Does God Bless Same-Sex Unions?

Summary

Summary prepared by Acts 2:38 Life from the transcript below — the preacher’s words follow in full.

The Bible is the authority

• The question posed (in the host's frame): many denominations are wrestling with the question of what to do about same-sex unions in their local congregations. What is the upci stance on same-sex unions — and how did we arrive at that particular stance? Can you explain? His answer: to answer your question, we must go to the Bible — the word of God. We believe the Bible is our Authority, for salvation, for Christian Life, and for Christian Ministry. 2 Timothy 3:16 through 17 says: all Scripture is given by inspiration of God; it's profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness — that the man of God may be perfect, or mature, complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. And so, when it comes to decisions like this, or beliefs like this, we're going to go to the Bible as our Authority. That's the teachings of God's word. So we're not going to go by culture; by current theories of psychology or sociology. We're going to go by what the Bible says. For a full discussion, you can read my book: God's infallible word.

Scriptures: 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Genesis: marriage as God designed it from the beginning

• When we go to the Bible, we can start with Genesis chapter 1 — the very first chapter, before sin entered the world — we see God's plan. So Genesis 1:27: God created humans as male and female. And then, in Genesis chapter two, we see God's plan for marriage. Before there was a church — before there was human government — in the very beginning, God established what marriage is supposed to be like. He said: a man will leave his father and mother — King James says: cleave unto his wife, or join to his wife — and the two will become one flesh. That's God's plan for marriage. A valid marriage, in the sight of God, is a public leaving of your previous family; a public cleaving, or joining, of man and woman; and they become one flesh — which is physical, emotional, spiritual. And it's meant to be for life. The book of Malachi says God hates divorce. It's not his plan. Sometimes it is necessary, or possible, because of sin — but it wasn't God's plan, in the beginning. So that's very clear. And the Bible teaches that outside of marriage — this kind of a marriage, as defined biblically — then sexual relationships are sinful. So Hebrews 13:4: it says that God approves of marriage; that the marriage bed is wholesome and undefiled; but those who commit fornication — sexual relationships outside of marriage — God will judge them. So that's God's basic plan.

Scriptures: Genesis 1:27; Genesis 2; Malachi (book-only); Hebrews 13:4

Jesus, the moral law, Romans 1 — and transformation in 1 Corinthians 6

• When Jesus was asked a question about divorce, in Matthew 19, he went back to God's original plan in Genesis. He actually quoted from Genesis chapter 2. He said: this is still God's plan — and don't change God's plan. He was talking about — they were talking about options for divorce, and he said: well, unless it's for the cause of fornication, you shouldn't get a divorce. Because God's plan is for the two to become one — and what God has joined, we shouldn't separate. And I suppose perhaps we can say the equivalent thing is: what God has designed to be separate, we should not try to join. So for that reason, we believe that the only proper marriage has to be between one man and one woman, who make a lifelong commitment. Therefore, same-sex marriage is not biblical. It's not a true marriage, in God's eyes. And that means same-sex unions of other kinds would be fornication — would be a violation of God's plan for marriage, to be sinful. So notice: this goes back to the original creation account — before there was sin, as God designed the human race. And of course, it's obvious: he designed this kind of marriage, first, for procreation. But second — male and female are complimentary: that is, they are not equivalent to each other. They're equal in God's sight, but they're not equivalent. They have different roles and functions. And so, to fulfill God's full image, it takes both man and woman — to fulfill God's plan for family, for society. It takes the complimentary input of husband and wife, father and mother. They're not considered to be the same; they're considered to be different. Both are needed, for God's plan. Now, if you go throughout the Scripture: the book of Leviticus, chapter 18, talks about proper versus improper sexual relationships and marriages. And although that's under the law of Moses, this part of the book of Leviticus is dealing with God's moral law. And so, in Acts 15, when the early church was debating what needs to be retained from the law of Moses, when Gentiles come into the church: do they need to keep the law of Moses? The answer is: no. Do they need to be circumcised? No. But they did need to keep the moral law — specifically, the laws against fornication. So Acts 15: the early church explicitly incorporated those teachings from the Old Testament. Of course, we have the New Testament teachings, in addition to Jesus: Romans chapter one — the Apostle Paul explained, and he very specifically identified same-sex relationships between men, and same-sex relationships between women. And he said: these are contrary to God's plan; they're contrary to nature. As a society goes further and further away from God — as they refuse to worship God, refuse to acknowledge God — they turn to their own devices (heard as 'div is'). They're led progressively further and further away, until they end up even going against nature itself, as created by God. This indicates the decline of human society, and human culture. Now, that's not to say that people who are involved in these sins are any worse sinners than others. But it's just to say: as a society goes further and further away from God's plan, you see this kind of sin being accepted and condoned. And that's exactly what you're finding today, in a post-Christian society. There are other passages: for example, the book of Jude refers to Sodom and gomorah (as the name is heard). There are many sins in those evil cities, but one of the sins was same-sex relationship. And Jude specifically mentions this immoral going after strange, or unnatural, desires — of fulfilling them.
• A very important passage of Scripture for the church: 1 Corinthians chapter 6, verses 9-11, lists a number of sins — including adultery, including fornication, including homosexual relationships. So notice: we're not talking about whether someone is tempted; whether someone might have a predisposition; whether they've in the past been labeled with an orientation, or nature. We're not talking about the person. We're talking about actions: lustful thoughts, and lustful actions, outside of a biblical marriage — whether homosexual or heterosexual, or contrary to God's plan. And so, after listing these sins, the Bible says: people who participate in these sins will not inherit the kingdom of God. It goes on to say: and such were some of you. So in the past, there are Christians who were involved in these various sins. But you're washed; you're sanctified; you're justified — in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. So, in that church (named in the delivered text in the split form 'Cor thian'), in the New Testament church, there were people who had been involved in fornication, adultery, homosexual relationships. But they had been transformed by the power of God — through a new birth experience, of being baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and being filled with the Holy Spirit. Their sins were washed away, forgiven. They received a new identity, new power — the Spirit of God — to help them develop a new life.

