HOMOSEXUALS AND THE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
Our aim in the following statement is to combine theological thinking and Biblical commitment with contemporary understanding and compassionate pastoral concern.
1) God in his Holy Word plainly condemns the practice of homosexuality
as an abomination in his sight (Leviticus 18:22);
as a degrading and unnatural passion (Romans 1:26,27);
as one that brings grave consequences in this life, and as a sin that, if persisted in, will exclude one from the Kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9,10).
Therefore, neither individual Christians, nor ministers of the Word of God, nor congregations of the Lord Jesus Christ, may take away from or lessen God’s prohibition of and warnings against the practice of homosexuality.
Neither may they, individually or collectively as responsible citizens in a free society, urge or concede that the State should give special protection or approval to this practice, or promote it as a matter of personal taste, free choice, or “sexual orientation”. Homosexuals are not entitled to special treatment under the law. That would be tantamount to rewarding evil.
2) The Apostle Paul testifies that those once involved in homosexuality were amongst those who were washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 6: 11).
Therefore, individual Christians, ministers and congregations, understanding that all human beings are sinners, and that as Christians we have received God’s mercy while helpless ungodly and hostile to God (Romans 3:23; 5:6,10), must warn against homosexual practices as from the mouth of the Lord (Ezekiel 3:17), and at the same time proclaim forgiveness, cleansing, restoration, and power for godly living for all who repent and believe the Gospel (John 1:12; 3:16; Romans 1:16; 1
Corinthians 6:11; Philippians 2:13).
We specifically renounce any unbiblical prejudice against persons who are homosexual simply because of their orientation, which is just one particular form of the same sinful orientation we all have. But we do believe that every expression of that orientation is sinful, just as every expression of adulterous desire is sinful, and we believe that all practising adulterers and homosexuals should be called to repentance.
3) God desires that all mankind repent and come to a knowledge of the truth and be saved (2 Peter 3:19;1Timothy 2:4).
Therefore, individual Christians, ministers and congregations will compassionately and in love proclaim the Good News of forgiveness and the admonition to go and sin no more (John 8:11) to those once involved in homosexual practices, admitting such into fellowship after confession of faith and evidence of repentance, as with all those who have sinned grievously in other ways (1 Corinthians 6:11). We counsel those homosexuals who do not experience full healing and reorientation to remain celibate, trusting the Holy Spirit to give a joyous and fruitful existence as is promised to a believer who cannot experience marriage (Isaiah 56:3-5). Jesus repeats this promise (Matthew 19:12). §
