So much happens outside Taylor, but what does any of it have to do with you? The world can seem like an overwhelming web of stories, and this column will help you find your place inside it. Sit down with me as we explore the bridges that connect us to the rest of the world.
By Abigail Pollock | Echo
Imagine sitting down to write a letter to a child. A child who you have supported, and prayed for-but never met.
Imagine explaining to them that the bright future they were promised is over. That their access to food, education and discipleship, their chance to break the cycle of poverty and their relationship with your family were unceremoniously coming to an end.
Why? Because American evangelicals can't handle theological disagreements within the church.On March 24, one of America's largest relief and development organizations in the world announced that, for the first time, it would employ Christians in legal same-sex marriages.
World Vision, an evangelical NGO, employs 44,000 staff to reach approximately 100 million people around the world. The fact that such an influential organization would reconsider its policy on same-sex marriage shocked many on both sides of this issue.
The World Vision U.S. president Richard Stearns explained to Christianity Today that as a parachurch organization, they sought neutrality on divisive theological issues in order to focus on uniting Christians in serving the poor. Stearns pointed out that the change was not an endorsement of same-sex marriage, but was consistent with the way they handle other issues such as divorce and remarriage.
"We're not caving to some kind of pressure," Stearns said.
These words would surely haunt him when, a mere 48 hours later, World Vision announced that it was reverting back to the original position on same-sex marriage.
The reason? Intense pressure from the evangelical community to retract.
Many evangelical leaders claimed the decision represented the spiritual demise of World Vision.
"You cannot undermine biblical authority, and trivialize perdition and its blood-bought remedy, and expect to maintain a vibrant spiritual base," said evangelical pastor John Piper.
The Assemblies of God, one of America's largest and fastest-growing denominations, urged its members to consider dropping their financial support for World Vision. More than 2,000 children sponsored by World Vision U.S. had been dropped between CT's first reporting of the decision and Tuesday afternoon, and social media was full of calls to end support for World Vision.
Now, let me be clear-I fully respect the right of individuals to act according to their convictions. As a Christian, you have the responsibility to steward the resources God has given you to the best of your ability. As World Vision first pointed out, there are faithful Christians on both sides of this debate, and I believe there is room for a respectful conversation to continue in regards to the issue of same-sex marriage.
The purpose of this article is not to address the debate itself, but the appalling way the debate is being handled.
My issue is not that individual Christians disagreed with World Vision's policy change.
My issue is with the evangelical culture machine and its calls to crusade.
My problem is with Christian power struggles-the way they lead to further division and the way the backlash is often absorbed by the most vulnerable and marginalized.
How people in poverty, most notably the children World Vision exists to minister to, became pawns in the theological game. How, in our attempt to regulate the moral and social norms of this generation, we punish the very people Jesus told us to serve.
How sponsors who dropped their sponsorships asked for "their children" back after World Vision changed its mind, as if a child is just a commodity.
The response of the evangelical community was not about unity, service to the poor, or love.
It was about power.
Christianity has gotten very good at culture wars, inside and outside of the church, and they know how to leverage their influence. First and most obvious is the economic influence-World Vision's support base is primarily evangelical, and money is a powerful tool in shaping theological positions and interpretations. Never mind that innocent children were the ones to suffer by having their sponsors suddenly revoke their pledge of financial support.
Moreover, Christian leaders know how to use language to frame the debate and villainize the other side. Suddenly, employing people in same-sex marriages was no longer about the understanding of marriage as an institution ordained by God, which is serious enough. The new policy enacted by World Vision became instead a direct affront to the authority of scripture and the validity of the cross, which threatened the salvation of both the World Vision staff and the people they minister to.
Respect for human dignity should prevent us from ever turning a person-rich or poor, Christian or non-Christian-into a bargaining chip for our own political, social or religious agenda.
Self respect should keep us from abandoning a child we have pledged to support, for the sake of making a point or preserving our own perceived righteousness.
And respect for God should keep us from questioning or even revoking saving faith from Christians we disagree with.Because if anything trivializes Christ's "blood-bought remedy," it is our refusal to make theological divisions secondary to the life of love which He calls us to.
(Thumbnail image courtesy of World Vision)
