Atlanta Chinese Christian Church North Campus Statement on Gender and Marriage
Given the increasing confusion in recent years regarding gender and marriage in the country where we reside, and how many churches have aligned with secular societal trends, deviating from biblical teachings and causing serious confusion in the spiritual lives of believers, North Church, in order to uphold biblical truth and guide believers in holy living, hereby issues this statement on gender and marriage.
(1)
God, for His own glory and eternal purpose, created man in His image, male and female. Just as God has given each person a unique soul, God has also given each person, whether male or female, a unique sex. This sex, male or female, is determined by immutable biological characteristics identifiable at birth. Any ideology or practice that "confuses sex," "rejects sex," or "changes sex" demeans the meaning of the two sexes and confuses the order established by God, and we firmly oppose it. (Gen. 1:26-27, Gen. 2:7, Ex. 1:15-17, 1 Cor. 11:8-12)
(2)
In the beginning, God established divine marriage as between one man and one woman, a husband and wife, and the family relationship based on this. In such a marital relationship, husband and wife become one, raise offspring, are open to each other, respect each other, are faithful to each other, serve each other, and find joy in it. Any sexual intimacy outside of the marital relationship is immoral. Promoting and practicing any other form of so-called marital arrangement goes against God's design for marriage and will incur God's wrath, leading to disaster for the social structure and human civilization. (Genesis 2:20–25, Genesis 1:28, 1 Corinthians 6:9–10)
(3)
The Bible teaches that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Regardless of any sin committed, only by asking for Christ's forgiveness and turning away from sin can one avoid God's righteous judgment. Hating and attacking individuals for any sin, as well as condoning or even celebrating any act forbidden by the Bible, are both contrary to biblical teaching and are things we firmly oppose. (Rom 3:23, John 8:11, 1 John 1:9)
(4)
All teachings, rites, practices, and facilities of the Church concerning gender and marriage are based on the above principles. We also sincerely hope and pray that governments at all levels, legislatures, and schools in the United States will uphold these principles, so that God may grant grace and bestow peace and prosperity upon the entire land of America. (Joshua 23:14-16)
