Human Sexuality
Bethel Mennonite Church – Langley, BC
Human Sexuality Statement October 29, 2003
Approved by the Congregation 10/11/03
Preamble
Bethel Mennonite Church affirms that:
• the Bible is the infallible Word of God with “supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct”;
• all people “have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Therefore we enter all such discussions with appropriate humility and normal human limitation upon holistic understanding; and,
• “a Christian should live for the glory of God”, sincerely endeavoring to
engage in behaviours that reflect the person of Jesus Christ.
These basic assumptions undergird the following beliefs regarding human sexuality.
A. The Scriptural Model of Healthy Sexuality & Relationships
Scriptural Basis: Matthew 19;5,6; Hebrews 13;4; Exodus 20:14; Romans 1:24; 1 Timothy 1:8-10; Genesis 2:19-24
1. We believe that heterosexuality is God’s revealed will for humankind and that, since God is loving, a chaste and faithful expression of this orientation (whether in singleness or in marriage) is the model to which God calls all believing people.
2. As Christians we believe that human sexuality is a gift of God, and that the Bible presents sex and its proper use as a privilege, created, ordained, and blessed by God.
3. We recognizes that the battle between flesh and spirit is never easy, but believe that the sex drive is designed by God to lead to the highest expression of human intimacy only within the holy estate of matrimony, and that when it is expressed outside of that relationship, it will inevitably lead to misery of self and others.
4. Human sexuality is a great blessing created by God to be enjoyed within the context of a monogamous marriage between a man and a woman; any sexual conduct outside the parameters of marriage is sin.
5. The fundamental reason for reserving sexual relations for marriage is that God designed such for the happiness, well-being, protection, and stability in the life of each person, the family, and the human community. From the very beginning, God’s will has been that “a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife.”
B. Regarding Sexual Sin
Scriptural Basis: 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 15-20; Galatians 5:19-21; Revelation 21:8; Romans 1:24-32
1. We believe that all sexual sin (perversion, homosexuality, pedophilia, bestiality, orgiastic expression, adultery, fornication, etc.) is a result of the fall of humanity into the sinful condition that pervades every person. Whatever biological or familial roots of sexual sin may be discovered, we do not believe that these would sanction or excuse these behaviors, though they would deepen our compassion and patience for those who are struggling to be free from sexual temptations.
2. The Bible further teaches that those who’s lifestyle is committed to sexual immorality (perversion, homosexuality, pedophilia, bestiality, orgiastic expression, adultery, fornication, etc.) cannot inherit the kingdom of God . Consequently, they are destined, as with all other unrepentant sinners, for an eternal separation from life with God.
3. Furthermore, we do not accept that sexual sin (perversion, homosexuality, pedophilia, bestiality, orgiastic expression, adultery, fornication, etc.) is a “gift” to the church of Jesus Christ.
4. All consensual sexual behaviour is the result of chosen human activity. As a result of this self evident truth, we are therefore responsible beings and accountable for our choices, both in the eyes of God and humanity.
5. When sinful behaviour, including that of a sexual nature, has been identified within the church body, the principles of Matt. 18:15-18 need to be pastorally applied by the leadership of the local church. This is the instruction and pattern of Jesus Christ in redeeming and renewing relationships in the local church.
C. Christian Responses to Individuals
Scriptural Basis: John 3;16; Romans 6:23; I Cor. 6:11
1. We believe there is hope for the person broken by sexual sin, as well as all other sins, and that Jesus Christ offers a healing alternative in which the power of sin is broken and the person is freed to know and experience his or her true identity in Christ.
2. The good news of the gospel is that God can and will forgive any sin; including sexual immorality. When there is acceptance of Christ’s forgiveness and genuine repentance (a change of heart and turning to the righteous ways of God), even those who have committed overt immoral acts or lived sinful lives, qualify inheriting the Kingdom.
3. We believe that this freedom is attained through a process which includes recognizing illicit behavior as sin, renouncing the practice thereof, rediscovering healthy, non-erotic friendships with people of the same sex, embracing a moral sexual lifestyle, and in the age to come, rising from the dead with a new body free from every sinful impulse. We believe that this freedom comes through faith in Jesus Christ, by the power of his Spirit.
4. We believe that all persons have been created in the image of God and should be accorded human dignity. We believe therefore that hateful, fearful harassment of persons with non-heterosexual orientations should be repudiated.
5. We believe that respect for persons with sinful impulses and orientations involves honest, reasoned, nonviolent sharing of facts concerning immorality and the liabilities of unhealthy sexual behavior. Nonetheless, we do not endorse behaviour of which the Bible disapproves, endangers persons, and dishonours God.
6. We believe that Christians should reach out in love and truth to minister to people touched by dysfunction, and that those who contend biblically against their own sexual temptation should be patiently assisted in their battle, not ostracized or disdained.
7. The more prominent a leadership or modeling role a person holds in a church or institution of the Conference, the higher will be the expectations for God’s ideal of sexual obedience and wholeness. While sexual integrity is the goal for all believers, we recognize the scriptural teaching that those who teach or are in authority will be held to a higher degree of accountability by the Lord.
8. We affirm that persons of all orientations should find help in the church to engage in the spiritual battle against all improper sexual thoughts and behaviors.
D. Contextual Comments to Mennonite Church Canada and Mennonite Church British Columbia
Scriptural Basis: Mark 8:34-41
1. We believe, based on these prior assertions, that the establishment in law of same-sex marriage to be contrary to the will of God and the health of the society. If there is to be legal recognition of such unions, we encourage that the term “marriage” not be used.
2. As a local church we will not participate in the civil unions of same sex couples, whether or not this concept is endorsed by overseeing church bodies or legitimized by governmental legislation. We recognize that this may mean a degree of civil disobedience which we understand as the cost of following Christ.
3. We implore Mennonite Church Canada to strongly and uncompromisingly affirm its earlier chosen statements regarding human sexuality. Furthermore, we ask this overseeing body to discipline those churches that disregard biblical perspectives of sexuality within the national church context.
4. If Mennonite Church Canada is unwilling to uphold its own statements regarding human sexuality then these statements should be withdrawn from active use as they do not possess any value or meaning to the assembly.
Scriptural Addendum – In Order of Appearance
1. Matthew 19
5. 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’? 6. So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”
2. 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.
3. Exodus 20
14. “You shall not commit adultery.
4. Romans 1
24. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.
5. 1 Timothy 1
8. We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. 9. We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10. for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers–and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine……..
6. Genesis 2
19. Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. 23. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman, ‘ for she was taken out of man.” 24. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. 25. The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
7. 1 Corinthians 6
9. 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.
15. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16. Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” 17. But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. 18. Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 19. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20. you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
8. Galatians 5
19. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20. idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21. and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
9. Revelation 21
8. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars–their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
10. Romans 1:24-32
24. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator–who is forever praised. Amen.
26. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27. 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.
28. Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29. They 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, 30. slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31. they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32. Although 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.
11. John 3:16
16. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
12. Romans 6:23
23. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
13. I 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.
14. Mark 8
34. Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37. Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 38. If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”
This report for Bethel Mennonite Church has been compiled, reviewed and edited by the Pastoral Staff, Rev. Philip C. Wheaton and Pastor Allen Wiebe.
