Introduction
Trinity Church believes that God created men and women for an intimate relationship with Him and that human sexuality is to be a reflection of the spiritual intimacy that God desires with man. He created marriage as a reflection of this intimacy and ordained sex to be enjoyed in the context of a lifetime commitment in marriage. Man is enhanced and fulfilled by his wife and his wife is enhanced and fulfilled by her husband. This is God’s plan for men and women.
We believe that within bounds of marriage and with agreement of both parties there is freedom to explore and enjoy the pleasure of sexual love. Genesis chapter 2 tells us that God created human sexuality and purity is reflected in respect for each other and consent from both parties to what is practiced by the couple. It is not biblical to violate or dominate one another.
As Christians we are subject to the boundaries of scriptures and our behavior should stand above the influence of societal norms. Our behavior must be consistent with the parameters of God’s Word. The Bible is our final authority on all issues and it clearly addresses the matters of sexual propriety.
For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Ephesians 5:5
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 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. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity of the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator – who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural 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 indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. Romans 1:24-27
If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. Leviticus 20:13
Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable. Leviticus 18:22
Issues of Concern and Practice
Trinity Church believes that all expressions of sexual intimacy outside the bonds of heterosexual marriage are both unbiblical and immoral. We do not believe that homosexuality is deserving of greater disapproval than any other sexual sin (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). Neither are those involved in homosexuality deserving of special condemnation; as the Bible states, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” More importantly, we believe that Jesus did not come to condemn anyone, but to redeem and free every individual from every form of bondage in which they find themselves.
Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 1 Corinthians 6:18
Distinction between Persons, Policies, and Positions
While echoing the Biblical message of compassion, forgiveness and redemption for individuals, we nonetheless stand firm in our opposition to social policies that have the effect of legitimizing non-biblical sexual behavior. We believe that the legitimization of sexual promiscuity in any form has an overall negative moral effect in society and attempts to redefine the family through legalization of same-sex marriages, the instruction of children and youth on non-biblical sexual lifestyles such as homosexuality and bisexuality as morally equivalent to heterosexuality, and the promotion of behavior lifestyles of promiscuity outside of marriage is not only unbiblical, but harmful to the moral fabric of society.
From a Biblical perspective all sexuality, which is outside of the commitment of a heterosexual bond in marriage, is a reflection of the brokenness of humanity. The sins that separate man from God are the result of rebellious choices and personal behavior that miss the mark of God’s desire for His creation. Behaviors that separate us from God include greed, hatred, fear, dishonesty, and intemperance, along with various forms of sexual behavior.
Response to Sinful Behavior
Trinity Church stands against any form of prejudice, bigotry or violence toward any person in sin. We believe that moral opposition is not a license to engage in any form of slander or harassment against those with whom we disagree or whose behavior is sinful. Morally and legally speaking, we believe that reacting to sinful behavior through violence is not justified by the sinful behavior but is a crime and deserves to be punished to the fullest extent of the law.
For You formed my inward parts; you wove me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are your works, And my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; 16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. (NASU) Psalms 139:13-16
Sexual sins are a breach of the reflection of God’s desire for intimacy and His hand in the act of impregnation and therefore are seriously addressed in scripture. Persons engaged in a sexually immoral lifestyle who are unrepentant of their behavior will be kept from membership and kept from or removed from positions of ministry authority at Trinity Church.
Although membership and leadership positions will be withheld for an unrepentant sinful lifestyle, personal ministry and freedom ministry are available to all who pursue a relationship with Jesus Christ. It is our desire at Trinity Church to always make ministry available to any person seeking God. We believe that every individual is in need of redemption and restoration through the truth and compassion available in Christ. Each person’s journey toward wholeness and change is best facilitated in an atmosphere of love, acceptance, and accountability.
Summation
Trinity Church cites sexual promiscuity, fornication, co-habitation, adultery, and homosexuality as biblically identified sexual sins. Choosing to reconcile such behavior with God can only take place through repentance that is reflected in changed behavior. We respect the complexity and depth of struggle that men and women must endure when faced with issues related to their sexuality. It is our desire to walk beside an individual in such a way that sin’s power is broken through God’s all-encompassing grace, thereby ensuring that the individual is free to know and experience their true identity in Christ and His Church.
From the Need2Know Series - a teaching on the Biblical view of homosexuality and same sex marriage.