Today, the Boy Scouts of America convened it's annual convention in Atlanta GA. President Robert Gates addressed the convention and urged the BSA to reverse it's ban on homosexual scoutmasters. As part of his remarks, Gates claimed that court challenges to the ban would be inevitable, costly and ultimately lead to the collapse of the organization. Gates went on to explain that, though he had planned on not addressing the proposed policy change, the culture and laws had changed so dramatically and so quickly over the past year, he felt he had no choice. Gates did address the concern that many churches serve as charter organizations and would not continue to sponsor a program that allowed openly homosexual men to serve as scoutmasters. In concession, Gates suggested that each charter would be able to determine it's own policy concerning who would be able to lead within that charter. Gates also claimed to have no hidden agenda, only the best interests of Scouting going forward.
FIRST POLICY CHANGE
This pronouncement comes on the heels of an historic policy change 2 years ago, when the BSA voted to lift the ban on gay scouts. Citing financial concerns, BSA voted to reverse it's 103 year policy to ban homosexuals from the organization. Many major donors threatened to withdraw funding if the BSA continued to exclude membership based on sexual preference, or so the leadership council claimed. In 2013, BSA voted to allow gay youth to join as scouts, but did not address the issue of gay leaders, leaving the ban on gay scoutmasters in effect. Some families viewed this change as an endorsement of a lifestyle they believed to be morally wrong and withdrew from membership, my family included. click here for my blog on the 2013 policy change
The vote did not have the desired effect, as many of the donors that were threatening to withdraw funding felt that the council did not go far enough by not allowing gay leaders to join the organization. Some churches withdrew support and charters due to the policy change, leaving troops to find new charters and meeting places. Though few people believed that the vote in 2013 was the end of the matter, the change managed to anger those on both sides of the issue and accomplished no real benefit to Scouting as a whole.
WHO IS ROBERT GATES?
Robert Gates seems to be an unlikely choice to lead the Boy Scouts of America. Gates came to national prominence when President George W. Bush appointed him to the position of Secretary of Defense in 2006. Gates served in that position until his retirement in 2011. Prior to that appointment, Gates served as a high ranking official in the CIA and withdrew his name from consideration for the post of CIA Director in 1987, due to his role in the Iran-Contra affair. Gates also served on the Council on Foreign Relations as a task force co-chair.
Robert Gates' ties to both Bush presidents and the current administration, together with his membership in the CFR leaves little doubt that he is a globalist. One major goal of the globalist agenda is to destroy the foundation of family values in order to usher in a New World Order under a centralized government. Globalists aim to undermine faith and Biblical truth, believing these to be obstacles to achieving world dominance. Interestingly, in 2010, Robert Gates was named MTV University's Man of the Year, while Nicki Minaj was named Woman of the Year. MTV U cited the fact that Gates led the way to ending the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy in the United States Military as one of the reasons he was chosen for the honor.
PROBABLE RESULTS OF POLICY CHANGE
One major result will be open access to young boys by sexual predators. The Guide to Safe Scouting is the main safeguard against predators, but the Guide only protects from predators who have been previously caught. Putting men in charge of a Girl Scout troop would be unthinkable as common sense dictates men have no place leading girls in an overnight outing such as a campout or backpacking trip. Why would the same common sense not apply to not allowing men who are sexually attracted to males from being banned from Boy Scouts?
Financial stability and strength is cited as a probable result of policy change. There may well be an initial influx of money from godless donors with progressive views, but the cost, in the long run, due to decreased membership and loss of support from major faith based institutions such as the Southern Baptist Convention and the Mormon Church could very well offset any financial benefit. Churches will be forced to kick Scout troops out of their buildings.
A major consequence to this proposed policy change will be to the spiritual aspect of scouting. Faith in God is foundational to scouting. Spiritual instruction will be monitored and ultimately abolished in fear of offending those who have chosen to engage in activity that is plainly condemned in the Bible. Currently, Christians, Jews and Muslims co-exist in the scouting community, all of whom condemn homosexual behavior due to religious convictions. People of faith will be forced to accept sin or leave.
The Bible teaches that a house divided against itself cannot stand. Scouting, which requires a belief in God and declares a scout must be "morally straight" cannot allow open homosexuals in place of leadership without creating an identity crises. How can an organization have leaders whose very lifestyle contradicts the tenets of that organization. This is a recipe for disaster and can only lead to the BSA collapsing in on itself.
WHY GATES IS WRONG
Gates claimed that he is trying to preempt debilitating court challenges to BSA's current policy. Gates is being disingenuous at best, as he must know that in 2000, the BSA won a Supreme Court decision allowing them to ban homosexuals. Gates' claims to not have a hidden agenda is also questionable as he presided over the United States Military's transition from "Don't ask, don't tell" to open service for homosexuals. According to a study by the Pentagon, sexual assault has increased in the U.S. Military 64% since 2006. Remember, 2006 was the year that Robert Gates became Secretary of Defense, a very interesting coincidence, if you believe in coincidences.
According to GQ magazine, men in the military are increasingly falling victim to same sex sexual assault. click here to read GQ artilce
According to GQ, more than half the sexual assault victims in the military are men. This is directly related to the military's policy change on homosexual behavior. Is this the same kind of change that Scout President Gates wants to bring to the Boy Scouts of America? For a man that claims to "not have a hidden agenda", Gates appears to be the right man to preside over these destructive changes in the BSA.
CHRISTIAN RESPONSE
As I consider what the response should be for people of faith, I cannot help but think of Revelation 18:4 ...Come out of her my people that you will not share in any of her sins. Christians cannot remain in an organization that claims to be of God and blatantly spits in God's face. Churches and people of faith must take a stand against any policy change that would allow homosexuals to serve as scout leaders in the BSA. Churches and people of faith must cut ties with the BSA if it chooses to remove the ban on gay leaders. This should be a non negotiable issue. God calls us to be in the world, but not of the world. As society's mores and values continue to slide farther and farther from God, His people will have to make tough decisions to not participate in organizations that promote sin. Our primary agenda as believers is to honor God. The Boy Scouts of America cannot honor God if it changes policies to allow homosexual men to serve as scoutmasters. Our primary agenda as parents is to protect our children and allowing openly gay men an opportunity to go camping with your boy does not seem like the best way to protect your child. Pray for the BSA and the families that are involved. Pray that Robert Gates is not successful in promoting his pro gay agenda. Pray for Robert Gates that he may have a personal experience with Jesus Christ and that he may come to salvation and a changed heart. God loves all people and Christ's blood was shed for all sinners, myself included.
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