FORMER STUDENTS DEMAND YOUNG LIFE ACCEPT LGBTQ IDEOLOGY
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FORMER STUDENTS DEMAND YOUNG LIFE ACCEPT LGBTQ IDEOLOGY
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Six years ago, Young Life told 24-year-old mountain guide Kent Thomas of Tacoma, Wash., that his homosexuality disqualified him from being a leader in the international Christian ministry to students.
On June 30, Thomas told his side of the story on social media using the #DoBetterYoungLife hashtag. He accused the ministry of excluding and mistreating LGBT individuals. Other homosexual former Young Lifers soon joined in, complaining of discrimination and saying they felt shamed and pressured to hide their sexuality. Unrelated complaints of racism and classism also surfaced. Many, like Thomas, no longer consider themselves Christians but are pressuring the evangelical organization to adjust its doctrine about sexuality.
Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., Young Life runs gospel-oriented outreach to students from middle school through college. Anyone may participate. Roughly 80,000 Young Life staff members and volunteers work with hundreds of thousands of youth each week in more than 100 countries. Like other Christian organizations, Young Life has codes of conduct that require its staff and volunteers to follow Biblical teachings, including on sexual behavior. Its statement of faith does not mention sex but says the entire Bible is the “final and supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.” . . .
“It’s not discriminatory if the reason for the rule is based on religious belief and if the rule is applied fairly,” said Kim Colby, the director of the Christian Legal Society’s Center for Law and Religious Freedom. It would undermine a religious group’s purpose if leaders taught one thing but lived another, she added.
When WORLD contacted Young Life for comment, the organization sent a written statement expressing sadness over individuals who left the ministry “feeling hurt or shamed.” The organization acknowledged a need to review how it trains its staff to interact with love toward LGBT youth and announced plans to listen to personal stories and identify any necessary reforms.
But the organization also defended its doctrine: “Young Life aligns with historical Christian theology in believing that sexuality is a gift from God and that God guides us in how to use this gift, including that intimate sexual activity should occur within a marriage covenant between a man and a woman.” . . .
Although the #DoBetterYoungLife movement’s online petition includes language about the treatment of all races and low-income youth, most of the demands relate to the ministry’s Biblical beliefs about sexuality. The petition asks Young Life to “immediately repeal” its sexual conduct policy, adopt “fully gay-affirming” theology, add LGBT representation to all levels of its leadership, and apologize to staff members it removed. The activists also want Young Life to train its staff to affirm gay youth by asking for pronoun preferences and support “queer relationships and queer sexuality.” The petition had almost 7,000 signatures by Friday.
At the very least, supporters of #DoBetterYoungLife wants the organization to be open about its beliefs, particularly regarding sexuality, so youth are informed before ending up on a path to leadership within the ministry.
On A Tiny Revolution podcast on July 16, Thomas said if Young Life didn’t make changes, “then it’s sledgehammer time. Or … step back and watch it burn on its own.” Near the end of the episode, Thomas admitted some part of him wants to “watch it burn.”
(Excerpt from World Magazine. Article by Julia A. Seymour. Photo Credit: University of Michigan News.)
What do you think about these staff and volunteers forcing Christians to accept LGBTQ ideology? Discuss and share your prayers int he comments!
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The Bible, God’s Word, is the source & guide for the philosophy of Young Life. You cannot force a Christian organization to go against it’s fundamental beliefs. Stand strong, Young Life. Do not cave to those who would try to force you to go against God’s Word. Remember God’s Word is the TRUTH and I pray that God would give you strength to stand strong for your convictions and not waver from them.
No homosexual will enter Heaven none!!!
Stand firm to what the Bible says and don’t back down. If you believe than believe 100 percent not halfway and change for people. The Bible says don’t add or take away anything from it.
Who do you serve man or GOD???
I SERVE GOD ONLY!!!!
I wonder how many of the 7,000 who signed the petition actually know what the Scripture says about this. I feel very sure few of them even value God’s opinion. I think we have to remember our Lord was crucified for us, to save us from sin and death. He was not willing to compromise and neither should we.
We say to our brothers and sisters on both sides of this issue “your sins are forgiven.” Judgments hurt dialogue and healing. Jesus be Lord and King over this matter and may it be resolved in Your amazing divine loving manner that it will make the news–even MSM. Because You are good and your strategies are beyond our understand we look to You for this answer to come forth in Jesus’ name.
If we are going to be a Christian organization, then the Gospel is our road and the Bible our guide – our manual for being and doing. May the Lord God give Young Life leadership the wisdom and the courage to declare their stand unashamedly, yet with compassion and understanding. May Young Life continue to be a bridge for the many young people needing guidance and encouragement and true friendship. We cannot afford to compromise true and clear doctrine — the doctrine of our Lord and Savior and Author of our salvation.
