Years ago the Boy Scouts were known for their stand for God and country. They organized local scout packs where boys could learn leadership and outdoor skills with other boys and leaders who pledged themselves to spiritual values, moral uprightness, and patriotism.
Then the Scouts were sued because they would not accept homosexuals. After a seven-year court battle, they won the legal right to maintain their moral code. But the pressure from homosexual groups continued till in 2013 the Scouts caved. They began accepting homosexuals and transgenders in the membership and then in the leadership.
Predictably, membership began to drop as parents and sponsors withdrew their support. Rather than acknowledging their error and reversing course, the Scouts went further. In 2016 they began accepting girls as members and dropped the word “Boys” from their name. Naturally, membership continued dropping till in 2020 the Scouts filed for bankruptcy because they could not afford the court cases for accusations of sexual abuse.
The result is a case study demonstrating what happens when people who profess religious and moral values choose to compromise with the modern philosophies of so-called “tolerance,” “inclusiveness,” and “Political Correctness.” What lessons can we learn?
The conflict between good and evil is a battle of life and death spiritually.
Defenders of immorality are quick to accuse Bible believers of all kinds of sinister motives. No matter how much we explain that we seek what is best for them in this life and in eternity, they call us intolerant, bigoted, ignorant, unscientific, homophobes, etc. They insist we should be more tolerant and accepting, yet they absolutely refuse to tolerate and accept us!
These forces will simply never be satisfied until everyone pledges allegiance to their practices, whether it be the Scouts, adoption agencies, businesses, the institution of marriage itself, or ultimately the churches. And rather than coexist, they would far rather see all such institutions cease to exist altogether.
John 7:7 – The world … hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.
Ephesians 6:12 – For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
It is tempting to think that, if we tone down our opposition, the forces of evil will leave us alone and we can exist in peace. But that is simply not true. There simply can be no peace between good and evil.
This means that our goal is not peace with the world. Our goal is faithfulness to God, saving souls from sin, and ultimate victory over evil.
Ephesians 5:11 – Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
2 Corinthians 6:17,18 – Therefore “Come out from among them and be separate,” says the Lord. “Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters,” says the Lord Almighty.
Are you a child of God? Are you standing against error as God’s true children ought to do?
*“A Badge of Disgrace: The Fall of the Boy Scouts,” by Tony Perkins, February 18, 2020; https://www.frc.org/updatearticle/20200218/badge-disgrace
(c) Copyright David E. Pratte, 2020; gospelway.com
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Scripture quotations are generally from the New King James Version (NKJV), copyright 1982, 1988 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. used by permission. All rights reserved.