The Weekly Encourager – February 6, 2013 – Pray for the Scouts

The Boy Scouts of America will be making a decision as early as today about whether or not to allow openly gay men in leadership positions. Remembering back a few years to when our son Austin was in Scouting, it was a wonderful feeling knowing that, unlike the Girl Scouts, the Boy Scouts held firm against external pressure to change their rules. This pressure included the withdrawal of significant support and funding from a variety of sources. As I understand it, the rules were developed to protect boys from damaging abuse. In the past, reports of such abuse in Scouting were met by public shock and outcry; yet now, the public seems to be encouraging circumstances which might make abuse more likely!

When we were in Scouting, the Boy Scouts' assurance of protection gave me pride in the organization to which my son belonged, and peace in sending him on outings, such as the multi-day canoe trip to Maine, without our presence. Let me add that when we were involved in Scouting, this wasn't just a theoretical rule on paper. There were many practical safeguards in place to ward off predatory adults. For example, every parent was made aware of the dangers, every leader was trained in spotting potential violations, and two adults were required to be present with any boy at all times. No boy was to be left alone with any adult who was not his parent. We hosted Austin's Cub Scout den meetings in our home, and if we didn't have two parents available, we had to cancel the den meeting.

It's been eight years since Austin earned the rank of Eagle Scout. With the way our country's culture has been going in the last eight years, I am sure that the Boy Scouts are facing even greater pressures now from without and from within. God's Word states clearly that practicing, unrepentant homosexuals are living a sinful life opposed to God, whether or not they molest children. These persons will not inherit the kingdom of God. Do we want these men to be leading our youth? Can we hold them up as godly mentors, possessing character worth emulating? We know from problems caused by the Catholic Church's past refusal to acknowledge and remove child-molesters from leadership that the danger is all too real. Jesus calls us to be salt and light to the community around us, and the Bible tells us to pray for the city in which we live.

I encourage all true believers to pray for those in government on a regular basis, and also to pray for large nationwide organizations that have great influence, such as the Scouts. Our nation's children must be protected. I will be praying to that end. Lord, frustrate the plans of the wicked, and help the Scouts to stand firm in good, pure, noble, and upright policies and behavior.

God is faithful,