Another ethical failure from the Southern Baptist Convention

Too often Christian leaders take to the airwaves to betray the message of Christ. Jesus taught that we are to love others as we would wish to be loved. He offered no exceptions. None. Not to those who look, act, or worship differently that we do. Not even to those that despise or mistreat us. So why are some of our most prominent leaders telling us that is acceptable in the eyes of the Lord to treat others with contempt, disrespect, or even hatred?

The head of the Southern Baptist Convention's (SBC) Ethics Coalition, Dr. Russell Moore, attacked World Vision this week. Here is what passes for an ethics violation according to the SBC.

World Vision, a leader in meeting the needs of the most vulnerable in our world, announced its decision to modify its employment policies to allow participation by Christians married to someone of the same sex. It was a courageous witness to our common bond in Christ. Here is part of the explanation given for the change:

But since World Vision is a multi-denominational organization that welcomes employees from more than 50 denominations, and since a number of these denominations in recent years have sanctioned same-sex marriage for Christians, the board—in keeping with our practice of deferring to church authority in the lives of our staff, and desiring to treat all of our employees equally—chose to adjust our policy. Thus, the board has modified our Employee Standards of Conduct to allow a Christian in a legal same-sex marriage to be employed at World Vision.

I want to be clear that we have not endorsed same-sex marriage, but we have chosen to defer to the authority of local churches on this issue. We have chosen not to exclude someone from employment at World Vision U.S. on this issue alone. Let me explain the thinking behind our board’s decision.

Over the past decade perhaps the single “stormiest” issue within the church has been the debate over same-sex marriage—the question of whether churches should sanction the decision of two Christian individuals with a same-sex orientation to make a lifelong commitment of fidelity to each other in a legal marriage. We have watched as this conflict has torn apart whole denominations, individual congregations, Christian colleges, and even individual Christian families. The net effect of this conflict has been devastating—tearing apart the Body of Christ. It is heartbreaking to watch.

The statement deserves to read in its entirety. It is clear that the organization prayed over this issue and offered their heart to the Lord in supplication.

Within hours of the World Vision announcement, Dr. Moore characterized the decision as "devilish." He even coyly threatened a boycott, warning World Vision that "donors come and go." A boycott would only harm the children living in poverty that World Vision serves. Apparently that is just a necessary evil to punish those that dare cross Christian leaders like Moore. Pardon me if I cannot reconcile any of this nonsense with the teachings of Christ.

Brandon Robertson offered a timely reminder in response to Moore's pontification.

The harshest warning that Jesus ever gave was not to those who believed or stood for the wrong things. No, rather, Jesus harshest warning was given to those who stood for all of the right beliefs but neglected the one sacrifice that God requires of humankind: “ What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)

Sadly, two days after announcing the revision, World Vision reversed its policy back to excluding Christians involved in same-sex marriages from working at the organization. In other words, Moore was successful in pushing a Christian organization to continue treating Christians involved in committed same-sex relationships as inferior. Moore's vision of loving others, including our brothers and sisters in Christ, is ethically bankrupt.

Symptoms of a larger disease

A tiny church in a small midwestern city has gotten into trouble with authorities. Their crime was opening the church to as many as 50 people a night to use as an emergency shelter during a brutal winter. The church is not zoned to serve as a shelter and lacks fire safety equipment.

ROCKFORD (WIFR) -- Leaders at a Rockford church say they have been told by the city that they can no longer act as a warming center and temporary homeless shelter because of zoning issues and apparent safety hazards. 

Apostolic Pentecostals of Rockford church tells 23 New they were told Wednesday by the city that their facility doesn't have adequate fire safety equipment and also isn't zoned to serve the community as a warming center or shelter.

Here is a congregation that takes seriously Christ's teaching to care for those in need. They opened their doors to provide warmth, food, and shelter to the local homeless population. And if they continue to do it, they will be taken to court and likely have to pay hefty fines.

It is fascinating how many of the published comments about this story defended the city. The law is the law. True. This just so happens to be an instance where following the New Testament violates the laws of the larger society. In all likelihood, this church will reluctantly comply with city laws and close its doors to people in desperate need.

We live in a society that is growing hard in heart, especially towards the homeless. Across our nation, municipality after municipality have passed ordinances making it a crime to live on the streets. Even in places without the more draconian laws, area residents and businesses frequently complain when emergency feeding programs draw large crowds of the destitute. Zoning violations typically come to city attention when the neighbors complain. I am willing to bet the neighbors of this little church were unhappy about all those homeless people wandering the streets. The unwashed poor need to be keep from the eyes, ears, and noses of the beautiful people.

Perhaps we should be asking why there were so many people were living on the streets with no place else to go but this little church. The powers that be do not seem to be interested in pursuing long-term solutions to the needs of the homeless. Instead of cheering the generosity of the congregation, the locals decided punishment was in order. Problem solved. Case closed.

Here is what passes for compassion in this sordid little story. The fire marshall, interviewed for the video aired by the local television station, said that he waited until the worst of the winter was over to issue the citation. It was near zero the morning that citation arrived.