Matthew Vines, Author of “God and the Gay Christian,” has been working hard to infiltrate churches across the United States to convince leaders to relax their biblical stance against the sin of homosexuality. Now Vines is personally waging war against one of the largest evangelical organizations on college campuses nationwide because of its stance against homosexual marriage.
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship USA recently released its new position statement on sexuality, telling its 1,300 staff members that they will be terminated – with severance – if they voluntarily wish to ‘fess up to personally supporting gay marriage. Starting November 11th, InterVarsity will begin its process for “involuntary terminations” for any staffer who comes forward to disagree with its positions on human sexuality, which hold that any sexual activity outside of a husband and wife is immoral.
Before I explain Matthew Vine’s new high-pressure campaign tactics to reverse this position, I need to say that InterVarsity is not an organization I’d ever recommend to students who are serious about the Word of God. That’s because InterVarsity is into everything from Contemplative Prayer to joining hands with Catholics to the more recent left-wing social justice partnerships with Black Lives Matter.
That stated, InterVarsity is coming under an enormous onslaught of public pressure to reverse course in this biblical position. And given its propensity to color outside the lines of Scripture, I’d say that they need prayer. Late today Matthew Vines released a letter to his supporters, urging them to get on board to help Vines’ Reformation Project change InterVarsity’s mind. The language is so terse that I’ve included the letter in its entirety so that you can understand the pressure tactics and also explore the links Vines includes:
Dear Friend—
At the end of last week, news broke that InterVarsity Christian Fellowship—one of the largest campus ministry organizations in the country—was responding to growing support for full LGBT inclusion in their organization in the worst way. Rather than creating gracious space for people to disagree, they decided to fire all staff members who are LGBT-affirming.This is the religious equivalent of parents kicking their kids out of the house when they come out, and we won’t stand idly by while InterVarsity purges all LGBT allies from its staff. Today, we’re releasing a letter signed by dozens of Christian leaders calling for InterVarsity to reverse its decision. Signatories include Rachel Held Evans, Justin Lee, Neichelle Guidry, Dr. Wes Granberg-Michaelson, Dr. Drew Hart, and more who are being added by the hour. (If you are a leader in a Christian church or organization and would like to add your name, e-mail us at [email protected].)
We also want to let you know about other important responses to InterVarsity’s LGBT purge:
- Over 50 InterVarsity Press authors have signed a letter expressing their dismay over InterVarsity’s decision and calling for it to be reversed.
- Over 1,000 InterVarsity alumni have signed a petition calling for an end to the staff purge.
- Hundreds of active InterVarsity students have joined together to protest the mass firing.
- The Gay Christian Network has released a powerful statement denouncing the decision and highlighting the turmoil it has created in the lives of many of InterVarsity’s staff members.
Lastly, don’t miss this moving op-ed by Michael Vazquez, a gay Christian who recently resigned from InterVarsity due to their discriminatory position. Let’s do what we can to spread the word about the harm this decision will cause and to raise our voices in opposition to it.
Blessings,
Matthew Vines
Executive Director
The Reformation Project
So there you have it. Will InterVarsity cave? If it does, will there remain any shred of the Hope of Christ for students to recognize it as a once-strong Christian organization?
Many of the tares have matured, their ears are showing in vast numbers.
That is so true! No doubt living in the last days.
Here is the truth Mathew. It matters little of your desire to agree, disagree, debate or argue the issue of whether or not the homosexual lifestyle is a sin. Only one thing matters and has the authority to dictate .morality in the human race. That my friend would be the God who created all of humanity from dust the bible says, the same God who flicked the stars into place with His finger or even poured out the oceans out of the palm of His hand. You see your argument is not with disciples of Jesus because they did not write the bible, they simply believe it. You must take up your argument with the author of the bible Himself…..that would be Jesus/God. 2Timothy 3:16 says that literally all scripture is written by God himself through His prophets and disciples. Jesus is the one who stated that the homosexual lifestyle is an “abomination” to Him and that, “those who practice this sin shall not enter into eternal life”. Please note He did not say “some scripture” but rather ALL scripture. Interesting in the Greek language of that day ‘all” means all and that is all it means. You cannot pick and choose which verses fit your current world view. The bible must always be read in context and in the full council of God’s word. Why, because God says that His word is immutable, unchanging and infallible. If you don’t believe that, I recommend you take that up with God Himself. He will lovingly reveal these things to you.
You see Jesus loves you Matthew…… to death……death on the cross….He paid the price you could not pay (me either) so that you could and would choose to believe in Him and walk in His ways and commandments. In that, there is eternal life. Without that, the bible teaches there is eternal separation from God. (Hell). God does not send anyone to Hell. People walk right in the front door and over the dead body of Jesus to get there. They refuse to receive the free gift of salvation given to all who will come. The world says that there are many ways to heaven. Jesus says this, ” I am the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to my father except through me”. Again if you have a problem with this, you must take it up with the one who proclaimed it……Jesus. People say, oh following Jesus is so exclusive. Exactly, however it is also very inclusive…..all are welcome. Jesus himself declared wide is the road to destruction and many go there, narrow is the road to eternal life and few find it. Don’t be one of the many but rather one of the few.
