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In the light of recent moves in the United Reformed Church, and
continuing debate elsewhere, the EFCC Committee commends the statement
drawn up by the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference
("4 Cs") in the United States.
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.
- God in his Holy Word plainly condemns the practice of
homosexuality
- as an abomination in his sight (Lev. 18:22);
- as a degrading and unnatural passion (Rom.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 Cor. 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.
- 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 Cor. 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 (Rom. 3:23; 5:6,10), must warn against homosexual
practices as from the mouth of the Lord (Ezk. 3:17), and at the same
time proclaim forgiveness, cleansing, restoration, and power for
godly living for all who repent and believe the Gospel (Jn 1:12;
3:16; Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 6:11; Phil. 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.
- God desires that all mankind repent and come to a knowledge of the
truth and be saved (2 Pe. 3:19; 1 Tim. 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 (Jn 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 Cor.
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
believer who cannot experience marriage (Is. 56:3-5). Jesus repeats
this promise (Mt. 19:12).
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