer]

Thanks Tim for your post, for your compassion and gentleness in drawing us back from the fray, for your broken heart for the outcast, down-trodden and broken-hearted. Yes, I agree-- if we are to err, let us err on the side of grace. "I've found grace, it's all I've found…."

[Tim]

Thanks, Jennifer. "Now I can breathe!"