Marriage & Sexuality

• We believe that all matters of faith and conduct must be evaluated on the basis of the Holy Bible (the “Bible” and the “Scriptures”), which is our infallible guide. Since the Bible does speak to the nature of human beings and their sexuality, it is imperative that the Board of Directors, employees, and volunteers (the “Representatives”) of our ministry correctly understand and articulate what the Bible teaches on these matters.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training
in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work”(2 Timothy 3:16-17).

• We believe that God has ordained and created marriage to exist between one man and one woman, with absolute marital fidelity. We are committed to the home and family as set forth in the Scriptures. We believe the Bible sets forth specific home and family values, which include the distinct roles of husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, as well as children. It is our firm conviction that we uphold the dignity of each individual as we embrace the unchanging and longstanding principles of scriptural truth. The Bible says of God …

“You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed” (Psalm 119:4).

Based on the Bible and the traditional moral teaching of the universal Christian Church throughout the centuries, our ministry believes in the following core truths:

• Marriage—We believe that God designed marriage to be the permanent, exclusive, complete, and conjugal “one flesh” union of one man and one woman. In this marriage union, the two are joined together with the unique potential of creating a biological family, which binds father, mother, and child together for the moral, spiritual, and public good. (See Genesis 2:18, 24; Matthew 19:4-6; Mark 10:6-9; Ephesians 5:31; 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6.)

“‘Haven’t you read,’ he [Jesus] replied ‘that at the beginning the Creator “made them male and female,” and said “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh?”’” (Matthew 19:4-5).

• Sexual Immorality—We believe that sexual acts outside marriage are prohibited and considered sinful. Consequently, our Representatives must resist and refrain from any and all sexual acts outside marriage between one man and one woman—including but not limited to adultery, fornication, incest, zoophilia, bestiality, pornography, prostitution, voyeurism, pedophilia, exhibitionism, sodomy, polygamy, polyamory, sologamy, or same-sex sexual acts. (See Exodus 20:14; Leviticus 18:7-23; 20:10-21; Deuteronomy 5:18; Matthew 5:27-28; 15:19; Romans1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-13; Galatians 5:19; Ephesians 4:18-19; Colossians 3:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:3.)

“Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral” (Hebrews 13:4).

• Gender Identity—We believe that God created humanity in His image: male (man) and female (woman)—collectively called “gender”—sexually different but with equal personal dignity. Consequently, our Representatives must affirm their own biological gender from birth and refrain from any and all attempts to physically alter or conflict with their predominant, biological gender identity as naturally born—including, but not limited to, elective sex reassignment, transvestite or transgender acts, or non-binary (asexual or gender fluid) conduct. (See Genesis 1:26-28; Romans 1:26-32.)

“God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27 NLT).

• Sexual Orientation—We believe that the Bible describes appropriate sexual orientation as sexual attraction and conduct only toward someone of the opposite gender. Therefore, our Representatives are to refrain from any and all same-sex sexual acts. (See Genesis 19:4-7; Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Judges 19:22-23; Romans 13:14; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.)

“Although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. … Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. … Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error” (Romans 1:21, 24, 26-27).

• Sexual Redemption—We believe that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and should seek redemption through confession, repentance, faith in Jesus Christ, and obedience to the principles of the Bible. Consequently, our Representatives should treat with respect, compassion, and sensitivity all who confess sexually immoral acts, including same-sex acts, and who are also refraining from sexual immorality and conforming their behavior to this Statement of Faith. (See Romans 3:23-24; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Ephesians 2:1-5; 2:8-10; Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:14-16; James 1:25; 5:19-20.)

“Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men … And that is what some of you were. 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” (1 Corinthians 6:9, 11).

• Celibacy—We believe that the Bible grants only two options for human sexual behavior: (1) the conjugal “one flesh” marital union of one man and one woman, and (2) celibacy. Either is a gift from God, given as He wills for His glory and the good of those who receive and rejoice in His gift to them. Therefore, celibacy and faithful singleness is to be celebrated and affirmed. (See Matthew 19:12; 1 Corinthians 7:1, 27, 32-35; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7.)

“Now to the unmarried and the widows I [the apostle Paul] say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. … I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord” (1 Corinthians 7:8, 35).

All of our Board members, employees, and volunteers must affirm and adhere to our Statements of Faith to qualify for active involvement with our ministry. This is necessary to accomplish our religious purpose: our mission and our vision. Therefore, any contrary behavior or counter-witnessing will hurt our integrity and harm our mission. However, we believe that God’s grace can wipe the slate of guilt clean, even though consequences may still be incurred.

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7 NKJV).

The Bible is the inspired, infallible Word of God, acting as the source of authority over every area of our lives—including morality, Christian beliefs, conduct, and lifestyle. The Designated Authority—a group of three (3): Board Chair, President, and Legal Counsel of our ministry—is charged with the ministerial responsibility of biblical interpretation and establishing religious policy. The Designated Authority will determine life application of the Bible as well as final matters relating to organizational theology, Christian practice, philosophy, faith, morality, divine truth, and doctrinal resolutions. (See Psalm 19:8-11; 119:89; Isaiah 40:8; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; James 1:22.)

“The word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

2 Timothy 3:16-17
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Psalm 119:4
“You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.”

Religious Beliefs Based on Biblical Positions

Marriage

Genesis 2:18
“The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.’”

Genesis 2:24
“That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.”

