So if you're in the CRC/RCA/other close denominations bubble, you may know that the CRCNA has had a committee working on the matter of homosexuality and what we ought to believe/uphold about that. The committee did great work, unfortunately it's 176 pages long--though, it needed most if not all of that. If you want to see the original report, check out the link here. If you want to see the official summary, click here.
What follows was originally written by me as “Twitter cliff notes.” I started a little ways in and not every point is hit or every citation perfect. Some parts I left empty, because I assume all Christians should have a similar understanding (though I know that's not always true). Hopefully I've accurately captured the gist of the report. I cleaned it up a little bit from the original tweets. Enjoy...
Pages 1-2: Table of Contents
Pages 3-4: I. Introduction
Didn’t write anything
Pages
4-15: II. Preamble
Didn’t write anything
Pages
15-37: III. A biblical theology of human sexuality
The biblical
interpretations along the lines of creation, fall, redemption, consummation in
regard to sexuality and marriage haven't been too controversial from a traditional/orthodox standpoint.
Pages
37-39: IV. Note on science and general revelation
Science can be part of
general revelation, but it must still submit to special revelation...It should
not be seen as rising to a truth that equates with general revelation.
Pages 39-46: V. Pornography: Cultural context
It's terrible. Over the
past 20 years, its use among most demographics has exploded, and the impact on
bodies, relationships, intimacy, and minds is tragic. It's ruining
relationships and marriages. It preys not only the viewer but those involved.
Pages
46-49: VI. Pornography: Scripture
Didn’t write anything
Pages
50-59: VII. Pornography: Pastoral care
Use is sin, should be
repented of, and discontinued. There is healing for those who've been in the
industry, who've been violated sexually, and this is something that needs to be
addressed throughout the church's ministry. “Members and leaders of the church
will continue to treat porn casually until the church faces and repents of
allowing objectification of women and male dominance to be part of the church
culture” (50).
Pages 59-75: VIII. Gender identity: Cultural context
Lot of info including
something called the gender unicorn--look that up. Committee seemed to deal
with the matter fairly, noting that it is a recent, in the last generation type
thing. It's part of worldview for many. “...The church cannot look the other
way...We must be just as prepared and ready to receive our [sis and bros] in
Christ struggling with gender [ID] issues as with any disorder, no matter what
the numbers...Yet we must also recognize [these] are a disorder...” (74).
Pages
75-82: IX. Gender identity: Scripture
“The Christian church has
always recognized that Genesis 1-2 are paradigmatic texts. In other words, they
describe God's purpose for creation in a way that is not simply descriptive, but
normative--that is, the way God intended” (75). “Although people suffering from
disorders of sexual development may not unambiguously fit the creational norm
outlined in Scripture, this does not alter scriptural teaching. The same is
true for those suffering from gender dysphoria” (76). Solid work, distinctions
between sex and gender are recent, not in Bible. Gender identity separate from
biological sex should not be an indication of God's will because it separates
body and soul. “Scripture presents the human being as a holistic,
interdependent unity of body and soul” (80).
Pages
82-92: X. Gender identity: Pastoral care
All God's people are
involved in care. To adults: "encouraged to be reconciled to their created
self" (84), lament with, "confront any unbiblical gender
expectations" (85). I struggle with some of the points of hospitality on
pg. 86. To parents...Support, cultivate hope, acknowledge likely grieving, be a
safe space. Missional...Listen, consider. To those who Identify...Empathy,
supporting in decisions, listen to stories.
Pages
92-96: XI. Homosexuality Cultural context
The 1973 report
distinguishes between sexual orientation/attraction (not choice, not sin) and
activity (choice, sin). However, recent studies haven't been finding “gay gene,”
may call into question orientation involving some choice. “In contemporary
North American culture, sexual expression is assumed to be a physical
need...And the word intimacy, once defined as close familiarity or friendship,
is often used to refer only to sexual and romantic closeness. For many
people...intimacy requires sex” (94). “Indeed, humans need intimacy...God
designed the church community to meet the deep human need for intimacy (Heb.
13:1)” (94). We've failed, in the church, in the CRC, there is hope—let's do
better, in not harming, in loving and giving grace and support.
