To the Editor...

Here is a letter I submited to the Mt Horeb mail this week and which they may (or may not) publish next week.  I wanted you to see it here first.

Let me know what you think.

In a March 24 article in Christianity Today, World Vision U.S. (an evangelical Christian charity serving poor children worldwide) announced a policy change that would allow them to hire legally married gay and lesbian Christians. 

The evangelical response was as quick as it was predictable.  Al Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Seminary called the decision “a grave and tragic act that confirms sinners in their sin -- an act that violates the gospel of Christ."    (http://baptistpress.com/BPnews/).  In short order, thousands of Christians who had committed to sponsoring a child through World Vision began withdrawing, or threatening to withdraw, their support if the policy change was not reversed.

This comment to World Vision was typical:  “I think you have walked away from the Gospel in your decision to allow practicing homosexuals into your corporation.  Based on your heinous deviation from Biblical truth, I have determined to immediately rescind my sponsorship of Oscar, a sweet, little guy from Columbia.  It’s a shame he must suffer for your overt political move” (http://www.patheos.com/blogs/formerlyfundie/).

On March 26, in a regrettable act of public apology and contrition, after coming so close to doing the right thing, World Vision U.S. reversed course and re-instituted their ban on hiring legally married gay and lesbian persons.

Now, I understand that many evangelicals don’t like gay people—all the “love the sinner, hate the sin” nonsense to the contrary notwithstanding.  I’ve heard the persistent countermanding of Jesus’ command, “Judge not, lest you be judged”.  I’ve seen the willingness to “cast the first stone” at people no more mired in sin than they are themselves.  I get all that.

I don’t get this: religious ideologues so committed to their notion of spiritual purity that they would withhold food and water from a child on the other side of the world in order to strong arm a Christian charity that is attempting to embody Christian charity.  “Shame on you” is too weak a response.

Evangelicals comfortable with this most recent turn of events need to ask themselves two questions.  Is this really who we want to be?  Is this really the best representation we can give of the one who forgave his worst enemies—before they asked and at the moment they were taking his life?

We know better.  One day, soon perhaps, we will be better.

Rev. Brad Brookins

Mt Vernon United Church of Christ