Alternative Scouting?
I brought this article back into the spotlight based on the recent media coverage and decisions made about the future of scouting. It was originally published in July of 2012, and I have received several comments on this, both here and in a private venue.
As a Christian and an ordained pastor, I am mandated by God to enforce His Word and laws found in the Holy Bible. It is a choice that I made. I may not agree with some things going on in the world today, but God gave us freedom of choice that he will not and cannot take away. As I stated below, I have many dear friends and relatives that are gay and I will never stop loving them or treat them any different than anyone else. Jesus' greatest commandment was to love one another as he loved us (John 13:34). Why can't we do that?
There has been some talk in the news recently about the fact that the BSA, or Boy Scouts of America had been forced by the “gay forces that be” into reconsidering their credo of firmly standing against having openly gay participants in the Boy Scouts. I was happy to hear that the BSA, an organization that I was associated with for many years, has voted to remain true to their beliefs and say no to the gay organizations.
My personal religious beliefs about this matter go along with the strict rules set down in the Bible. My social beliefs say that “everybody has a right to believe what they want to believe, worship how they want to worship, etc…” I will always respect someone’s lifestyle, whether or not I agree with it. It is a personal choice that they have made. They have to live with it, not me. Just don’t try to force it upon me.
I wrote a piece here on HubPages a while back called “Get ‘em, Girls!” about gays in the military. In that article, I stressed again that everyone makes their own choices and I respect them. But as far as the military goes, we are talking about adults. Grown men and women.
In the Boy Scouts we are not. The Boy Scouts is full of young and impressionable young men with raging hormones and boys in the height of puberty. Even the younger ones are extremely impressionable. Would you like your 10 year old boy on a campout exposed to this alternative lifestyle long before you are ready for him to learn about it? Whatever these young kids are exposed to is going to affect them for the rest of their lives. The scouting experience is a learning process. It is a training camp to wholesomely mold the young boys of today into the socially strong and morally acceptable men of tomorrow.
The Scout Oath is as follows:
On my honor, I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.
The Scout Law is:
A Scout is:
- Trustworthy,
- Loyal,
- Helpful,
- Friendly,
- Courteous,
- Kind,
- Obedient,
- Cheerful,
- Thrifty,
- Brave,
- Clean,
- and Reverent.
Nowhere does it say “gay”.
Enough is enough. If it’s not the gays, it’s the atheists. Why can’t we all just live and let live, stick to our own beliefs and leave everyone alone? The only people that aren’t forcing themselves on everyone are the Amish….and you can bet that when it is all over, when the smoke settles and the last brick falls, they will be the ones standing next to the Boy Scouts as we put ourselves back together.
Why don’t the gay organizations start their own scouting program? They can design their own scouting manuals, create their own agenda and various programs. I can only imagine what merit badges they would have available.
That’s enough for me for one day.
©2012 By Del Banks
Comments
I am not at all familiar with scouting or have given much thought to their stance on openly homosexual individuals in their organization. But I find your logic flawed. Children are absolutely impressionable but if sexuality was an area where that applied why do we have all these straight parents with gay adult children? Or gay couples who through whatever means have kids that are then straight? Also, I am guessing only parents chaperone camping trips.... at least I hope so. Why would a homosexual individual be any more likely to look askance or worse as you seem to imply than a heterosexual parent camping with their opposite gendered child and their friend would? There is a huge difference in either heterosexuality or homosexuality and pedofilia! You are certainly entitled to agree with the BSA on their stance but please come up with a more logical reason or just say it happens to be how you feel. Simple as that.
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I'm not sure that you really grasped the concept here. Perhaps you are looking at my article a tad bit "askance" yourself. Your kids are young, but someday when "Miss Panda" and "Little Bear" come of age and are exposed to something that you feel may be subversive to your own personal point of view, then you may rethink your stance on many things.
Thank you for commenting.
I don't think so, remember Jesus dined with the outcasts of society, because what he knew which I think you have failed to grasp is that we are all equally sinful; that no one deserves God's grace, therefore there is no one who is exempt for receiving it, by cutting them off you are not allowing that witness to gay men to happen. so maybe we should ban straight non-christian men as well, because they will be a bad influence. The only problem between those two demographics you are talking about the majority of men who are scout masters. Its just some stuff to mull over, I still have gay friends, because A, they are funny, and B. I want to witness and I honestly believe that i sow seeds with them by spending time. So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, ... The gospel is no more preached in vain than the rain falls in vain. Just something for you to consider, I appreciate you being courteous, blessings
A K turner.
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I agree that we should witness to others, because we are supposed to. The adult mind can understand, comprehend and sort out facts and situations much better than a child's mind can. The Boy Scouts realizes that, and it is their objective to not place the youth in a situation where they may feel uncomfortable, or to try to explore areas in their lives that they are not ready to explore yet. Children need to grow up and make their own decisions about their directions in life, but with good moral guidance. If they are subjected to mature influences at an immature age, then they will miss out on a lot of growing.
My2greenbeans made a point regarding gay vs. straight parents (and vice-versa), and I have no answers for that. In some cases the eventual lifestyle is predisposed for whatever reason. I too have gay friends and relatives. I don't put them down for their lifestyle, nor do I condone it. But I do condone everyone's right to believe what they want to believe in. Just don't force the issue. It is their business what they do. We laugh about it, joke about it and when it is all done, we still are friends and family.
The Boy Scouts is an organization founded in the early 20th century based on the high moral fiber that is necessary for a good upbringing. The Scouts emphasizes church attendance, they have certificates and merit badges based on that subject. The boys have enough on their plates just growing up in today's society. When I was in the scouts back in the 60's and 70's, we knew about gays, we just weren't exposed to them like kids are nowadays. There are so many influences out there that affect the youth today in both positive and negative ways. Why not have one simple institution remaining where the youth of today can still cling to the virtues and morality of yesterday with an open mind to the future?
I appreciate your comments and respect your point of view.