Tuesday, March 25, 2014

'Lovelessness' of World Vision?

 I'm not sure if you heard the BIG news about World Vision.

World Vision is one of the largest and most influential humanitarian organizations.
Through their organization people are able to donate and sponsor children around the world to help provide water, food, clothes, farm animals, medicine, and more essentially...LIFE. 

With that being said, World Vision came out yesterday and said that they are allowing people who are in  faithful same-sex marriages work for them. They didn't take a stand on what they believe, but are simply stating that if a person is to believe in Jesus Christ and have a heart to give life to people around the world, who are we to keep them from working for us? The president, Richard Stearns explains, This “very narrow policy change is simply a decision about whether or not you are eligible for employment at World Vision U.S. based on this single issue, and nothing more. . . . This is not an endorsement of same-sex marriage. . . . We’re not caving to some kind of pressure. We’re not on some slippery slope. . . . This is not us compromising. It is us deferring to the authority of churches and denominations on theological issues...Denominations disagree on many, many things: on divorce and remarriage, modes of baptism, women in leadership roles in the church, beliefs on evolution, etc., So our practice has always been to defer to the authority and autonomy of local churches and denominational bodies on matters of doctrine that go beyond the Apostles' Creed and our statement of faith. We unite around our [Trinitarian beliefs], and we have always deferred to the local church on these other matters."

My favorite quote of the news release was this, "We are determined to find unity in our diversity." They realize that the church is divided over the same-sex marriage debate. Many denominations are in support and others are not. Therefore, WV is pretty much saying, 'Look we aren't going to ban people from working for us, but let's come to the agreement that feeding and clothing the poor is much more important than  our differences.' 

This post is not about where I stand or where WV stands on the same-sex marriage debate, but it's about realizing that no matter our differences, we should never desert  Jesus' commandments of "loving the fatherless, the poor, the sick, the oppressed". We should be united in that simple, yet powerful truth.

John Piper wrote a blog about this, stating that World Vision is guilty of practicing 'lovelessness'.
Really?! Really. 
How in the world can you say that WV is hating instead of loving?!
You can't. 

World Vision's mission states...
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.

We work in nearly 100 countries, serving all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.

We provide emergency assistance to children and families affected by natural disasters and civil conflict, work with communities to develop long-term solutions to alleviate poverty, and advocate for justice on behalf of the poor.

Motivated by our faith in Jesus Christ, we serve alongside the poor and oppressed as a demonstration of God’s unconditional love for all people.

None of those statements scream 'lovelessness' to me, but scream Jesus' radical kind of love.

It really upsets me that World Vision is getting punished for this, but more so, the punishment of people around the world who don't even know that this is going on. Many people have decided to remove their support from World Vision and give it to other humanitarian organizations. 
Believe what you want to believe, but don't let a child go hungry. 

Jesus never said, "When you feed a child through an organization that matches only your beliefs, you feed me" or "Only feed the poor who believe in Me." 
Nope, He never said any of that.
He said to love our neighbors even when they differ from us.
Jesus never said, "Only love when its comfortable" or "Only love when you agree with them".
In fact, He said, "love your enemies."
Heck, that's not comfortable, but we're called to do it anyway.

Let's get past this accusing and realize that caring for the poor should not be conditional, but unconditional just like our Savior's love. 
Let's give life, not take it away.

Be a part of Kristen Howerton's goal of 100 sponsorships and sponsor a child! 

"When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’  The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’ 
-Matthew 25:39-40

"Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed." -Psalm 82:3



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2 comments:

  1. It seems as if so many are quick to condemn on this issue. In all reality, the Bible clearly states that sin is sin (1 John 5:17 among others). I guess that means none of us should be allowed to work.

    Or perhaps (and even better), we model our attitude like that of Jesus. This world needs more love and less judgment.

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I'm so glad you stopped by! I can't wait to hear your thoughts. Be blessed :)