Whether one person or an organization if following Christ then continue following Christ. Listen to Him. Love one another and Love God with all that you are. For Young Life it’s your time to shine with the Spirit and Love of God through Christ Jesus with the Holy Spirit. Or you can choose to cave in to the outside pressure. I hope and pray that you revisit your basics and your mission then prayed up…. Stand the ground you have been given. For the Honor and Glory of Almighty God – continue sharing the Truth, in Love and Respect. As with ages ago, some did not receive the “Good News” with welcome. So then, go with Jesus. He will lead you well.
Father, I make a promise before you that I will not force my belief in Your Word on anyone and I will not purposefully offend the belief systems of anyone else, and if I do I promise to walk in humility and ask forgiveness. Also I will not allow any belief system that does not line up with your Word (Bible) to be forced on me against my will. I will stand for my rights as a citizen of heaven and a citizen of the United States of America. My right to freedom of speech, religion, and right to bare arms. Father I repent for any/all ways that I have on purpose or in ignorance offended others through my belief system. As an Ambassador of Christ/Reconciliation I will speak words of reconciliation at all times. Amen “Whom the Son has set free is free indeed.” “We know the truth and the truth sets us free.”
Father, strengthen the Young Life leadership to help them stand fast on Biblical values. We rebuke the spirits of intimidation and barbarism that would try to threaten them into changing. We pray Blood covered protection over all leaders of Young Life and their families, in Jesus’ name.
Father, may the leaders remain steadfast in sticking to Biblical teachings. Change the hearts of those who want them to step back from the Word of God.
And some still wonder why America is not seeing God’s hand of blessing upon it in the depth that they cry out in prayer for.
We must keep storming the heavens with prayer for God to “arise and scatter his enemies” Psalm 66:1
Reading this raised some questions I would like to know. First, do they also expect their leaders to be sexually pure in all areas? It seems that the church has glossed over other sexual sins. I’m not accusing at all, because I don’t know if Young Life does or not. Second, does Young Life distinguish between those who are LGTB but choose to live by God’s standards and those who practice homosexual acts and/or approve of them? There is a big difference. Our young people need not only to have a safe place where they can talk about their struggles in this area but to have leaders who understand the struggle. Lead Them Home is an organization that trains Christian leaders to minister to LGTB youth. I am reading their book, Guiding Families, and it is so helpful and practical. I am a mother to a teen who struggles with this. God has helped me to see that the struggle is not a sin. The sexual act is. And most if not all did not ask for it, and we can’t immediately assume they are homosexual. I know my daughter and many others who want the feelings to go away. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t. We all have our sinful temptations. I would love to see Young Life step up to help these young people and give those who have found a way to live godly, productive lives even in their struggle a chance to come alongside and minister hope to our youth. It’s time for the church to reach out in compassion and not judgment. The Center for Faith and Sexuality is another great resource. Please hear this as a plea from a mother whom God has opened her eyes to her lack of love and compassion for “those people.” I honestly thought that they just chose it and could just as easily choose to be heterosexual. Being heterosexual is not our identity nor the only option. Paul was single and praised it as a high calling. Christopher Yuan’s book Holy Sexuality is biblically sound, and I would highly recommend it. I hope you hear my heart. I’m still in process, and it’s not easy to walk with a child going through it, but I am a better person for it. More compassionate and humble in the midst of brokenness.
You are right, the opposite of homosexual is not heterosexual, it is HOLINESS.
And the gates of Hell will not prevail against the Church of the living God. This is wrong unconstitutional and not biblical. Let us be Biblically correct not Politically correct. Let us Appeal to Heaven for the generations.
tHE TIME HAS COME FOR ALL FELLOW AMERICANS TO STAND AND HAVE FAITH AND TRUST AND ASK FOR WISDOM. God is real and he see’e and knows all we will be judged each one on how we are acting today. Time is coming when we might say oh I wish I could do my life actions over. I pray for all of us to listen to the Holy Spirit and let the Lord be the Judge and we follow his Word.
It’s never “sledghammer” time for an organization that diligently practices and requires biblical standards, unless you are on the side of the one who comes “to steal, kill, and destroy.”
Those who persecute Bible-believing Christians for believing and upholding the standards in the Bible, are pleasing to Satan and displeasing to Jesus, who could say to them, “Why are you persecuting Me?” like He said to Saul on the Damascas road.
I pray they will repent and change as he did.
It’s just beginning.
Religious freedom under attack.
Pray for our religious leaders that God will give them boldness not to cave and hold fast to the Bibles views.
