Approved by the Church of the Lutheran Brethren
Annual Convention - June 1990
We affirm that standards of sexual morality must be consistent with Biblical principles. We deny that unscriptural standards may be accepted by the church simply because they have been accepted by society.
We affirm that God made human beings male and female. There are, therefore, differences between the two sexes that are God given and must be valued and protected. We deny that all distinctions between the sexes must be erased.
We affirm that God established marriage between man and woman. The Bible sanctions only heterosexual marriage. We deny that God intended sexual intimacy between members of the same sex.
We affirm that Biblical morality restricts legitimate sexual activity to heterosexual marriage. Any extramarital sexual practice, whether homosexual or heterosexual, is outside of the limits of Biblical morality, and is sinful. We deny that sexual activity outside of marriage is morally neutral.
We affirm that environment and experience influence a person's sexual orientation. We also affirm their physical makeup, such as hormone imbalance, they influence sexual attraction so that a person may have an attraction to those of the same sex. We deny that such attraction makes homosexual activity a defensible practice that exempts such a person from responsibility before God.
We affirm that one of the basic reasons of God's creation of human beings as male and female is to propagate the human race and to provide a caring home for the nurture of children. We deny the assertions that the traditional Biblical concept of the home is passing, outmoded, and outdated.
We affirm that true love seeks the well-being of the person loved. When sex is the expression of married love, it seeks the mutual fulfillment and joy of both partners. We deny that the chief purpose of sexual activity is self gratification.
We affirm that the following scriptures condemn homosexuality: Genesis 19:1 - 15; Leviticus 18:22-25, Leviticus 20:13; Romans 1:24-28; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 Timothy 1:9-10. We deny the validity of interpretations which seek to circumvent the plain meaning of the text. For example: That the sin of Sodom was inhospitality rather than sodomy; that the sin spoken of in Romans 1:18 - 32 was homosexual activity of people who were naturally heterosexual rather than naturally homosexual; that the nature being referred to in Romans 1:18 - 32 is the nature of each individual, rather than nature the way God created it. We also deny the validity of interpretations which suggest that Biblical examples of love and friendship such as those between Jesus and the disciples, David and Jonathan, Ruth and Naomi, were homosexual.
We affirm that though homosexual activity is sinful, God's grace extends to forgive the sinner and cover all sin when it is acknowledged as sent, and when such a person repents and by faith receives God's forgiveness. We deny that homosexual activity is an "unforgivable sin."
We affirm that God's grace and forgiveness can bring about true deliverance from homosexual orientation and behavior. Whether or not a person retains a homosexual orientation, God's grace is sufficient to enable people to experience daily victory over homosexual behavior. We deny that homosexual orientation must be lived out apart from any hope.
We affirm that the church shall minister with concern and compassion to those who have been infected with the disease AIDS. Though many of those suffering from AIDS have contracted the disease through immoral and illegal activities (homosexual practice, heterosexual promiscuity, and illicit drug use), they are loved by God and need the gospel of Jesus Christ. We deny that the church can be Biblically responsible if passage concerning their plight or it
We affirm that ordination and pulpit fellowship in the Church of the Lutheran Brethren shall be limited to those who accept this statement on sexuality, and whose lifestyle confirms that statement. We deny that homosexual pastors have the best orientation to minister to those homosexuals. |
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STATEMENT OF FAITH
We believe:
- The Bible, including both the Old and New Testaments, as originally given, is verbally and totally inspired and free from error in the whole and in the part, and is therefore the final and authoritative guide for faith and life (conduct). II Timothy 3:16-17
- There is one God eternally existent in three distinct persons in one divine essence, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Eph. 4:6; II Cor. 13:14
- God the Father has revealed Himself to us as the Creator of the world and its Preserver, to whom the entire creation and all creatures are subject. Rom. 1:20
- Man was originally created in the image and after the likeness of God to live in His fellowship. He fell into sin through the temptation of Satan and thereby lost fellowship with God. As a result all men are both in total depravity and are under the wrath of God. Only those who trust in Christ’s death on the cross can be restored to fellowship with God. Rom. 5:12-14
- Jesus Christ, the Eternal Son, is the image of the invisible God. To accomplish our redemption, He took upon Himself the form of man, being conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. By His perfect obedience and substitutionary death on the cross, He has purchased our redemption. By rising from the dead He secured justification and eternal salvation for all who truly trust in Him. He ascended into heaven, where He is now seated at the right hand of God, the Father, as our interceding High Priest. He will come a second time personally, bodily and visibly to gather the believers to Himself. Finally He will judge the living and he dead, inflicting eternal destruction on those who do not know God and give entrance to heaven and eternal rewards to those who have trusted Jesus Christ. Col 1:15; Phil. 2:6-11
- The Holy Spirit is a divine person eternally one with the Father and with the Son. His ministry is to call, to regenerate sinners, to sanctify believers and to preserve them in fellowship with Jesus Christ. He guides and comforts the children of God, directs and empowers the Church in the fulfillment of the Great Commission and “convicts the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment”. I Cor. 2:11b-14; John 16:7-15
- The knowledge and blessings of a life in Christ are singularly attributable to the gift of God’s grace. Our justification, sanctification and glorification are the result of grace plus nothing. God does use certain means or tools to establish His saints such as: the Word (the two edged sword of Law and Gospel), Prayer (direct communication with God), Fellowship (oneness among believers), Spiritual Gifts (each believer has at least one such gift for edification of other believers), the Lord’s Supper (the Body and Blood of the Lord given as an assurance of His love and forgiveness) and Baptism (God’s testimony and seal for those who become members of the household of God). No one is assured of Salvation simply because he has used one or all of these means or tools. Salvation comes only through faith in Jesus Christ. Every person must come to a point of spiritual enlightenment regardless of his participation with any of the above named activities or opportunities. Eph. 2:8,9; John 15:7; John 16:24; Heb. 10:24-25; I Peter 4:10; I Cor. 11:26; Acts 2:38
- The Church Universal consists of all those who truly believe on Jesus Christ as their Savior. The local congregation is the Communion of Saints, true believers, the physical manifestation of the Body of Christ. Therefore, it follows that the membership of the local congregation shall comprise only those who by life and testimony show that they are living in fellowship with Jesus Christ. We practice the autonomy of the local congregation. The synod has an advisory function rather than a ruling function. It’s power to rule extends to the cooperative efforts of the congregations of the synod and not to the local congregation. I Tim. 3:15; Eph. 2:19-22; Acts 20:28; Titus 1:5
- The Lutheran Confessions are a summary of Bible doctrines. We adhere to the following confessional writings: The Apostles Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Athanasian Creed, The Augsburg Confession and Luther’s Large and Small Catechisms.
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What We Believe