How ironic. While Hobby Lobby wages a spiritual battle in the US Supreme Court, World Vision loses one without ever picking up a sword.
Before you read any further, please hear this: My intent is not to debate, defend, or denounce abortion or same-sex marriage.
Neither of those are the real issue anyway. The issue is the believer’s relationship to God’s Word. Will we stand firm on its truth and not be moved? Or will we float on the tide of the cultural stream?
Just in case you’ve been living under a rock, here’s a quick summary of these two recent news stories:
- American craft store giant, Hobby Lobby, is fighting for its religious right to not provide its employees with four specific contraceptive methods, mandated by Obama Care. The Green family, who owns Hobby Lobby, – and many others, scientists included – believe these four, including the Morning After pill and IUDs, can actually cause abortions, which is in opposition to their faith. The US Supreme Court heard the case on Tuesday. An unfavorable ruling will cost Hobby Lobby millions of dollars every year if the Christian-owned store continues to stand firm on what it believes to be God’s truth. (You can read about both sides of the argument in this USA Today article.)
- Earlier this week, World Vision, one of the world’s largest Christian relief organizations, announced a significant employee policy change. World Vision’s American branch will now accept employees who are in same-sex marriages. This is a reversal of the policy implemented under the organization’s founder. According to World Vision’s current president, Richard Stearns, (as cited by this article in Christianity Today) the decision was “not symbolic of compromise but of [Christian] unity.”
Hobby Lobby fights for the legal right to act in accordance with what it believes to be true based on God’s Word. This has been and will continue to be a long, expensive, and painful battle. In contrast, World Vision changes it stand. Why? World Vision once believed that union between one man and one woman was God’s design. They believed that was truth. And while truth hasn’t changed, what our culture accepts and doesn’t accept has.
Let’s be honest. It’s just plain harder to swim upstream. Ask Hobby Lobby.
Yesterday, when I first heard about World’s Vision decision, I was confronted with a decision. What should I do about the child I sponsor through that organization?
Honestly, my knee-jerk reaction was to immediately pull my support. But after praying, listening, and thinking, I sense God leading me to keep my commitment. I made a commitment to a little boy, not to World Vision. And no company – Christian or not – will make right decisions 100% of the time.
Obligation to the Truth
However, if the Bible is God’s inspired, unchanging Word, we have an obligation to stand firmly on it’s truth. To “compromise” on anything we believe God’s Word clearly teaches – even in the name of unity – is to side with sin.
I do acknowledge that no individual believer, group of believers, church, or denomination can interpret or apply the Bible with complete accuracy. In fact, since we are fallible, sinful, humans, we will make mistakes in understanding and handling God’s Word. We will read it through our own worldviews and infuse it with our own prejudices.
Difference in Interpretation or Compromise?
But if we are honest with ourselves, we are more susceptible to compromise than we are to misinterpretation. Will we cling to God’s truth even if it hurts or costs us money or makes us a target? Or will we comprise with the truth in the name of unity or relevance or grace. (FYI – I do believe in love, forgiveness, and grace! Check out my post, “Question Raised by the Duck Controversy,” to hear what I have to say about truth and grace working together!)
The Greens (Hobby Lobby) are willing to put their business and their livelihood on the line rather than compromise the truth of God’s Word. I admire them and hope I would make the same brave choice.
World Vision would rather change their beliefs and compromise with the truth than risk offending the culture. What a dangerous and slippery slope.
The real issue is not what Hobby Lobby believes about the morning after pill or what World Vision believes about same-sex marriage. It’s not what you or I believe about them. The real issue is faithfulness to God and His truth.
Are we willing to stand uncompromisingly on the truth of God’s Word whatever the issue and whatever the risk? I pray so.
Here’s a few other posts on this topic you might find interesting:
- Moore to the Point – Russell Moore declares World Vision’s decision to be a move away from the Gospel.
- Jen Hatmaker – Calls for reason, humility, and grace.
- Billy Graham Evangelistic Association – Franklin Graham is shocked by World Vision’s decision.
STORY UPDATE:
Praise God! With humility and repentance, World Vision announced today that the organization has reversed it’s decision! They have admitted to being inconsistent with God’s Word and their own statement of faith. Read More Now.
Great post Kathy and I’ve been saying this on a FB post that went on all night with discussion and back this morning. World Vision just reversed their decision and their letter states all the reasons you list above. Too bad they didn’t consult the Bible and God before they make this huge mistake, but they humbly ask for forgiveness. Praise God a victory for His Word.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2014/march-web-only/world-vision-reverses-decision-gay-same-sex-marriage.html?utm_source=ctweekly-html&utm_medium=Newsletter&utm_term=11212054&utm_content=258220905&utm_campaign=2013
Hi Janet, thanks for coming by. I saw your discussion on Facebook. To be honest, it inspired me to write the post. Then I saw the reversal story just before you commented. I just added a “story update” to the post!
Thanks for your post Kathy. I was, like most of us, shocked at World Vision’s decision. After all, if no one was pressuring them, why make a stand and then say it was “not making a stand.” I am happy to see that they have reversed their decision. One of the most troubling aspects of it for me was that they chose to still adhere to purity outside of marriage, while not considering God’s laws within marriage…. That simply did not make since, as they both are sin. However, Christian organizations and businesses will now face terrible times. How will they continue to get away with not hiring legally married persons? I don’t know that every organization should spend the millions that Hobby Lobby has spent to fight this battle. Aren’t we as Christians expected to obey the law? If it’s discriminating within a business to not hire legally married gay persons, then we ought not discriminate. I know!! It’s crazy!! This is something that I have wrestled with myself for some time. The real point and issue here is that Christians need to spend time wrestling with this issue. We need to come together to decide how we will respond, without damaging our witness and ability to extend the gospel. I posted on Facebook after the Duck Dynasy episode about grace and truth in love and was blasted! Comments and emails came in accusing me of not standing for truth. We should not do this to each other. Homosexuality is here and we need to figure out how to respond to it… It’s a hard one!
Hi Kelly, thanks for coming by! I thought the same thing you did about leaving in the part of purity outside of marriage. They seemed to choose to adhere to one part of God’s Word but reject another. Like you, I don’t know all the answers. Believers need to love, show grace, and tell of Jesus without compromising God’s Word. But what does that look like in the everyday?!
Yes, the Bible calls us to obey the government – unless it or it’s laws are in direct opposition to God. In Acts 4, the Sanhedrin arrested Peter and John for teaching in the name of Christ. When they commanded them to no longer teach or speak in His name, Peter and John replied in verse 19-20, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” And again in 5:29, “We must obey God rather than men!” They – and Paul later – set an example of obeying human law unless it directly contradicted God’s command. In Hobby Lobby’s case, they believe 4 of the contraceptive methods required by law for employers to provide can take a life. They have chosen to obey God rather than man no matter what it costs them.
I agree that believers need to pray and wrestle with these kinds of issues. It’s great in theory to say, “Show grace and love without compromising God’s Word.” But what does that look like in word and deed? I’m not sure. Obviously, World Vision acted before it was sure. It seems Hobby Lobby has wrestled with it and taken a stand. We must seek God’s wisdom and guidance in every step!
Kathy
Powerful post!
The contrast of World Vision with Hobby Lobby really makes the point.
You make the real issue so very clear.
Great writing. I always love your blogs.
Lynn
Hi Lynn, glad you found the post helpful. I’m afraid we will be seeing more stories like this in the news in the days ahead.