Did World Vision Lose Their Vision?
March 28, 2014 | Debbie Smith
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“We bear witness to the redemption offered only through faith in Jesus Christ. The staff we engage are equipped by belief and practice to bear this witness. We will maintain our identity as Christian while being sensitive to the diverse contexts in which we express that identity.”
The above words are taken from the Core Values of World Vision, one of the most highly rated and respected Christian relief organizations in the world. World Vision assists people in over 100 countries through sponsorship and other methods of assistance, to achieve improved quality of life, in the name of Jesus.
World Vision has historically required its employees to be “sexually abstinent if single and faithful within the covenant of marriage.” Those identifying themselves as homosexual have been required to be abstinent.
In an electrifying move, Richard Stearns, president of the U.S. branch of World Vision announced on March 24th that it would change its policy and allow “married homosexuals” to be employed by the organization. The U.S. branch office is located in Federal Way, Washington and has about 1.100 employees. Washington was one of the first states to legalize same sex marriage.
Mr. Stearns stated that he was seeking to “unify” Christian Churches with the move. He called the decision “a very narrow policy change that should be regarded as symbolic not of compromise but of unity.”
This change” will make our policy more consistent with our practice on other divisive issues. It also allows us to treat all our employees in the same way: abstinence outside marriage, fidelity within marriage,” stated Mr. Stearns in the Christianity Today interview.
Just forty eight hours later, World Vision reversed its decision to hire married homosexuals, acknowledging it “made a mistake.”
In their letter, Wednesday, Stearns and Jim Bere, board chairman, noted that many had come to them “in the spirit of Matthew 18 to express concern and love and conviction.” Mr. Stearns is here referring to Jesus’ teaching on how to confront sin in the church.
“We have listened to you and want to say thank you and to humbly ask for your forgiveness,” the letter says. “We ask that you understand that it was never the board’s intent to cause confusion and pain.” continued the leaders.
Opinions surrounding the policy change and subsequent reversal are divided between those who saw the decision as a departure from sound Christian doctrine and those who welcomed the result as more inclusive of diverging opinions among fellow believers.
Many evangelical Christian leaders voiced their opposition and criticism of the move by World Vision. Among these, Franklin Graham, president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritans Purse, declared that he was “shocked “at the decision.” Mr. Graham also questioned whether “supporting sins and sinful behavior can unite the church.”
Many supporters of World Vision have decided to withdraw support to the organization in the wake of this decision.
On the opposite end of the spectrum were” liberal evangelicals” who lauded the step as creating a more inclusive environment in the church.
Reacting to evangelicals who have suggested that Christians should withdraw their support from World Vision, Rachael Held Evans, an author and self styled liberal evangelical, writes,” Organizations don't get 'farewelled' for hiring divorcees. People don't get kicked out of their churches for struggling with pride or for not wearing head coverings when they pray. The notion that the way to 'punish' World Vision is to withdraw support from its efforts to feed, clothe, heal, comfort, rescue, and shelter 'the least of these' is so contrary to the teachings of Jesus – particularly Matthew 25:31-46-it's hard to know where to start."
Interestingly, Ms. Evans also, later redacted her impassioned statements admitting that perhaps she should have waited to respond when her emotions were not quite so heightened.
Clearly, the issue of same sex marriage and the church’s response to it is one of the most polarizing issues in the body of Christ today.
While the Bible clearly prohibits the practice of homosexuality, it does not single it out but the Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 6: 9-11, lists homosexuality along with adultery, theft, drunkeness, greed, and slander as sins that would keep us out of the Kingdom of God.(NIV)
The sacrifice of Jesus covers all sin and through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit we can change behaviors, just as Paul reminded the Corinthian’s, “that is what some of you were.”
Jesus’ commands that love is to be the identifying mark of true Christians. Many Christians passionately feel that confronting sinners is unloving. Perhaps the definition of love has been altered in today’s church?
”Sometimes love requires us to tell the truth and oppose behavior that is harmful,” acknowledged Frank Turek of the Cross Examined Ministry.
