YMCA Policies

So, I was reading some of my favorite blogs and came across this post on Dana's blog. I have a few comments I would like to make regarding the post and comments contained therein and figured this would probably be a more appropriate place for my thoughts. Please note that the following thoughts are strictly my own and are posted here with total respect for the persons involved.

In response to Dana's #1 reason - it's blatent discrimination: Is it discrimination? Yes. But it is also a private club/organization. While this may not seem like much, it allows the organization to allow whomever they want to join for whatever reason. A country club might have a huge payment to join or require that you live in a certain neighborhood or be referred by another member, but they can still discriminate on who is allowed into the club. Is that fair? Maybe not, but it's allowed because they discriminate along published lines and they discriminate equally against everyone who doesn't fit the guidelines.

In response to Dana's # 3 reason - a Christian organization discriminating against people. The YMCA was founded as a Christian organization and, since I am not a member, I cannot attest to whether or not it still claims to be as such. Seeing as how Dana is evidently a member, I'd take it that she knows its status and is under the belief that it is a Christian organization. So I simply refer back to the first reason and move on to address one of her statements that followed this reason.

"do the people at the YMCA believe that God is discriminating in his love to gay people? That somehow God loves straight people more than gay people?"

I don't believe that the people at the YMCA believe either of those things. The Bible clearly states in several places that God loves everyone in the world. He doesn't love one person more than another, whether they are gay or straight.

Now to address a few statements from the anonymous poster on her blog.
Yes, the UCC and Unitarian churches welcome and affirm gay/lesbian unions, but that doesn't mean that God does the same. Men might change whatever they want regarding the policies and practices of "the church", but that does not necessitate that God change his views or stance on anything. Thankfully, He's the same God regardless of what a certain denomination's stance on a topic is.

Comparing Jesus to a liberal is acceptable in some terms, but it is dangerous in others. Yes, Jesus spent time with beggars, prostitutes, tax collectors and children. Without a doubt, He was a servant to the people and to His disciples, portraying the perfect example of what the "church" (Christians) should be toward one another and others. It would be a great folly to compare Jesus Christ with any political stance of today, be it liberal or conservative. Christ was beyond political and never attempted to be that and never tried to persued people by pandering to them. Jesus Christ was God and spoke the Truth regardless of His audience (or lack thereof).

In my opinion, if the YMCA chooses to have certain criteria necessary to join and enforces that policy effectively and it is seen as discriminatory, then that is their right to do so. However, it does bring into question the reasoning for that exclusion and how it relates to their policies regarding Christian love and outreach. Is the YMCA a Christian organization? If so, do they exist solely for the use of their "Christian" members or do they exist to try and reach out to those they believe need Christ? If they exist to build "Christian" people, then I think they need to further discriminate in their enrollment; far too many people I know go to the YMCA and either do not believe in God or follow in His ways. If they exist to reach other people for God, then they need to allow unrestricted access to all people, regardless of their belief or anything else.