Scriptures: Matthew 19; Leviticus 18; Acts 15; Romans 1; Jude (book-only); 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

We cannot bless what God has not blessed — and the abundant life

• And so, when somebody comes and says: I want you, the church, to bless a same-sex union — our answer would be: we cannot bless what God has not blessed. We cannot bless what God has condemned. But if you want to know God's plan, we'll teach you God's plan, and we can offer a new life. We don't hate you. We don't despise you. And so I think, certainly, we should treat people who are involved in a same-sex relationship: we can treat them with kindness, respect. They are humans, who are created in the image of God. They are humans for whom Jesus Christ died. So we can be friends. We can be co-workers. We can recognize them as fellow citizens, with all the rights of citizenship, equal to anyone else. But when it comes to asking for a blessing on a certain relationship, we can only bless what God has blessed, according to his word. But if they're interested in God's plan, we can say: God can forgive you. God can transform you. And God can give you the kind of relationship that he approves. So we're not trying to destroy your life. We're not trying to put you under a heavy burden, or oppression, or condemnation. We're trying to offer you God's plan for your life — and it's an abundant life. John chapter 10 says: the thief comes to kill, to steal, destroy — and these are the words of Jesus — but I have come that you might have life, and that you might have it more abundantly. So Jesus will give us an abundant life. And our answer would be: if you follow God's plan, then God's blessings will be upon your life — because it will be according to his word, and it will be led by his Spirit.

Scriptures: John 10

Not bigotry: the golden rule — and truth is still truth

• So we, as Bible believers, must always stand firm on the teachings of the word of God. Some people have said: the upci stance on this issue is bigoted and outdated. How should Christian leaders respond to that allegation? (the host's follow-up, in the frame.) Well, my answer is: it's not bigoted. And if there is some hint of bigotry, we need to get rid of that. So we can treat someone in a same-sex relationship, or someone who has same-sex desires, the same as anyone else — same rights, same privileges, as far as humans are concerned. And as I said, we can have a positive working relationship, or positive friendship, or a positive family relationship. So no, we're not bigoted. We're not trying to deny them the right to live in our society, and function as anyone else in our society. But when it comes to the church, we must follow God's plan. To give a simple, but lesser, illustration: we teach that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. And of course, that involves sexual relationships. But it also involves such things as smoking and drinking. So we teach that, if you want to follow God's plan for your life, you shouldn't smoke cigarettes. You shouldn't drink alcoholic beverages. You shouldn't use things that can cause addiction, or harm to your physical body. Does that mean we hate people that smoke cigarettes? Does that mean we want to take away their human rights — that we want to deny them the privileges of society? No. We recognize it's a legal activity. So we're not here trying to destroy their civil rights. But we're telling them God's plan for their life. So if they want to follow God's plan — here it is. If they choose not to follow God's plan, that's their choice, as a human. God himself respects their choice. But we're bound to say: there are consequences, both in this life and in the life to come, for the choices that people make. So no, this is not a matter of bigotry. We need to respect people. We need to treat other people as we would wish to be treated. That's the golden rule that Jesus annunciated (as the word is heard), in Matthew 7:12. But at the same time, we recognize: truth is still truth. So, to use my analogy: we still recognize that cigarettes cause 400,000 Americans to die every year. So we're not going to pretend it doesn't. We're not going to say: oh, it's good for you; it's fine; God doesn't care; we don't care. No — we do care. It does make a difference. There is a right and wrong. There are consequences for bad choices.

Scriptures: Matthew 7:12

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Scripture index: 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Genesis 1:27; Genesis 2; Malachi (book-only); Hebrews 13:4; Matthew 19; Leviticus 18; Acts 15; Romans 1; Jude (book-only); 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; John 10; Matthew 7:12.