Matthew 19:4-6
“‘Haven’t you read,’ he replied, ‘that at the beginning the Creator “made them male and female,”’ 5and said, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh”? 6So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.’”

Mark 10:6-9
“But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’ 7‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, 8and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

Ephesians 5:31
“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”

1 Timothy 3:2
“Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach.”

Titus 1:6
“An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.”

Sexual Immorality

Exodus 20:14
“You shall not commit adultery.”

Leviticus 18:7-23
“Do not dishonor your father by having sexual relations with your mother. She is your mother; do not have relations with her. 8Do not have sexual relations with your father’s wife; that would dishonor your father. 9Do not have sexual relations with your sister, either your father’s daughter or your mother’s daughter, whether she was born in the same home or elsewhere. 10Do not have sexual relations with your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter; that would dishonor you. 11Do not have sexual relations with the daughter of your father’s wife, born to your father; she is your sister. 12Do not have sexual relations with your father’s sister; she is your father’s close relative. 13Do not have sexual relations with your mother’s sister, because she is your mother’s close relative. 14Do not dishonor your father’s brother by approaching his wife to have sexual relations; she is your aunt. 15Do not have sexual relations with your daughter-in-law. She is your son’s wife; do not have relations with her. 16Do not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife; that would dishonor your brother. 17Do not have sexual relations with both a woman and her daughter. Do not have sexual relations with either her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter; they are her close relatives. That is wickedness. 18Do not take your wife’s sister as a rival wife and have sexual relations with her while your wife is living. … 20Do not have sexual relations with your neighbor’s wife and defile yourself with her. … 22Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable. 23Do not have sexual relations with an animal and defile yourself with it. A woman must not present herself to an animal to have sexual relations with it; that is a perversion.”

Leviticus 20:10-21
“If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death. 11If a man has sexual relations with his father’s wife, he has dishonored his father. Both the man and the woman are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads. 12If a man has sexual relations with his daughter-in-law, both of them are to be put to death. What they have done is a perversion; their blood will be on their own heads. 13If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads. 14If a man marries both a woman and her mother, it is wicked. Both he and they must be burned in the fire, so that no wickedness will be among you. 15If a man has sexual relations with an animal, he is to be put to death, and you must kill the animal. 16If a woman approaches an animal to have sexual relations with it, kill both the woman and the animal. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads. 17If a man marries his sister, the daughter of either his father or his mother, and they have sexual relations, it is a disgrace. They are to be publicly removed from their people. He has dishonored his sister and will be held responsible. … 19Do not have sexual relations with the sister of either your mother or your father, for that would dishonor a close relative; both of you would be held responsible. 20If a man has sexual relations with his aunt, he has dishonored his uncle. They will be held responsible; they will die childless. 21If a man marries his brother’s wife, it is an act of impurity; he has dishonored his brother. They will be childless.”

Deuteronomy 5:18
“You shall not commit adultery.”

Matthew 5:27-28
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

Matthew 15:19
“For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.”

Romans 1:26-27
“Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.”

1 Corinthians 6:9-13
“Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11And that is what some of you were. 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. 12‘I have the right to do anything,’ you say—but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do anything’—but I will not be mastered by anything. 13You say, ‘Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.’ The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.”

Galatians 5:19
“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery.”

Ephesians 4:18-19
“They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.”

Colossians 3:5
“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.”

1 Thessalonians 4:3
“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality.”

Hebrews 13:4
“Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.”

Sexual Identity

Genesis 1:26-28
“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’ 27So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’”

Romans 1:26-32
“Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. 28Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 29They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy.
32Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.”

Genesis 1:27
“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

Sexual Orientation

Genesis 19:4-7
“Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom—both young and old—surrounded the house. 5They called to Lot, ‘Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.’ 6Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him 7and said, ‘No, my friends. Don’t do this wicked thing.’”

Leviticus 18:22
“Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.”

Leviticus 20:13
“If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.”

Judges 19:22-23

“While they were enjoying themselves, some of the wicked men of the city surrounded the house. Pounding on the door, they shouted to the old man who owned the house, ‘Bring out the man who came to your house so we can have sex with him.’ 23The owner of the house went outside and said to them, ‘No, my friends, don’t be so vile. Since this man is my guest, don’t do this outrageous thing.’”

Romans 13:14
“Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.”

1 Corinthians 6:9-11
“Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11And that is what some of you were. 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.”

Romans 1:21
“For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.”

Romans 1:24
“God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.”

Romans 1:26-27
“Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.”

Sexual Redemption

Romans 3:23-24
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

1 Corinthians 10:13
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

Ephesians 2:1-5
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”

Ephesians 2:8-10
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Hebrews 2:17-18
“For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

Hebrews 4:14-16
“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

James 1:25
“But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”

James 5:19-20
“My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”

1 Corinthians 6:9
“Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men.”

1 Corinthians 6:11
“And that is what some of you were. 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.”

Celibacy

Matthew 19:12
“For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”

1 Corinthians 7:1
“It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”

1 Corinthians 7:27
“Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife.”

1 Corinthians 7:32-35
“I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord. 33But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife—34and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. 35I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.”

1 Thessalonians 4:3-7
“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;
4that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.”

1 Corinthians 7:8
“Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do.”

1 Corinthians 7:35
“I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.”

Application

Galatians 6:7
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.”

Authority

Psalm 19:8-11
“The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 9The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. 10They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. 11By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.”

Psalm 119:89
“Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.”

Isaiah 40:8
“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

James 1:22
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

Hebrews 4:12
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”