Membership with one, distance from another

A Romanian classmate was telling us today that in the 1990s, when Romania was working on joining the European Union, one of the great ethical issues that came to the fore was the policy toward homosexuals. To join the European Union, Romania had to agree to tolerate homosexuality – that is, to make it at least legal to practice homosexuality.

 

Until 1996, Romania had a more conservative president who resisted such requirements. But since then, the president(s) has valued membership with the European Union so highly that a number of ethical considerations have taken a place in the shadows.

 

Wow. Ethical considerations take a place in the shadows? Regardless of my viewpoint on the ethics I uphold, whether I am conservative or liberal, that should never happen. Ethics should never take a back seat to membership.

 

The power of membership. The power of belonging. Standing alone is painful. Not just hard. Painful. Scary. Uncertain. Even for a country in the midst of other countries.

 

But membership in one group means distance from another group. People in general should all ask themselves, no matter what their belief systems, whether the ethical values they hold are worth giving up for membership in a group – any group. Middle-school peers. College fraternity or sorority. Government. Military. Business. Club.

 

But especially for Christians, we need to ask ourselves when we join a new fellowship, when we become members of a new group, whether we are distancing ourselves from the church. From our believing brothers and sisters. Most importantly, from Christ.

 

We need to keep our values in line with His. Even if it costs us a beneficial membership. He is worth it.