We Christians have been silent too long making all sin seem acceptable to those who live in sin! Behavior in society is anything and everything is acceptable if it is pleasurable to one whether it is Biblical or not! Behavior is choice and that’s true for sexuality.as well as love. Love is not the same as lust. Love is giving and caring and given freely. Lust is the opposite all selfishness and greedy. There have been many scientistic studies to show differences in brain patterns to those who choose unnatural sexuality and none show any! Allow any into young life but teaching and telling them at the beginning their behavior is a choice unacceptable to God! Read all the scriptures to them to show God’s will! Then they make the choice based on those whether to be part of YL!
Praying that Young Life can stand firm in their convictions. Here is a great response from Ravi Zacharias on the issue at hand. https://larrywho.com/2019/03/16/ravi-zacharias-on-the-christian-view-of-homosexuality/
Lord, shine your light and your truth!
Jer 23: 28b, 29. “For what has straw to do with grain? Declares the LORD, Is not my word like fire? Declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks a rock to pieces”.
Hosea 11: 10-11. “ They will follow the LORD, he will roar like a lion. When he roars, his children will come trembling like birds from Egypt, like doves from Assyria. I will settle them in their homes, declares the LORD.”
Heavenly Father we thank you for your word, that is truth, powerful and sharp, like a double edged sword. We pray for Young Life to stand on your word that is like a hammer that breaks rock! To speak and decree your word over this situation, to cause this demand and argument to break apart.
We also pray for Thomas and others who once desired to know you, that the Lion of Judah will roar over them, for the fear of the Lord to come upon them, and they will turn back to you. For Godly sorrow to come into their hearts and they would fall on the mercy of God, repenting and turning back to you in humbleness, seeking you face to shine upon them in holiness and righteousness. Settle them in the home that you have ordained for them in you Lord! We pray against the strongholds in their lives to come down, Ez 19: 7 says “ He broke down their strongholds and devastated their towns. The land and all who were in it were terrified by his roaring”. So Father according to your word let all demons, powers of darkness and principalities be terrified and flee by the sound of your roar! Cleanse their land, so Thomas and others will be called to your
promises, to the kingdom of God.
I thank you Father that you watch over your word, that it accomplishes all that you have spoken it to accomplish, and that it will not return to you empty.! Amen
Powerful prayer, Marilyn. I agree I’m Jesus’ name!!
Romans 1 is very explicit, especially verse 18-32. May we all stand firm on the Word and never compromise and be very clear in what we say or write down. We must become 1 voice.
In John 8,
It is written: And you shall know the truth and the truth will make you free……John 8:32. The whole chapter to be read….
May the eyes of their understanding/heart be enlightened so that they will know what is the hope of His
calling…………..Ephesians 1:18a
Romans 1:18-32 covers the problems in America to a T. If you have not studied it now is the time to understand how God knew the people of the earth would turn this wicked once again. Thank You Father Your Word is perfect
Lord, I pray that Thomas will begin to burn deep in his heart that you will release the fire of your purity and your holiness and that he will repent and fall on his face before you and that he will lead the charge as a mighty warrior of yours to lead misguided young people to freedom
My suggestion or more so, informed direction…is that Young Life immediately fight back above and beyond just standing on present or past policy and conviction. They must also go on the offensive.
They need to start their own petition not only in this nation but worldwide and gather signatures from every person willing to uphold what Young Life believes in and has stood for over decades. Do more than just fall back on a statement – get involved and take the fight to them!!
As Christians or a Christian organization, we no longer have any luxury to sit on the sidelines. We must be prepared to do whatever is needed in order to stand up for Christ and in this case, it means fighting back by gathering as many signatures as possible. We must not only stand up for the right of an organization to stand firm in their belief system but we must also be firmly grounded in our support of our first amendment rights to state that belief system and policy we hold dear to because of our adherence & commitment to the word of God.
Amen Cole!
This is what we need to pray about. Ever since the State’s started making same-sex marriage legal, many Christians, Pastors, and Christian organizations worried that sooner or later that decision would have a domino effect and descrimate against anyone adhering to a Biblical worldview. We were falsely told that wouldn’t happen. It was a lie from the pit of hell that many good people believed. Young Life is keeping to it’s Biblical stance on sexuality right now, and we need to show our support, and pray for them to stand strong against the enemy.
THE BIBLE SAYS SODOMY IS PROHIBITED AND YOUNG LIFE IS BASED ON BIBLICAL PRINCCIPLES
I too believe the title is very misleading. Many people read headlines and not the article. Please correct it so that people do not start contacting YL in anger because it appears they are supporting immorality when the opposite is true.
You are right. The title was in error. We have corrected it. Please feel free to call our office when there is an error like this–800-872-7729. Many apologies!
The title of this article is deceiving. Young Life is not demanding…..
You are right. The title was in error. We have corrected it. Please feel free to call our office when there is an error like this–800-872-7729. Many apologies!