Pages
96-113: XII. Homosexuality: Scripture
Traditional understanding
vs. revisionist. Jesus praised celibate singleness and faithful marriage
(monogamous, loving, man and woman)—shocking back then. Historic Jewish
writings rejected homosexual activity. Jesus' silence is not changing. “This
survey of relevant biblical texts has shown that Scripture teaches in a clear,
consistent, and compelling way that homosexual acts of any kind are sinful and
not in agreement with God's will for his covenant people” (112). “The debate
about same-sex sex, therefore, is not a situation in which there are two equal
and opposing interpretations of the biblical evidence [implying not same
category as how CRC has dealt with women in church office]” (112). “...Although
Scripture condemns homosexual sex, it does not condemn people who are attracted
to the same sex. Nor does it condemn all those who have engaged in homosexual
activity...Because of God's grace such sinful conduct belongs to the past [1
Cor. 6:11]” (113)
Pages
114-127: XIII. Homosexuality: Pastoral care
“The church's response to homosexuality must begin with confession and lament [re:past ostracization, shunning, ignoring, worse than others]” (114). Proper teaching needed. Believers don't always become heterosexual attracted. Emphasize spiritual family, not only biological family. Listen. Relationships. “Actively call all members...and people interested in membership to the standard of sexual holiness taught in the Scriptures and exemplified by Christ” (119). Befriend, be kind, seek to share Christ. Be ready to talk about. Be hospitable. To same-sex attracted church members: “God wants to release you from the shame that you do not deserve...We are all made in the image of God...You are called to imitate Christ...Once you chose to love and follow Jesus, you became a child of God…God has given you spiritual gifts and the ability to serve other people...Find a local church that values you and equips you...You are free...You are being made new...You are not alone” (122-123). Pursue community, accountability, and support. Recommendations of different living arrangements [not all committee members agreed with all].
Pages 127-141: XIV. Reflections on singleness, premarital sex and cohabitation, polyamory, and divorce
Singleness: “Whereas many
Christians today experience singleness as a burden, many in the early church
experienced it as liberation...Free from a plethora of social constraints to
pursue the cause of the kingdom of God” (127-28). “Just as emotional intimacy
need not include sexual intimacy, so sexual intimacy is often present without
emotional intimacy...We desperately need ‘love, affection, companionship, permanent
intimacy, life-giving community, a deep-sense of belonging, a safe haven, a
home’” (128). “According to Christian teaching, to be an unmarried follower of
Jesus is to be called to celibacy regardless of age. Sexual relationships
outside of marriage, whether casual or committed, are immoral” (129). “The
virtue of chastity involves both married and single persons. Sex, as God
designed it, is both psychologically and biologically good and purposeful. The
penultimate ends of sex are, first, bonding two people into a one-flesh union,
and, second, creating new life...” (131).
Premarital sex and
cohabitation: “Recent research reveals that virtually all never-married members
of conservative denominations have had premarital sex, and most with several
partners...Does the Bible address sex without benefit of marriage?” (131-132). “The
Old Testament forbids adultery, incest, and sex between people of the same sex,
making it clear that only sexual activity within the context of marriage
pleases God...On the other hand, the Hebrew Scriptures celebrate the joys of
married sex...(Heb. 13:4; 1 Cor. 7:2)” (132). “In short, the Bible teaches that
sex unites a man and woman in body, soul, and spirit; that this good gift
belongs in marriage and only in marriage; and being born again by the Spirit
makes holiness and joy outside of marriage possible.” (133) “...Premarital sex
is perhaps the most common sinful sexual practice in the contemporary
church...Yet even while most single church members, as well as those who live
together, now have sex outside of marriage, the church has done little to
address it pastorally” (133). Jesus' pattern of discipleship: Relationship with
respect, confrontation of sin without shaming, offering of grace. All geared
toward freedom in the Spirit. If we're not ready for marriage, should be drawn “into
intimacy with Jesus, the living water (John 4:10)” (133).
Polyamory: Regarding the arguments
that OT heroes of faith did it so we can too: “...First...distinguishing...“what
is ‘descriptive’...from what is ‘prescriptive’...[This] is descriptive. There
is nothing in the Bible...that indicates that polygamy is good and acceptable
and ought to be practiced” (136). “...Second and more important...the rest of
Scripture makes clear that God's intention is for sex to take place only in a
marriage relationship between one man and one woman” (136). Gen.
1-2-prescriptive; repeated by Jesus. Eph. 5:21-33; 1 Cor. 7. “...God tolerated
polygamy and regulated it through Old Testament laws, this was not his original
intent for marriage; nor is it in accord with his will” (136-137). Other
arguments. No proof biologically rooted and would not be morally permissible.
