Chapter 27 - OF HUMAN SEXUALITY

1 The Holy Scriptures unequivocally declare homosexual acts to be sinful, standing in direct opposition to God's created order and His revealed moral law. Such practices are explicitly prohibited and consistently characterized as contrary to divine will throughout both the Old and New Testaments.

2 We affirm that gender is not a social construct but an intrinsic and divinely ordained extension and function of biological sex, integral to God's sovereign creative design. God purposefully created humanity as male and female, endowing each with distinct, complementary characteristics and roles. Men, or boys, are imbued with God-given masculine traits and are expected to function physically and emotionally in accordance with God's design for masculinity. Conversely, women, or girls, possess God-given feminine traits and are expected to function physically and emotionally according to God's design for femininity. By natural inclination and divine design, men are typically endowed with greater physical strength, equipping them for tasks requiring robust exertion and leadership, consistent with their headship role (as seen in Ephe-
sians 5:23, where Christ is the head of the church, and the husband is the head of the wife). While women are not expected to undertake strenuous labors typically assigned to men, their inherent physical composition is perfectly suited for their unique and vital roles, particularly in nurturing and homemaking (as seen in Titus 2:3-5, instructing older women to train younger women in household management and love for their families). Any deliberate attempt to alter one's biological sex, appearance, sexual organs, or prescribed physical functions, whether through medical intervention or lifestyle choice, constitutes an act of perversion. Such actions are considered a direct affront and insult to the omniscient God who fearfully and wonderfully created each individual in His image, imbuing them with their unique, God-given identity as male or female.

3 We confess that God, in His infinite wisdom and grace, established marriage as the exclusive context for human sexual intimacy. He designed this institution to provide for both sexual pleasure and purity within the covenant union of one man and one woman (1 Cor. 7:2-5). Consequently, we affirm that all other forms of sexual expression are contrary to the Creator's design and are an expression of fallen human nature. This includes, but is not limited to, bestiality and other perverse practices explicitly condemned in Scripture (Lev. 18:23; Rom. 1:24-27). While God's provision for marriage is for the good of all, we recognize that celibacy is a special and blessed gift granted by the Lord to certain individuals for the purpose of unhindered devotion to His kingdom (Matt. 19:11-12; 1 Cor. 7:7). We therefore condemn any ecclesiastical practice that enforces celibacy on anyone, as it violates both the clear teaching of Scripture and God's design for humanity.

4 While we unequivocally uphold the biblical condemnation of homosexual practice and any other perverse sexual expressions as sin, we simultaneously affirm that all individuals, including those who experience same-sex and other unnatural attractions, are recipients of God's profound love and mercy. Through sincere repentance and genuine faith in Jesus Christ, they can indeed find forgiveness, profound spiritual renewal, and a true identity rooted in Him. It is crucial to distinguish clearly between the experience of temptation, which is not inherently sinful, and the willful engagement in sinful acts. The Church is divinely mandated to extend compassion, engage in fervent prayer, and provide holistic ministry to all people, consistently upholding and proclaiming the uncompromised standards of Holy Scripture.