A Weblog Dedicated to the Discussion of the Christian Faith and 21st Century Life

A Weblog Dedicated to the Discussion of the Christian Faith and 21st Century Life
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I do not seek to understand that I may believe, but I believe in order to understand. For this also I believe, –that unless I believed, I should not understand.-- St. Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109)

Thursday, March 27, 2014

The World Vision Controversy: Denying Those Whom God Loves

My wife, Carol and I have been monthly supporters of World Vision for over thirty years. It has been quite a joy for us to support particular children in Haiti and Nigeria and other countries, and then get word that because of our support, these children and their families are now able to support themselves, and we then have the opportunity to support another child and her or his family.

We believe that World Vision is the best thing since sliced bread. They are doing great work and if you have not read Richard Stearns' book, The Hole in Our Gospel, you need to do so.


What truly bothers me about the recent flap over World Vision's decision to hire gay couples, which they then rescinded the next day is not that they have waffled on their position (argue amongst yourselves over this), but that there are followers of Jesus Christ who withdrew their support from these poor children because they disagreed with WV's initial decision. James in the New Testament says, "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill’, and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead (James 2:14-17).

I am dumbfounded that there are those who would  renege on their pledge and deny children the basics of life because the organization they support takes a position they dislike.

Please remember that there are only a handful of verses in all of Scripture that address homosexual practice (continue to argue amongst yourselves), but over 2000 verses that speak to dealing with the poor and oppressed among us.

My comments may not solve all our problems, but I hope they will put things in perspective.

1 comment:

Elaine Smallbones said...

I absolutely agree with this comment. Shame on you World Vision for bowing to the pressure from people who put their personal views before the needs of children. I live in a country where thousands of children are abused, trafficked and live in poverty and hunger. Perhaps those who are "picky" about their "giving" need to see and experience real poverty first hand.
Elaine Smallbones. South Africa