Overcome the sin.
Divorce: “Since breaking
the marriage covenant is sin and given the high divorce rate, the church must
act more intentionally to call married partners to reconciliation and renewed
commitment to the marriage covenant” (139). Need to recover the 1980 report and
Jesus’ teachings!
Pages
141-144: XV. Sexual desire: Bodies, bonding, and boundaries in the Song of
Songs
“In an era of incessant
media depictions of unrestrained lust, contrasted by segments of the Christian
church, which speak mostly negatively—or not at all—about sexuality, the Song
of Songs celebrates the beauty of bodies and the boundaries of sexual love” (141).
“An entire biblical book devoted to sexual love, Song of Songs is neither crude
nor degrading because it portrays sex as a gift from God for the joy and
intimacy of material beings. Thus the Song of Songs can free us from shame in
our bodily desires and teach us to savor the act of love...” (142). “As it did
in the ancient world, Song of Songs confronts the common idea that sex is about
self-pleasure and meeting our own needs. Instead the poetry shows the lovers
actually seeing and valuing each other” (142). “Across history the church has
viewed the poem in two ways: ‘as a double love story: vertical and horizontal;
divine and human.’ The Song's fleshly example of sexual delight also enables us
to understand just how intimate God wants to be with us” (143).
Pages 144-148: XVI. Confessional Status
This is the major
application part. “To raise the question of confessional status is to wonder
whether some teaching or ecclesiastical practice, if adopted would violate the
teachings of the confessions of the church. This is important because the
teachings of the confessions are understood to represent biblical teaching on
the matter in question” (144). “We [the committee] have been asked to consider
‘whether or not, with respect to same-sex behavior and other issues identified
in the study, it will be advisable for future synods to consider…declaring a status
confessionis. However, this raises the question, Does the church's teaching
that homosexual activity, as well as premarital sex, extramarital sex,
adultery, pornography, and polyamory already have confessional status?” (145-146).
“Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 108, which explains the meaning of the seventh
commandment…states that ‘God condemns all unchastity, and that therefore we
should thoroughly detest it and live decent and chaste lives, within or outside
of the holy state of marriage.’ By the word ‘unchastity’ the catechism intends
to encompass all sexual immorality, including homosexual activity...As a
committee, we note that pornography, polyamory, and all forms of premarital and
extramarital sex are also encompassed in the catechism’s condemnation of
unchastity” (146). “We conclude, then, that the church's teaching against
sexual immorality, including homosexual sex, already has confessional
status. According to our confessions, the church may never approve or even
tolerate any form of sexual immorality, including pornography, polyamory,
premarital sex, extramarital sex, adultery, or homosexual sex. On the contrary,
the church must warn its members that those who refuse to repent of these
sins—as well as of idolatry, greed, and other such sins—will not inherit the kingdom
of God (1 Cor. 6:9-11). It must discipline those who refuse to repent of such
sins for the sake of their souls (1 Cor. 5-6)” (146). “The biblical portion of
our report is clear. Marriage between one man and one woman is the only
appropriate place for sex. Anything that deviates from that teaching is
contrary to Scripture…To teach that any of these behaviors is permissible
undermines the teaching and authority of Scripture. Whenever the church teaches
that a form of behavior forbidden in Scripture is morally permissible, it is
guilty of false teaching” (147). “New life is characterized by ongoing
repentance, a daily dying and rising with Christ. If the church chooses to call
any form of immorality, including sexual immorality, permissible, it places a
dangerous stumbling block in the path of our sanctification” (147). “As leaders
of the church, we must take [the OT and NT warnings against false teachers
permitting free practice of sins and giving itching ears what they want]
seriously” (148). “The Scriptures call the church to warn people to flee sexual
immorality for the sake of their souls and to encourage them with God's
presence and power to equip them for holy living. A church that fails to call
people to repentance and offer them the hope of God's loving deliverance is
acting like a false church...To refuse to uphold Christian teaching on sexual
immorality would signal that the [CRCNA] is deviating not only from Scripture
but from the shared confession of the historic and worldwide church” (148).
Pages
148-149: XVII. Recommendations
Be done with this, declare
it's already confessional, recommend the report to the churches as a summary of
the Bible and sound pastoral advice, and there's a curriculum that accompanies
it for small group use on potential controversial parts.
Pages 149-176: Appendices Science, not my forte...read if you want.
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