Boy Scouts of America = B$A

As I’m growing older I’m learning much about myself that I had never really noticed.

Recently I wrote about a difficult situation I’ve been “patiently” waiting through. It is through this and other situations that I am learning that I see things in life as black or white. I find very few areas/topics that God’s word is not perfectly clear on.

Over the last year I have had the privilege to be a Cub Scout Den Leader. My son and 6 other boys have hiked, camped, read, created and grown throughout this year.

We only had one year to go until we joined the “big league”.

The Boy Scouts of America.

As the sister of an Eagle Scout, I couldn’t have been happier, that my son wanted to follow in his Uncle’s steps…..

That is until…..May 23, 2013……

The day that the Boy Scouts ceased to teach young men to be trustworthy, brave, and morally straight. 

The BSA failed thousands of boys by not being trustworthy. Their choice to allow homosexual boys was not about equality, it came down to green dollar bills.

BSA failed to demonstrate what brave really looks like in real life……they caved under pressure.

The Boy Scouts seem to be attempting to redefine what “morally straight” means…..after 103 years of it being crystal clear to those involved.

Following a 2 year review these statements were made in July 2012.

 “The vast majority of the parents of youth we serve value their right to address issues of same-sex orientation within their family, with spiritual advisers, and at the appropriate time and in the right setting,” said Bob Mazzuca, chief scout executive of Boy Scouts of America.”

“After careful consideration of a resolution asking the Boy Scouts of America to reconsider its longstanding membership standards policy, today the organization affirmed its current policy, stating that it remains in the best interest of Scouting and that there will be no further action taken on the resolution,” said the organization.”

Here we are less than a year later……still with over 60% of current BSA participants wanting the policy left alone…..

The decision has been made……effective January 2014…….homosexual boys will be allowed to join the BSA.

My son and I ended our time with the Boy Scouts of America this week. Our final event was our city’s Memorial Day Parade.

This has been probably the 2nd hardest decision I’ve had to make as a mother. I truly believed that a young man in Scouts built his character, brought him into manhood strong and confident. Sadly I don’t see this in their future any longer.

This has been a very hot topic among Christian circles as well, even within my own home.

Yet, this is one of those black and white issues for me.

I have been grouped in with the “haters and bigots”, as well as the “unloving and my sin isn’t as big as their sin” group too.

Somehow, somewhere, standing on God’s word and doing what He says is, not the right thing to do anymore.

Yes, we are called to love the world, and all  those within it.

Yes, we are all sinners and no sin is worse than another (except this one).

BUT…..

How are we forgetting we’re called to be in the world not of it? Romans 12:2 KJV, John 17:13-16 KJV

If we’re just loving and accepting, how are we to be like a city set on a hill? Matthew 5:14-16 KJV

If I were to accept these changes and continue on with the BSA…..

I would not be standing up for that which I believe to be truth according to God’s word.

I would be within the city, not set apart on a hill.

I would be “saying” I’m a part of the “world” within the BSA, just by association with the organization.

Our lives as Christians were never promised to be easy……..choices aren’t always met with applause…..even when you know it’s the right one….

We each have our own race to run, our own unique choices to make……may we keep our eyes on Him and honor Him alone…..

No matter the roaring crowd or even the whispering “silence” around us…..

Matthew 5:6 KJV

Matthew 5:11-12 KJV

2 Timothy 4:7 KJV