Beware of Worldly Reputations

Recently, Bethany Christian Services (“Bethany”), the largest Evangelical adoption agency in the United States, announced it will begin approving LGBTQ homes for child placements nationwide effective immediately. This policy change comes just two years after it began working with LGBTQ homes in Michigan.  In a New York Times article, the President of Bethany, Chris Pulasky stated that “Bethany remains steadfast in its Christian faith,” and that the new practices will allow the organization to further its mission “to provide safe, loving, and stable homes to as many vulnerable children as possible.”

Essentially, Pulasky believes that Bethany can pursue the very honorable job of caring for needy children and helping find loving homes for orphans, and remain “steadfast in its Christian faith,” while somehow compromising on the Biblical principle that marriage is reserved for one man and one women which forms the natural foundation for raising children.   

This is a very dangerous viewpoint to hold, and make no mistake the actions taken by Bethany will have far-reaching consequences that will go well beyond adoption and foster care and extend into every corner of society.  By caving to the ideological demands of the LGBTQ that are a gross affront to Biblical doctrine,  even if it’s to do what’s otherwise considered good works, sends a false message that Christian individuals or groups can and should disregard their deeply held religious views in order submit to the secular left’s interpretations of marriage and family.

The Bible warns us to beware of seeking worldly reputations above living out Godly principles.  An example of this is the Church of Sardis that’s mentioned in the Book of Revelation (Revelation 3:1-5), which is said to have done great works but was spiritually dead.  The city or region of Sardis was located in Asia Minor (today Turkey), and during its prime was well known for its wealth, jewelry, gold, silver, and fine carpets.  The Greeks, Persians and Romans, throughout history battled over Sardis because of its proximity to an important trade route.  It was also the home of a large temple devoted to the mother goddess, Cybele, which was worshiped through sexual impurities.

Given the context of the City of Sardis, it’s interesting that from the scriptures the people that were part of this church were in good standing, having great intentions, doing good works and by all accounts not being persecuted by the pagans and non-Christians.  But it seems that in and of itself was the basis for the criticism.  That their activities were carried out in such a way that didn’t challenge the secular world in which they lived meant they had learned to survive through what we would consider today to be apathy or compromise.

Could it be that same apathy is driving some Christian viewpoints about the ideal parents to foster and adopt?  As part of its decision, Bethany considered research conducted by the Barna Group, which found that, sadly, 55% of Christians said either that sexual preference should not determine who can foster or adopt, or that it was better for children to be in an LGBTQ home than in foster care.  Even more concerning about the survey findings is that 76% of “self-identified” Christians are amenable to the notion that Christian agencies should comply with government requirements regarding non-discrimination rather than shut down.

It’s also interesting that in the Biblical passage about the Church of Sardis the author was inspired to use a word that meant “awaken” or “be alert” as a way to encourage the church to strengthen those qualities that are were eroding.  According to historical tradition, the City of Sardis was invaded and conquered by the Persian King Cyrus during a night raid as the city’s watchmen and inhabitants were asleep.  In using this terminology the Church of Sardis would’ve been reminded of its past and how easily people can be overtaken by the enemy when they’re not alert.

In the same way the LGBTQ has methodically advanced its agenda in a very stealth fashion, beginning with desensitization through television and entertainment, as well as school sex education programs, then on to making it a crime to even speak critically about the homosexual lifestyle.   

Now the LGBTQ is seeking to elevate “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” (SOGI) as special protected classes on a global scale, with the new objective of actually infiltrating organized religion.  We are witnessing that in the United States and Virginia with the federal Equality Act, the so-called Virginia Values Act, as well as efforts to repeal religious conscience protections for Virginia child-placing agencies, all of which seek to demonize people of faith (primarily Christians) and force them to accept the new sexual norms.  Based on all of this, it’s understandable why Bethany felt it necessary to change its policy in order to continue doing the noble work of helping provide homes to vulnerable children.

Nevertheless, that decision will have unintended consequences for the greater Christian community, as now anytime an objection is raised that people of faith will be forced to forgo their deeply held beliefs if they don’t conform to society’s new sexual norms the LGBTQ and secular left will simply highlight the actions of prominent evangelical groups, like Bethany.

In these troubling days, people of faith must hold firm to Biblical doctrine about marriage and sexuality and not waiver in the slightest from them. 

Be resolved to speak boldly in defense of your beliefs - 1 Peter 3:15-17 

Be gospel-minded in your lifestyle, witness and teaching - Titus 2:6-8  

Be committed to serving The Master - Galatians 1:10