Won’t you seek Jesus us today Matthew, “while He still may be found”. He says that He will not always strive with us. There will be a time when it will be to late to receive the free gift. May our great loving, gracious and merciful God give you wisdom from above as you consider these things. Not a more important choice will you or any human ever make, and it is a choice that God allows you to make. He will never force you. I am praying for you Matthew. Jesus loves you so much!!!!
Greg
I agree wholeheartedly with Greg. Sin is sin, no matter who wants to commit it or justify it. If a person does not agree with the doctrine and standards of Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, he is welcome to leave. I believe everyone knows where the door is, how to open it, and how to walk through it.
Matthew Vines is just another wolf who appeals to low-information people who deeply desire to conform to the world and who know little about the Bible.
Vines personally responded to comments I made on a Facebook post about an article he posted. As he requested, I specifically dealt with what he wrote in that piece. But he had no responses other than, “Have you read my book? It doesn’t sound like it.”
My response to him: Hi Matthew, I read your link and responded to it, quoting you directly. That is amusing that your only response was to plug your book and pretend that you gave a legitimate response to my point-by-point refutation of your link. I read plenty of “Christian” Left heresies online for free, thanks, so I don’t plan on paying for it.Thanks for the concession speech :-).
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As a bonus, one of Vines’ self-proclaimed Christian supporters insisted that Jesus had gay sex with the apostle John. She also just married an atheist. And so on. This is the “Christian” Left.
Unless he repents … … sullying the Word of God, the Son of God, God Himself, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is not going to go well for him on Judgement Day. My heart breaks for this young man. Very sad.
Amen Greg and Friend, it is heart breaking. You’ll be surprised at how many so called “Christians” say homosexuality is ok, there’s nothing wrong with two men engaging in an abomination, from Hillsong to Rick Warren apostates of every stripe condone and promote this. Is it any wonder the bible has so much to say on this subject? That there is a great possibility the antichrist is a homosexual? As we see the seperation taking place in Christendom, homosexuality will come to the forefront, it won’t be soon before the Roman pontiff says it’s ok, as long as it’s done in fidelity. Dark days indeed that should not catch us unaware! This has been foretold to happen same as the great apostasy unfurling before our eyes! Jesus warned His church, the bride, to watch! Well brothers and sisters we are at the time when all these prophecies are coming to fulfillment. We should be in prayer everyday and when possible even fasting. The political meltdown accross the globe is clearly indicating the world is looking for its messiah, expect a very frightening situation to develop along with a mass defection from Christianity, then only then will the lawless one be revealed. God bless each everyone of you, Maranatha!
God , our wonderful Savior, bless you too Manny.
I wonder how much the Church is reaping what it has sown with the tolerance of divorce beginning decades ago (I mean beyond the limits Jesus set, or issues of abuse, etc).
The Gay Agenda is about pushing the envelope and forcing everyone to agree with the idea that the homosexual lifestyle is normal and acceptable.
The aggressive gay activists view the 2015 SCOTUS “Marriage Equality Decision” as an important legal step in what they consider the new Civil Rights Movement to make everyone accept the gay lifestyle – especially the LORD’s Church.
What the activists overlook is that Christianity not compatible with the homosexual lifestyle and the Gay Agenda. Anyone who is gay, and who feels that God’s Word is “intolerant” or “discriminatory,” should simply avoid being in churches where they don’t feel comfortable.
Most reasonable people don’t go where they are not comfortable.
The gay activists now feel emboldened to barge into the LORD’s Church and faith-based schools in order to enforce a code of “tolerance” among the clerical, teaching, and administrative staff members. They are demanding that everyone ignore the clear teachings found in God’s Word in order to accommodate the Gay Agenda.
At this point, the logic of the gay activists should be used against them. In theory, Believers should have the right to go into gay establishments (e.g., bars and clubs), pass out Bible tracts and witness to anyone and everyone in the room. If a Believer were to be told to leave the establishment based on that activity, then he would be in a position to charge the management of the establishment with “discrimination.”
In a logical world, turnabout would be fair play, but this strategy would not work in today’s politically correct society.
The gay activists insist on changing the LORD’s Church and overturning the Word of God so as to accommodate their lifestyle choices. Believers no longer have the right to use the Word of God to describe marriage or anything else that conflicts with the Gay Agenda.
The 2015 SCOTUS “Marriage Equality Decision” was not about love, but rather, it was about the political empowerment of the LGBT community.