The headline of this prayer is a bit confusing–makes it sound like YL is demanding that students accept LGBTQ ideology which is the opposite of what it’s doing.
I am a complete supporter of YL and was profoundly influenced as a teen and college student by this ministry. I continue to support YL now and know some of the amazing leadership in the organization.
Please do be praying for this and other ministries and the attack they are undergoing. They do great work and the Enemy doesn’t like that! Dear Jesus, please give great strength to YL and all its leadership to continue to hold fast to biblical truth and be able to relate and speak out in Love. Meet the hate being directed at them with your Holy Spirit and love. Help the accusers to find your love and truth. Continue to prompt us to pray for YL and other organizations that point students to Jesus. And heal the wounds on all sides of this Lord–your faithful are hurting because of this. Bind up their wounds and heal the pain of the LGBTQ community as well. To You be the Glory, Lord. Amen
Praying for freedom of Mr Thomas and others trapped lies. Jesus is freedom and He is the answer to sin. May Young Life trust in the Lord to use His Truth to strengthen their stand on our Rock. Holy Spirit, thank You that we see evidence of Your work even as Mr. Thomas strikes out in desperation.
All glory to God!
It’s wrong to force someone to follow the beliefs of a few who believe it’s ok to be LGBTQ if you believe that way that’s between you and God don’t try to make every one believe like you that’s where freedom of choice come in. I don’t understand why LGBTQ think it’s ok for them to speak out but not ok for someone to have a different option. Praying God give us as believers wisdom how to deal in love with them not condemnation.
According to God, any sin carries equal weight in His sight, as sin by any estimation eternally separates humans from God without the redeeming work of Christ on our behalf.
Part of the problem with those in homosexual sin is their disagreement about what is sin, not being willing to agree with God’s definition of it, and believing their strong feelings are innate rather than having an evil spiritual origin. And with Christians, part of the problem may be not having the spiritual maturity to walk in love toward those in homosexual sin because of their revulsion toward the sin and possibly lack of understanding of it, which on some level may cause judgement toward the sinner, and is perceived as such.
I admit that when I became born again I aligned myself with some of God’s truth, but carried on in sin in other areas until I grew up more in Christ — and continue to do by God’s grace. It took me years to begin to accept that those in homosexual sin were not greater sinners than I. It is true, however, that the spiritual grip that homosexuality has on participants is more fierce than some other sin, and deliverance from it is often a battle. Also, clearly it hits at the very basis of God’s great design of procreation, of marriage being between a man and woman, and of men and women being designed only for each other. So naturally, leaders of men and women must themselves be rooted in God’s design in order to lead biblically. If a homosexual congregant is unwilling or incapable of rationally following this point of logic, he or she is free not to participate! Should a civilian lead a regiment into battle? I hope not!
Or, better, they are free to receive what they are willing to receive of God’s Word in the fellowship so they may continue to hear the Word of truth which can set them free. Hopefully YL has the moral and spiritual courage to hold fast to God’s Word so truth will prevail and they will continue to minister Christ.
Not being familiar with Young Life, I wouldn’t know how their teaching addresses the gospel, forgiveness, etc. It seems odd that people would progress to a leadership position in YL without those leading them being aware of their sexual orientation. For any wanting to gain insight into deliverance from the lg lifestyle and ministering to them, check out Rosaria Butterfield. She’s not the only one obviously, but I learned a lot from her story.
Thank you for your comment. My daughter was molested for years as a teenager and now lives as a homosexual. I am praying and believing for her deliverance. But while she’s living this lifestyle, she’s still the same loving, good hearted person she’s always been. She was a paramedic for 15 years and is now in medical school. She always wanted to help people. I’ve gotten to know many of her friends, they are all good, loving people who are deceived into believing that this lifestyle is normal because it feels normal to them. Most of them call me mom because I show them unconditional love just like Jesus showed me when I was still living in sin. I never say things to affirm their choice of lifestyle. My daughter knows completely how I feel though and she still loves me and has a good relationship with me even though she knows I don’t agree with her lifestyle choice but she also knows that I love her unconditionally. I pray for the deception that the homosexual community is living in will be exposed for what it is.
We as Christians should stand our ground and not be intimidated by those that believe it’s ok to be a LSBTG follower it’s not what we say it’s what the Word Of God says about it. When God created us He didn’t make a mistake, He created male first then a female.Satan has come in and is trying to disrupt Gods plan for man kind God told man be fruitful and multiply two females can’t produce nor can two male that’s a lie that satan is perpetrating he love to bring chaos.
Just like Eve humans believe his lie and corrupt themselves by man lying with man and likewise women lying with women. Praying God open the eyes of mankind to see the truth.