Humanity
We believe that humanity is sacred in God’s eyes and was uniquely created by Him, male and female, to bear His image, to exercise dominion over the earth and to enjoy a relationship with Him forever for His glory;[1]that in God’s design for human procreation life begins at conception.[2]After sin entered the world,[3]human beings still possess the image of God, though corrupted by sin.[4]Every human being is directly responsible to God in matters of faith and life.[5]God’s will for humanity is that they love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love their neighbors as themselves.[6]God’s command to all people is to believe in His Son Jesus Christ.[7]
Marriage
We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture.[8]We believe that Christian marriage is to be an example of the relationship between Jesus Christ and His Church.[9]We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other; and that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activitybeengagedin outside of the marriage relationship described in the Bible.[10]We believe that God instituted monogamous marriage between male and female as the foundation of the family and the basic structure of human society;[11]
Family
We believe that God established the institution of family through the union of one man and one woman in a marriage covenant for life;[12]that God’s design for the continuance of humanity is through the procreation, nurturing and discipleship of children within the family as defined by Scriptures.[13]
Sexuality
We believe that human sexuality is a good gift of our Creator;that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female, and that these two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God; that rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.[14]We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God.[15]We further believe that the gospel of Jesus Christ brings deliverance from every form and expression of sin which degrades the person, destroys the family and corrupts society.[16]We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity; that hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the teachings of this church.[17]
We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture.[8]We believe that Christian marriage is to be an example of the relationship between Jesus Christ and His Church.[9]We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other; and that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activitybeengagedin outside of the marriage relationship described in the Bible.[10]We believe that God instituted monogamous marriage between male and female as the foundation of the family and the basic structure of human society;[11]
Family
We believe that God established the institution of family through the union of one man and one woman in a marriage covenant for life;[12]that God’s design for the continuance of humanity is through the procreation, nurturing and discipleship of children within the family as defined by Scriptures.[13]
Sexuality
We believe that human sexuality is a good gift of our Creator;that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female, and that these two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God; that rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.[14]We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God.[15]We further believe that the gospel of Jesus Christ brings deliverance from every form and expression of sin which degrades the person, destroys the family and corrupts society.[16]We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity; that hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the teachings of this church.[17]
[1]Genesis 1:26-31; 2:7, 22; 5:1-2; 9:6; Psalm 100:3; Isaiah 43:7; 45:12; Acts 17:26; 1 Corinthians 11:7; James 3:9 [2]Psalm 51:5; 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:5; Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:31, 34-36, 41- 44 [3]Genesis 3; Romans 5:12 [4]Genesis 5:1; 6:5; 9:6; Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:10-18, 23; 1 Corinthians 11:7; James 3:9 [5]Exodus 34:6-7; Ecclesiastes 12:14; Jeremiah 17:10; Romans 1:18-20; 3:19; Hebrews 4:13; 9:27; Revelation 20:11-15 [6]Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18; Mark 12:30-31; Romans 13:8-10 [7]John 3:16; 6:29; 1 John 3:23 [8]Genesis 2:18-25; Matthew 19: [9]Ephesians 5:22-33; Revelation 19:6-9 [10]1 Corinthians 6:9-20; 7:1-5; Hebrews 13:4 [11]Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5-6; Mark 10:6-9; Romans 1:26-27 [12]Genesis 2:23-24; Matthew 19:4-6; 1 Corinthians 7:2; 1 Timothy 3:2; Hebrews 13:4 [13]Genesis 1:26-28; 4:1-2; 9:1; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Ephesians 6:1-4; Colossians 3:18-21 [14]Genesis 1:26-31 [15]Matthew 5:27-28; Mark 7:20-23; Romans 1:24-27; Galatians 5:19-21 [16]1 Corinthians 6:9-11 [17]Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31; 1 John 4:18-21