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| Q: | Are you telling me that I am going against God's teachings by putting my son in Scouts when there is not a Boy Pioneer program in our church that would benefit my son and, when there was, the children were not respectful to others and definitely did not behave as Christians? I jave been to the Scouts meetings in our area and talked to the Scout master about the oath and other things. They do not teach religion. If the child wants a merit badge for religion they are to do this through their church. They are not required to say the oath. My feeling with how it is stated in other answers is we state it is offensive to God if it is not Christ who we are talking about. I agree one hundred percent, but when or if we were to say the oath and we in our hearts are believing and talking about Christ the one true God, then we are not doing this wrong. Just like when you say the pledge, I won't promise that in fact I know that everyone is not believing in the same God. Does that mean we are not to say the pledge at public events? I dont believe that is what God intended. So to get to the point, where in the Bible does it state that we are not to attend scouts if we are doing it as a Christian? Can't we spread God's Word by example there? Didnt Christ do things with us sinners and unbelievers? | ||||||
| A: | I believe that at the heart of your inability to understand our position over against Scouting is that you do not see Scouting as a religious organization in addition to its being a civic and youth oriented service organization. You want your son to benefit from things that Scouting has to offer. Fine. But regardless of what the local Scout leaders say, the Scout oath, laws, and formally stated purposes are religious in nature. That is, they express or imply promises that have to do with a human being's relationship to God and not simply to his fellowman. And that, by definition, is religion. And Scouting's religion is not in agreement with what the Bible says about how a human being can be right with God. The god of Scouting is not the God of Scripture. What the Scout is told or brought to assume is pleasing to God is not pleasing to the God of the Bible because it does not flow from saving faith in Jesus Christ. You seem to be saying that if your son speaks the Scout oath or submits to the Scout laws on the outside, but then clings to Christ and confesses salvation by grace and faith alone in his heart, then everything is OK. The Bible does not agree. Our outward actions should express our inner convictions and not be hypocritical. To act in this way is also unloving, since it allows other members of the Scouting organization to imagine a false god and a false way to please God and gives no testimony for the truth and against the error. I fully agree with you that it is our privilege and responsibility to spread God's Word by example. But I believe taking a stand on this issue is the best kind of example, even when it means your son may lose out on some civic and social benefits that Scouting has to offer. Christ spent a lot of time with sinners and unbelievers. But Christ never did so in such a way that he ignored or put a stamp of approval on their sins. Nor should we. As I read your words, I can see you are emotionally disturbed over this issue. I recommend that you sit down with one of our pastors and slowly and courteously seek clarifications to issues you may not understand at present. I pray that this will be most rewarding for you and your family's spiritual life.
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