eHarmony now serves the LGBT community

Established in the year 2000, eHarmony is an online dating service that matches couples based on scientifically determined dimensions of personality. Originally marketed within the Christian community, the organization quickly expanded to include all singles.

Well, at least all heterosexual singles. Infuriated by being excluded, homosexuals filed lawsuits against the company in 2005 and 2007. The 2005 lawsuit, filed by a gay man from New Jersey, has been working its way through the courts. eHarmony had initially stood by its heterosexual-only policy. However, that has recently changed with the announcement of an out-of-court settlement. As part of the agreement, eHarmony will pay McKinley $5,000 and will provide him a one-year complimentary membership. eHarmony — which was not found in violation of the law — also agreed to ensure that same-sex users will be matched using the same or equivalent technology used for its heterosexual clients. It will also post photographs of same-sex couples in its "Diversity" section of its Web site and in advertising materials.

The company recently provided a press release where the head lawyer stated that "we ultimately decided it was best to settle this case with the Attorney General since litigation outcomes can be" unpredictable."

Unpredictable? Certainly the courts could have instituted a far greater financial penalty. Yet in what way could they have forced a more extensive compromise of the organization's principles? Instead of standing on those principles, the organization caved in order to avoid a hefty financial loss.

In reality, this outcome was unavoidable. Years ago the company decided to expand its operations past the boundaries of the Christian community. Nobly, as they expanded they initially attempted to operate within a (truncated) Christian ethic. The company witnessed explosive growth to the point that eHarmony has virtually become a household word. But they were "serving" a world that wouldn't accept the subtle Christian ethic that formed the foundation of the companies operation.

Eventually, eHarmony was left with a choice: continue making hoards of cash within this larger secular market or maintain integrity with their covert Christian principles. The lawsuits forced a choice, and they choose to caste principles aside in order to keep the business afloat. Christ testified to an important truth nearly 2,000 years ago. In Luke 16:13 Jesus says, "No servant can serve two masters, because either he will hate one and love the other, or be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and wealth!"