Homosexuality

Article 1

WE AFFIRM that homosexual attraction, homosexual orientation, and homosexual acts are against nature and sinful. (Rom. 1:26-27)

WE DENY that homosexual attraction is part of the original creation order, since God created man in His image male and female for one another. (Gen. 1:27-28; Gen. 2:18, 21-24; Mt. 19:4-6)

Article 2

WE AFFIRM that homosexual attraction is a vile, degrading, and dishonorable passion, and those who condone homosexuality invite the further judgment of God. (Rom. 1:26-32)

WE DENY that unrepentant homosexuals will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Cor. 6:9-10)

Article 3

WE AFFIRM that Jesus condemned both sinful sexual attractions and sinful sexual actions. (Mt. 5:27-28)

WE DENY that scripture permits homosexual attraction and orientation. (Rom. 1:26-27)

Article 4

WE AFFIRM that those with homosexual attractions, incestuous attractions, and bestial attractions are ‘sexual minorities’ in the church.

WE DENY that there is any virtue in being identified as a ‘sexual minority,’ because all of these dispositions are sinful. (Lev. 18:6,22-23; 20:13,15-16)

Article 5

WE AFFIRM that God by His grace can change an unnatural sexual orientation. (1 Cor. 6:11; 1 Jn. 1:9)

WE DENY that unnatural sexual orientations are fixed, permanent, and unchangeable. (Col. 1:21-23)

Article 6

WE AFFIRM that many people having a homosexual orientation do not desire this orientation.

Article 7

WE AFFIRM that Christians ought to abhor homosexual sin (Lev. 18:22). Abhorrence of all sin should be cultivated. Those who love the Lord hate evil. (Ps. 97:10)

WE DENY that revulsion and abhorrence of homosexual sin is sinful. (Rom. 12:9; 1 Cor. 13:4-7)

 Article 8

WE AFFIRM that people living in homosexual sin should be shown kindness and lovingly encouraged to turn from their sin to serve Christ who alone can deliver them from sin and its shame. (Mk. 2:16-17; James 5:19-20)

WE DENY that it is loving or kind to try to diminish or remove the shame of homosexual attraction and orientation, since God calls it shameful. (Rom. 1:26-27; Jer. 6:14-15)

Article 9

WE AFFIRM that repentant sinners turning from all unnatural attractions and trusting in Christ should be welcomed into the church as members in good standing. (1 Tim. 1:15-16)

WE DENY that followers of Christ who struggle with homosexual attraction should be identified as “LGBT+ Christians, because it dishonors Christ to identify with sinful attractions and orientations. (2 Cor. 5:16-17; 1 Cor. 6:9-11)

Article 10

WE AFFIRM that homosexual attraction should be mortified by the power of the Spirit. (Col. 3:1-7; Rom. 8:12-14; 1 Thess. 4:3-5)

WE DENY that continuing homosexual attraction or failure to attain orientation change is evidence of God’s approval of these unnatural and vile passions. (Rom. 7:21-25; Rom. 1:26-27)

Article 11

WE AFFIRM that those struggling with unlawful sexual attractions of any kind should be encouraged to seek the help, prayer, and counsel of mature believers, elders, and pastors. (James 5:16; Heb. 3:12-13; Heb. 10:24-25)

WE DENY that those struggling with homosexual attraction and orientation should suffer in silence. (Gal. 6:1-2)

Article 12

WE AFFIRM that our inward self-conception and outward gender identity must conform to the sex God assigned us at conception, and thus we are to live in obedience to his call evident in our reproductive organs. (Deut. 22:5)

WE DENY that physical anomalies or psychological conditions nullify the union God has decreed between biological sex and self-conception and gender identity.

WE DENY that unwanted vile passions are natural, neutral, or good. (Rom. 7:21-25)

Articles of Faith Support

Westminster Larger Catechism (WLC) 139, Heidelberg Catechism(HC) 109: the sins forbidden by the 7th Commandment are all “unnatural lusts” and “all unclean imaginations, thoughts, purposes, and affections.”

Westminster Confession of Faith 6.4-5, WLC 25, HC 7, 10, Belgic Confession 14-16, Canons of Dort (Hd 3, Art. 1-5, ROE 1-4) : the corruption of nature itself (curse of Original Sin), from which our sins proceed, is in itself, prior to any transgression, truly and properly sin.