Take Your Guilt Bell…
…and shove it up your ass.
The Salvation Army bell ringers are out in full force as of Friday. I hate them, not in a personal way. I understand that people don’t have a lot of choices job-wise right now. I do not begrudge anyone their pay check. Make your paper, people.
But the Salvation Army itself. Yeah, them I hate. I feel comfortable in this hatred because they hated me first and they hate me more. They couch it in friendly language but they aren’t fooling anyone.
The Salvation Army holds a positive view of human sexuality. Where a man and a woman love each other, sexual intimacy is understood as a gift of God to be enjoyed within the context of heterosexual marriage. However, in the Christian view, sexual intimacy is not essential to a healthy, full, and rich life. Apart from marriage, the scriptural standard is celibacy.
Sexual attraction to the same sex is a matter of profound complexity. Whatever the causes may be, attempts to deny its reality or to marginalize those of a same-sex orientation have not been helpful. The Salvation Army does not consider same-sex orientation blameworthy in itself. Homosexual conduct, like heterosexual conduct, requires individual responsibility and must be guided by the light of scriptural teaching.Scripture forbids sexual intimacy between members of the same sex. The Salvation Army believes, therefore, that Christians whose sexual orientation is primarily or exclusively same-sex are called upon to embrace celibacy as a way of life. There is no scriptural support for same-sex unions as equal to, or as an alternative to, heterosexual marriage.
Likewise, there is no scriptural support for demeaning or mistreating anyone for reason of his or her sexual orientation. The Salvation Army opposes any such abuse.
In keeping with these convictions, the services of The Salvation Army are available to all who qualify, without regard to sexual orientation. The fellowship of Salvation Army worship is open to all sincere seekers of faith in Christ, and membership in The Salvation Army church body is open to all who confess Christ as Savior and who accept and abide by The Salvation Army’s doctrine and discipline.
Scriptures: Genesis 2:23-24; Leviticus 18:22; Mark 2:16-17; Romans 1:26-27; Romans 5:8; I Corinthians 6:9-11; I Corinthians 13; Galatians 6:1-2; I Thessalonians 4:1-8; I Thessalonians 5:14-15; I Timothy 1:15-16; Jude 7
The above statement used to be on their website. Their policies haven’t changed at all but that statement was taken down in advance of the Christmas season. Apparently no one at the SA knows how the internet works. A few key words in any search engine will find numerous other copies of the same document.
Who among my readers is a far of The West Wing?
In other words, it is all too easy to cherry pick a 2000 year old book to support whatever position you want. Turn in your membership card to the Ignorant Tightass Club, shut up and leave people alone.
Hating on other people is not the way to be a Christian. (Before you howl, I am not a Christian. I can hate on anyone I want.)
This is the way to be a Christian.
Not just the cop but the store manager; neither of them thought for a moment about helping. They just did the right thing and had no idea that anyone would ever know about it.
What a Witch 
From that bit, it sounds like the Salvation Army has been talking to the Mormons, who say about the same thing. Idiots.
Also, just let me say that I have a deep and abiding love for that scene from “The West Wing”. Well, for the whole show, but for that scene in particular. Also, I am extremely impressed by what Officer DePrimo did, and with his lack of grandstanding when I saw him interviewed this morning. Good man.
Yeah that’s what strikes me too. He seems to see it as just doing his job, which is outstanding.
I am a Christian (wanted to get that out there first). I had no idea the Salvation Army had a church all it’s own, or what their official stand is on anything (call me uninformed). While I respect their right to officially support whatever they chose, I find it somewhat underhanded that they would modify their website like you describe. I guess they won’t like me much either, because I don’t agree with them. I say live and let live. Another person’s sexual preferences are none of my business. Whether or not it’s a sin is not even relevant. It’s not my problem. I have my own sins to deal with, and one of them doesn’t need to be judgement of others. All sins being equal, who am I to say anything about anyone (not that I haven’t ever been catty or a mean girl, but I really try not to).
I love the clip from “The West Wing”. One of my favorite shows 😉
And of course, what’s not to love about a man doing the right thing to help out another man. Not for the glory, just because it needed doing and he was there. That is exactly how we should all be living our lives.
I came over to check your blog out because Alicia mentioned it in hers. I am glad I did. I will be back to see what else you have to say.
This made me sad to read