Read more at http://www.prophecynewswatch.com/2014/March28/282.html#eqoCvx8MLDx0OAOc.99
March 28, 2014 | Debbie Smith
Share this article
“We bear witness to the redemption offered only through faith in Jesus Christ. The staff we engage are equipped by belief and practice to bear this witness. We will maintain our identity as Christian while being sensitive to the diverse contexts in which we express that identity.”
The above words are taken from the Core Values of World Vision, one of the most highly rated and respected Christian relief organizations in the world. World Vision assists people in over 100 countries through sponsorship and other methods of assistance, to achieve improved quality of life, in the name of Jesus.
World Vision has historically required its employees to be “sexually abstinent if single and faithful within the covenant of marriage.” Those identifying themselves as homosexual have been required to be abstinent.
In an electrifying move, Richard Stearns, president of the U.S. branch of World Vision announced on March 24th that it would change its policy and allow “married homosexuals” to be employed by the organization. The U.S. branch office is located in Federal Way, Washington and has about 1.100 employees. Washington was one of the first states to legalize same sex marriage.
Mr. Stearns stated that he was seeking to “unify” Christian Churches with the move. He called the decision “a very narrow policy change that should be regarded as symbolic not of compromise but of unity.”
This change” will make our policy more consistent with our practice on other divisive issues. It also allows us to treat all our employees in the same way: abstinence outside marriage, fidelity within marriage,” stated Mr. Stearns in the Christianity Today interview.
Just forty eight hours later, World Vision reversed its decision to hire married homosexuals, acknowledging it “made a mistake.”
In their letter, Wednesday, Stearns and Jim Bere, board chairman, noted that many had come to them “in the spirit of Matthew 18 to express concern and love and conviction.” Mr. Stearns is here referring to Jesus’ teaching on how to confront sin in the church.
“We have listened to you and want to say thank you and to humbly ask for your forgiveness,” the letter says. “We ask that you understand that it was never the board’s intent to cause confusion and pain.” continued the leaders.
Opinions surrounding the policy change and subsequent reversal are divided between those who saw the decision as a departure from sound Christian doctrine and those who welcomed the result as more inclusive of diverging opinions among fellow believers.
Many evangelical Christian leaders voiced their opposition and criticism of the move by World Vision. Among these, Franklin Graham, president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritans Purse, declared that he was “shocked “at the decision.” Mr. Graham also questioned whether “supporting sins and sinful behavior can unite the church.”
Many supporters of World Vision have decided to withdraw support to the organization in the wake of this decision.
On the opposite end of the spectrum were” liberal evangelicals” who lauded the step as creating a more inclusive environment in the church.
Reacting to evangelicals who have suggested that Christians should withdraw their support from World Vision, Rachael Held Evans, an author and self styled liberal evangelical, writes,” Organizations don't get 'farewelled' for hiring divorcees. People don't get kicked out of their churches for struggling with pride or for not wearing head coverings when they pray. The notion that the way to 'punish' World Vision is to withdraw support from its efforts to feed, clothe, heal, comfort, rescue, and shelter 'the least of these' is so contrary to the teachings of Jesus – particularly Matthew 25:31-46-it's hard to know where to start."
Interestingly, Ms. Evans also, later redacted her impassioned statements admitting that perhaps she should have waited to respond when her emotions were not quite so heightened.
Clearly, the issue of same sex marriage and the church’s response to it is one of the most polarizing issues in the body of Christ today.
While the Bible clearly prohibits the practice of homosexuality, it does not single it out but the Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 6: 9-11, lists homosexuality along with adultery, theft, drunkeness, greed, and slander as sins that would keep us out of the Kingdom of God.(NIV)
The sacrifice of Jesus covers all sin and through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit we can change behaviors, just as Paul reminded the Corinthian’s, “that is what some of you were.”
Jesus’ commands that love is to be the identifying mark of true Christians. Many Christians passionately feel that confronting sinners is unloving. Perhaps the definition of love has been altered in today’s church?
”Sometimes love requires us to tell the truth and oppose behavior that is harmful,” acknowledged Frank Turek of the Cross Examined Ministry.
Read more at http://www.prophecynewswatch.com/2014/March28/282.html#eqoCvx8MLDx0OAOc.99
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