While Scripture makes it clear homosexual behavior is sin and comes under the judgment of God, it also indicates that those who are guilty of homosexual behavior or any other sin can be reconciled to God 2 Corinthians — In the church at Corinth were former homosexuals who had been delivered from the power of sin by the grace of God.
In 1 Corinthians , Paul listed homosexuals along with immoral heterosexuals as those who cannot inherit the kingdom of God. His grammar implies continuing sexually immoral activity until their conversion. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. Scripture makes clear that the efficacy of the death and resurrection of Christ is unlimited for those who accept it.
There is no sin, sexual or otherwise, that cannot be cleansed. Through the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit, people, regardless of the nature of their sin, can be made new creations in Christ Jesus 2 Corinthians The practicing homosexual who wants to be delivered from the penalty and power of sin must come to God in the same way all heterosexual sinners must come to God, in the same way all who are now His children have come for deliverance from their sins.
The act of turning to God for salvation includes both repentance and faith. Jesus is both Savior and Lord. He is the one who forgives our sin as we believe in Him and repent. Repentance represents a change of mind in which there is a turning from sin in both attitude and behavior. Jesus is also the One whose lordship we affirm in holy living.
Like the Philippian jailer who asked what he had to do to be saved, those desiring salvation must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ Acts —31 —believe that He can save from the power as well as the penalty of sin. Obedient faith, like repentance, is a condition of salvation. In view of the clear biblical teachings on homosexuality and the application of these teachings to contemporary sexual practices, the Assemblies of God Fellowship makes the following affirmations:.
Genesis —28; —24; Matthew —9; Mark —9; Ephesians — The Assemblies of God believes that sexual acts outside of marriage are prohibited as sinful. Sexual acts outside of marriage include but are not limited to adultery, fornication, incest, bestiality, pornography, prostitution, voyeurism, pedophilia, exhibitionism, sodomy, polygamy, polyamory, or same-sex sexual acts.
Exodus ; Leviticus —23; —21; Deuteronomy ; Matthew —28; ; Romans —27; 1 Corinthians —13; Galatians ; Ephesians —19; Colossians ; 1 Thessalonians ; Hebrews The Assemblies of God believes that God created humankind in His image: male man and female woman , sexually different but with equal personal dignity.
Genesis —28; Romans —32; 1 Corinthians — The Assemblies of God affirms the sexual complementarity of man and woman and teaches that any and all same-sex sexual attractions are to be resisted. Consequently, believers are to refrain from any and all same-sex sexual acts or conduct, which are intrinsically disordered.
Genesis ; ; Matthew —6; Mark —9; Romans —27; 1 Corinthians — The Assemblies of God believes that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and should seek redemption through confession, repentance, baptism, and faith in Jesus Christ. Our Fellowship welcomes and treats with respect, compassion, and sensitivity all who experience same-sex attractions or confess sexually immoral acts and are commited to resisting sexual temptation, refraining from sexual immorality, and transforming their behavior in the light of biblical teachings.
Matthew —30; Romans ; 1 Corinthians ; Ephesians —10; Hebrews —18; — Believers who struggle with homosexual temptations and sexual identity confusion must be encouraged and strengthened by fellow Christians Galatians —2.
Likewise, they should be taught that while temptation to sinful behaviors is universal, temptation itself is not sin. Temptation can be resisted and overcome 1 Corinthians ; Hebrews — 6. The moral imperatives of Scripture are incumbent upon all persons. However, believers should not be surprised that unbelievers do not honor God and do not recognize the Bible as a rightful claim on their lives and conduct 1 Corinthians Peter writes clearly of the conflict and contrast between believer and unbeliever in his first letter:.
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.
For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead 1 Peter —5. Aware of the claims of God on every aspect of our lives, we must emphasize that we are called to holiness.
To unbelievers we must reach out with compassion and humility. We must hold no malice toward, or fear of, homosexuals and those struggling with sexual identity—such attitudes are not of Christ.
At the same time we must not condone sexual behavior, homosexual or heterosexual, that God has defined as sinful. In order for suffering to be Christ-like, it must be redemptive. Redemptive suffering does not uphold oppressive forces but always expresses resistance against them.
While the six passages that address same-sex eroticism in the ancient world are negative about the practices they mention, there is no evidence that these in any way speak to same-sex relationships of love and mutuality. To the contrary, the amount of cultural, historical and linguistic data surrounding how sexuality in the cultures of the biblical authors operated demonstrates that what was being condemned in the Bible is very different than the committed same-sex partnerships we know and see today.
If neither sex differentiation nor gender complementarity are the basis for Christian partnership, then what is? From Genesis 2, to Matthew 19, to Ephesians 5, what these passages make explicit and is echoed throughout the rest of Scripture is something mentioned earlier: marriage is sacred for Christians because it can represent the enduring love between Christ and the Church. Anyone who has ever been in an intimate relationship of any kind can testify to the range of differences and resulting conflicts that are an inherent part of any two personalities attempting to integrate their lives.
All things considered, it is important to remember that throughout church history, new information about people and the world have frequently led Christians to reconsider their beliefs.
This need not be a reason to distrust Scripture, but rather should serve as an invitation to wrestle with the contexts of the biblical writers and our own lived experiences. Read about what the Bible says about transgender people here. For further reading: Cheryl B. Eerdmans Publishing Co, Matthew Vines.
Eerdmans Publishing Co. By clicking "GO" below, you will be directed to a website operated by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, an independent c 3 entity.
By using this site, you agree to our use of cookies. Such tradition often continues to influence churches today. Many churches teach that women should be subordinate to men, continue to permit forms of discrimination against peoples of color, and condemn homosexuals.
They say that all homosexual acts are sinful, often referring to their interpretation of scripture. Other churches today are influenced by a century of psychoanalytic thought promoted through a powerful minority in the field of medicine. They see homosexuality as some kind of sickness. Although this view has now been soundly discredited by the medical profession, some churches and clergy continue to be influenced by the idea.
They say that homosexuals are "imperfect" and in need of "healing. The Good News is that, since , when Metropolitan Community Church was founded, the emergence of a strong lesbian and gay community, and the conclusions of new scientific studies on homosexuality have forced the Christian Church to reexamine these issues. A growing number of biblical and theological scholars now recognize that Scripture does not condemn loving, responsible homosexual relationships.
Therefore, gay men and lesbians should be accepted — just as they are-in Christian churches, and homosexual relationships should be celebrated and affirmed! Biblical Interpretation and Theology also change from time to time.
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