http://www.christiantoday.com/article/world.vision.usa.allows.employees.in.same.sex.marriages/36365.htm
but the way that it manifested shows a lack of godly wisdom
this still all boils down to legalism...
it is legalistic to not love everyone and try to be unified
but is obedience more important than legalism?
you once said that the greatest love we can give someone is
the gospel
we can give them food, shelter, medicine, attention, but
these are temporary things. what they need most is the gospel
http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/whatever-is-not-from-faith-is-sin-really
basically no matter how much "good" you are trying
to do, if you aren't doing it for God's glory then its moot
or sin as John Piper puts it
i mean yeah right in the grander scheme of things you're not
actually helping the person or even really loving them
right you can treat them fairly and just all their life but
if they're still destined for hell then it's pretty much pointless
It is hard to tell people that the reason why evangelicals
are not supporting World Vision's decision isn't because they want to be
legalistic, un-compromising, un-loving, but they believe God's sovereignty and
glory are more important, even more important than following the call of social
justice. We ought to reach the poor and powerless with the Gospel in hand along
with worldly necessities. God is more glorified when we take a stand for truth and
reason behind doing good than just focusing on doing good works alone (along
the same lines of how Hell existing brings God more glory, instead of everyone
just going to heaven, which is what our culture wishes)
and I'm totally okay with World Vision employing gay
Christians, just not same-sex married gay Christians (who I would argue aren't
Christian at all). along the same lines I'm okay with them employing REPENTANT
murderers, child molesters, rapists etc
and back to the other article, really working side-by-side
with non-believers (not rebelling Christians) really gives you an opportunity
to preach the gospel to them, and tell them why it is really important to know
the reason behind why we do good works
“There is a common, worldly kind of
“Christianity” in this day, which many have - a cheap Christianity that offends
nobody, and requires no sacrifice - which costs nothing and is worth nothing.”
-J.C. Ryle
1 John 2:15-17
Do Not Love the World
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the
love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of
sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes
not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away,
but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
John 15:19
If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do
not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why
the world hates you.
Same-sex marriage is a love issue and a marriage issue, and
that makes it a gospel issue - Matt Chandler
What is the point of doing good in this world and helping
people if it doesn't give glory to God? Nothing!
What separates Christian groups from humanistic or other
religious groups when tackling the issue of poverty and brokenness in the
world? Aren't we called to be different? Weren't we created to glorify the great
I AM? Above all else? How do we love others if we don't point them to Love?
"I love you because God loved me infinitely."
Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
- Westminster Catechism
Is it really that wrong to think that though Jesus wants to
be all inclusive, it cannot be because of sin? And that this causes those who
belong to the Lord to be excluded from the world? Does it make us haters,
legalistic, or exclusive? God is all loving, but is God all accepting? Jesus
extended His hand to everyone, but does that mean He promised no sacrifice, not
cost as well?
My Jesus is the Jesus who paid the full cost on the Cross,
not a Jesus who wants everyone to be unified and happy. That is what the Bible
taught me.
A recent event that occurred was the changing of policy by
World Vision allowing people in same-sex marriages be employed who profess to
be Christian. The question is, do I call these people my brothers and sisters,
even though they indulge in constant rebellion against God’s Word? Would Jesus
still invite them to serve with Him, even knowing that they refuse to
acknowledge this sin but in all other ways have a heart for love? Is this heart
one that glorifies God in every way, or just one that believes in doing good
works aka help the poor and powerless, not unlike atheists, humanists, or other
religious groups? Would Jesus want to coexist with other groups, or would He
remind us that He is the only Way? Would Jesus want us to still support World Vision’s
mission in serving the needy as commanded multiple times in Scripture (by the
Law, the prophets, Paul, and Christ Himself), or would He tell us to abandon
World Vision on grounds that they have forsaken the marriage aspect of the
Gospel and have compromised God’s glory for man’s glory? Does it make God look
bigger if we abandoned World Vision, or continue to support them despite
politics? Is this really a compromise of theology, despite their claims of not
being a theological arm of the Body? How far will compromise lead to? Is this
really a case of “sin and Christ” attempting to unite?
How are these people different from the gay Christians who
admit their sin and struggle daily to live a life glorifying God? In a way,
them just trying, and continue to try their entire life does make God look big.
Big kudos to these brothers and sisters in Christ. Please do not belittle these
people who are trying so hard to live out a testimony that makes God the most
important piece of their lives.
"The greatest disease in the West today is not TB or
leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for. We can cure physical
diseases with medicine, but the only cure for loneliness, despair, and
hopelessness is love. There are many in the world who are dying for a piece of
bread but there are many more dying for a little love. The poverty in the West
is a different kind of poverty -- it is not only a poverty of loneliness but
also of spirituality. There's a hunger for love, as there is a hunger for God.”
-Mother Teresa
People need God above all other needs. Poverty is not just a
physical issue, it is a spiritual one as well.
But what does it matter? The important
thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is
preached. And because of this I rejoice. Philippians 1:18
I will use this verse so that I don't have to condemn World
Vision as others have. Yes, it is a false motive and a very selfish one to
twist scripture to justify one's sexual identity (actions and lifestyles that
spawn from it), as it puts sexual identity as an idol in replacement of our
identity as God's children, but through all this God can still use these people
and World Vision to preach the Gospel.