We often hear the phrase, either directly or indirectly, “it’s for the sake of the children.” Unfortunately, it’s usually to push some agenda, or to guilt us into agreeing with something, or to ease our consciences when doing something wrong. We too infrequently hear the other side of the story or bother thinking about the dangers which accompany the bad choice that is “for the sake of the children.”
Jesus had a lot to say about children, one which quickly comes to mind is the fact that we must be converted and become as little children if we hope to enter the kingdom of heaven. Another statement came as a warning, a warning that Bethany Christian Services and each one of us should seriously take to heart: “but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.” (Matt. 18:6 NASV) I put these seriously heavy words of Christ before you as a backdrop to the rest of this article, hoping you will keep them in mind while you continue to read.
Democrat Michigan Attorney General, Dana Nessel, as part of a settlement to end a suit by two same-sex couples, is requiring that all adoption agencies that contract with the state work with gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender couples who want to adopt or foster a child. That puts faith-based agencies like Bethany Christian Services between a rock and a hard spot. Do we obey God or do we obey men? Do we risk losing an opportunity to help thousands of children find loving homes and stand firm in the truth of Scripture, heeding the “millstone warning” of Jesus; or do we, “for the sake of the children,” comply with the lawless mandate of a state attorney general, and in the process, put some children into godless and harmful homes?
For 75 years Bethany Christian Services, the largest Christian adoption and foster agency in the United States, has emphasized that its mission and Christian beliefs were in accordance with the Word of God; and they had put those beliefs into practice. Today, Bethany continues to make the same claims regarding Scriptural authority but their actions no longer match their words; they will begin placing foster children with same-sex couples for the first time after a legal battle in its home state of Michigan. Or in Dana Nessel’s words of praise: “Having more adoption agencies which don’t discriminate =‘s more children adopted into loving, nurturing ‘forever’ homes. Thank you to Bethany Christian Services!”
A strong and ancient oak isn’t felled by one swing of an axe, but rather by many swings, one upon another. So with Christian individuals and organizations, large compromises don’t happen overnight; they come through a series of smaller, often unnoticed compromises.
Bethany president and CEO, Chris Palusky, stated in Christianity Today’s guest opinion column that “Meeting this requirement doesn’t dramatically change our work. Compliance with this state requirement does not change our family placement practice with private domestic adoption or international adoption. This decision only impacts our work with the Michigan foster care system.”
Life Site News reports: “Pro-family activist Robert Oscar Lopez was raised by lesbian women and has written about his experience on multiple occasions. He says same-sex couples raising children are engaging in ‘a form of abuse’ due to the fact that children are denied their right to a mother and a father. His explosive 2015 book Jephthah's Daughters: Innocent Casualties in the War for Family ‘Equality’ features dozens of essays by children reared by homosexual parents, all of whom warn about the dangers of giving gays the chance to raise kids. The book was shunned by not only the LGBT community, but, oddly enough, by some involved in the family values movement.” (I would urge you to read the whole article. In it Mr. Lopez goes into a greater depth of information regarding the issues of LGBT couples and the children they raise.)
As I read the whole of Mr. Palusky’s article in Christianity Today, my mind had more questions than answers. I would ask Mr. Palusky a few things:
Whenever men or organizations compromise a little, the potential for complete implosion is not only probable, it’s nearly certain. The Federalist well lays out the likely road that Bethany will follow: “Bethany Christian Services now serves Michigan; it does not serve Christ. It has transformed from a Christian charity into another social service subsidized by the state and a dwindling pool of private donors.
“Over time, Bethany Christian Services will go the way of other charities subverted by government and progressive activists—it will lose support among actual Christians, become thoroughly secularized, and end up perpetuating the problems it was originally designed to combat. Saturated with secular values, it will promote the behaviors and attitudes that lead to unparented children and abusive adults and discourage the virtues that empower family life.
“Since it already compromised itself once, it will continue to do so, favoring fundraising and a public image over actually helping victims. Meanwhile, it will become less effective and more corrupt.”
We urge each of you to contact Bethany “Christian” Services and compel them to either 1) return to their Biblical position, protecting these children who have already experienced enough trauma in their young lives or 2) if they will not abide by Christian principles, to take the title of “Christian” out of their name.
You can reach Bethany’s CEO, Mr. Palusky, through his assistant at lwillerer@bethany.orgor call Bethany’s switchboard at 1-800-238-4269.
Below is a sample letter; please do NOT copy and paste. Use your own words, choosing a question or statement from the above list. Remember, you are contacting Bethany in brotherly love; be correcting yet loving.
Mr. Palusky,
I thank God for the good work that Bethany Christian Services has done for the past 75 years, looking out for the best interest of so many children. Your stated concern for children is what has me so perplexed. Do you really think that putting children who have already gone through a traumatic experience into a home that would offer more confusion is what is best for them? In light of Matt. 18:6 “but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea,” do you really think that Jesus would be okay with that?
I urge you sir, either return Bethany to its previous and Biblical position, defying the illegal position of the state in order to do what is right, or remove the title of “Christian” from Bethany’s name, admitting that you would bow to man rather than to God.
I understand the tough position you are in and I am praying that you will make the right decision. When one part of Christendom gives up Biblical authority for whatever reason, we all suffer for it.
Sincerely,
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