The biggest problem with the Boy Scout membership policy change is that by striking the ban on homosexual youth, the BSA is tacitly approving the sin of homosexuality, even if they argue they are not approving "homosexual conduct." They have endorsed "sexual orientation and preference" as a matter of human choice and not God's decrees. They have further argued that any "sexual orientation and preference" is fully compatible with doing one's "duty to God," being "morally straight," and being "reverent" to God. This is biblically incompatible and logically inconsistent.
When someone embraces their homosexual inclinations as an identity, i.e. "I am gay," "I am homosexual," "I am transgender/transsexual," something very serious is happening.
1) You are claiming, "This is who I am, this is not a choice, and I am ok with it"
2) You are communicating that "God made me this way, so you should be ok with it"
3) You are ignoring who God says you are, and who God calls you to be.
If you argue it is permissible "to be gay, homosexual, etc." as long you don't "act on it," you are demonstrating that you don't:
1) Understand that embracing and mentally accepting sin is just as serious as acting on sin
2) Comprehend the serious offense it is to God when you follow and accept Satan's plans instead of God's
3) Care about what God says about the matter, you care more about your feelings and opinions
Take any other sin...stealing, lying, lust, adultery, gossip, sleeping around, gluttony, murder, rape...would you go around and identify yourself by that sin? Would you identify others by their sin? When the Bible addresses people by their sin, it also addresses them as "ungodly," "unholy," and "profane." (1 Timothy 1:9-10; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10). When the Bible calls someone by their sin, God is identifying them by their lostness, not by His Son.
See for yourself what God has to say about homosexuality...
Romans 1:24-32 , Genesis 19 , Leviticus 18:22 , 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 , Galatians 5:19-21 , Ephesians 5:3-3 , 1 Timothy 1:9,10 , Jude 7
Romans 1:24-32 , Genesis 19 , Leviticus 18:22 , 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 , Galatians 5:19-21 , Ephesians 5:3-3 , 1 Timothy 1:9,10 , Jude 7
The best news available though, to the homosexually-inclined and all of humanity (we have all sinned), is that God's grace is sufficient to forgive us and cleanse us, should we choose to repent and turn away from our sins!
1 John 1:9-10 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives."
“Homosexual behavior is incompatible with the principles enshrined in the Scout oath and Scout law."
Frank Page, SBC President
Here are some Scouting Documents that reveal (highlighted to more clearly show) the biblical and logical incompatibility and inconsistency.
Scouting Documents
http://www.scouting.org/sitecore/content/MembershipStandards/Resolution/Resolution.aspxThe following membership standard for youth members of the Boy Scouts of America is hereby adopted and approved, effective Jan. 1, 2014:
Youth membership in the Boy Scouts of America is open to all youth who meet the specific membership requirements to join the Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, Sea Scout, and Venturing programs. Membership in any program of the Boy Scouts of America requires the youth member to (a) subscribe to and abide by the values expressed in the Scout Oath and Scout Law, (b) subscribe to and abide by the precepts of the Declaration of Religious Principle (duty to God), and (c) demonstrate behavior that exemplifies the highest level of good conduct and respect for others and is consistent at all times with the values expressed in the Scout Oath and Scout Law. No youth may be denied membership in the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of sexual orientation or preference alone.
Scout Oath On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.
Scout Law A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.
Mission The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law.
Slogan: Do a Good Turn Daily
A Scout Is Reverent: Bring Youth to Christ through a Scouting Ministry (ONLINE PAMPHLET)
Scouting teaches duty to and reverence for God.
Central to the Scout Oath (or Promise) is the pledge to “do my duty to God.” The 12th point of the Scout Law states, “A Scout is reverent.” These commitments to the prominence of God in one’s life form a cornerstone of the Scouting program. When properly interpreted by an adult Scouter of strong faith to young people, even the unchurched begin to understand their need for God.
The Scouting unit is church-owned and -operated.
A church that has its own Scouting unit (Boy Scout troop, Cub Scout pack, Varsity Scout team, or Venturing crew) has complete authority to direct the unit program in the best interest of its participants. In other words, the unit is church-owned and church-administered. The unit can be uniquely Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Catholic, etc., as long as the stated principles of Scouting are not violated
Imagine the outreach potential of a unit whose sole purpose is to reach unchurched young people in the
community. These young people might be hesitant to attend a regular church service but eager to join a
Scouting unit. What an opportunity for these young people, as well as for existing church members! To reach America with the Christian message requires boldness and a willingness to go out where the people
are. Scouting is such a tool for outreach. No, Scouting will not automatically achieve the results your church is after, but when Scouting leaders are chosen as carefully as the church’s Bible teachers, and when Scouting is seen as an integral ministry of the church, positive results are predictable.
Scouting is the wealth of opportunity available to help your church reach the young people of your community
Scouting provides age-appropriate ministries. Cub Scouting activities involve the parents, adult leaders, and friends of Cub Scouts in home-centered programs that teach life skills, habits, values, and attitudes consistent with the interests of their church. Millions of boys and their families participate in Cub Scouting, the largest of the three Boy Scouts of America membership divisions. Cub Scout activities encourage character development, physical coordination, family unity, and enthusiasm for learning.
Boy Scouting encourages boys to develop physical, mental, and emotional fitness and to adopt and live by meaningful personal standards as a cornerstone for success in life. These values include the basic principles in the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Activities include fitness and leadership training, wilderness adventures, and merit badge incentives for boys mastering hobby and career skills.
http://www.scouting.org/filestore/membership/pdf/522-181_NoCrops.pdf
Scout Law
Leader: Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false, and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the Lord, and vindication from the God of his salvation. (Psalm 24:3-5)
Scouts: A Scout is clean.
Leader: And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. (Mark 12:30)
Scouts: A Scout is reverent, he is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties and respects the convictions of others in matters of custom and religion.
http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/Media/Relationships/ascoutisrevernt/ss04.aspx
Scouter Prayer
Dear Lord, from your judgment seat on high,
Look down on a Scoutmaster such as I.
Search me through and find me whole,
Then help me, Lord, to reach my goal.
Help me, Lord, to work for Thee,
Guard my homeland—keep it free.
Help me to work with others and be kind,
Helpful with my hands and mind.
Keep me, Lord, both well and strong,
To help growing boys along.
Control my thoughts, keep them right,
Sound, clean weapons for life's fight.
Protect my morals, keep them high,
Grant this to a Scouter such as I.
—Author Unknown
http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/Media/Relationships/ascoutisrevernt/ss13.aspx
On my honor
Leader: Wisdom is the principal thing: Do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. Get wisdom; get insight. (Proverbs 4:5) How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to thy word. (Psalm 119:9)
Scouts: On my honor, I will do my best to keep myself morally straight.
Leader: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:7)
http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/Media/Relationships/ascoutisrevernt/ss05.aspx
