Posted on 08/07/2018 10:27:11 AM PDT by Gamecock
At the 2016 October meeting of the North Florida Presbytery, the moderator appointed an ad hoc study committee to examine issues pertaining to same sex attraction in light of a recent ruling of the Nashville Presbytery Committee on Judicial Business. In January of 2018, the North Florida Presbytery voted unanimously to receive the committee’s report.
The report answered eight key questions. Below are those questions and summary statements of the committee’s report which can be read in full here.
1. What are the origins of same-sex attraction? Same sex attraction is a result of Adam’s original sin, the fall of mankind, and the total corruption of human nature.
2. Is same-sex attraction a disability that afflicts certain Christians? No. While disabilities are results of the fall they are amoral and do not constitute transgressions of the law of God. However, same-sex attraction is an inclination towards sin that emerges from the fallen nature. While Christians are not morally culpable for disabilities they are responsible for their attractions.
3. What is the relationship between sexual temptation towards a member of the same sex and sexual lust? Is the temptation itself sexual immorality? The committee affirmed that external temptations are not inherently sinful (Hebrews 4:15) but temptations arising from the corrupt nature are sinful desires and lusts that must be mortified.
4. Is it sinful to be sexually attracted to a member of the same sex? Yes. It is sinful to be attracted sexually to a member of the same sex. Homosexual desire is unnatural lust, a motion of the fallen nature, and is thus truly and properly sin (Romans 1.24-27; WLC 139).
5. Is sexual attraction towards a member of the same sex morally equivalent to sexual attraction towards a member of the opposite sex? No. Heterosexuality is natural while homosexuality is contrary to nature. While it is possible to glorify the Lord through heterosexual expression within the confines of monogamous marriage, it is impossible to glorify God through homosexual expression in any context.
6. Should we encourage a faithful believer—who experiences persistent same-sex attraction, but chooses to honor God through a celibate lifestyle—to identify as a ‘Gay Christian’? No. Believers are not identified by their sins but by their Savior. Jesus is the Christian’s new identity.
7. What are the proper ways to create space in order to minister to people dealing with same-sex attraction? The church must be a compassionate hospital for all sinners. But the church must not be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and must preach the whole counsel of God’s Word. The committee offered eight specific recommendations.
8What are resources for engaging this issue? The committee offered a bibliographical sampling of modern literature on the topic of SSA that included works by Sam Allberry, Rosaria Butterfield, Wesley Hill, John Stott, and Matthew Vines. The committee also utilized materials from the Westminster Standards, John Calvin, Francis Turretin, R.L. Dabney, and Louis Berkhof.
...there are reasons to question the label ‘Gay Christian’. The most important issue is there is no biblical support for adding an adjective like this to the word ‘Christian’. Biblical and historical patterns do allow for some distinctive labels (‘Protestant Christian’, ‘American Christian’), but these are always focused on one’s confession or location. There is no example in the New Testament or in history where a sinful act is used as a symbol for Christian identity.
Strike back against Revoice!!!
From the Peter Jones article:
https://www.theaquilareport.com/revoice-sliding-into-heresy/
“The theologically naive and uninformed Coles is one of the speakers setting policy for the Church via Revoice. He seems already to have bamboozled D. A. Carson, who says in his endorsement of Coles’ book: “To say this book is important is a painful understatement. It is the candid, moving, intensely personal story of a gay young man who wants to live his life under the authority of King Jesus and who refuses to accept the comforting answers proffered by different parts of the culture.”
LOL!
I agree with every line of the excerpt above.
He documents how non-celibate homosexuals are a part of the Revoice crowd, and how even the celibate ones, simply do not accept the binary nature of God-created sexuality.
Honestly, I think ordained PCA folk behind Revoice need to be put under Church discipline. The PCA has no business at all being involved in this.
You know, when these committees are formed to ‘study’ such an issue, there is usually some recognized momentum to force it. But I was pleasantly surprised by these points made by the PCA. I hope they hold strong going forward.
Thank you for posting this, Gamecock.
That's what I'm thinking. Church discipline is next. And if they don't accept the discipline I'm sure they can find a home in the PC(USA).
I could not handle listening to the guy very long. The man's manner grated on me, with a lot of the sort of popular religious chatter one hears. Being "broken", yada yada yada.
Presbycast yesterday or the day before posted some audio from Rosaria Butterfield, from just before Revoice. I thought it was (no surprise) quite helpful.
My own pastor from back in the '80s, in the late '90s came out as gay. Checking on his Book of Faces yesterday, he's a deep into it as ever. I pray for him sometimes.
The liberals took over the mainline Protestant denominations decades ago. All of them, with the possible exception of the United Methodists, are in terminal decline and are little more than sinecures for liberals with backwards collars, managing real estate assets of dying or dead churches and trust funds that are slowly depleting. So the religious Left recycling their strategy that succeeded a century ago in dominating the now dying denominations on still healthy and evangelical groups like the Southern Baptist Convention and the Presbyterian Church in America. The “wedge” a hundred years ago was modernism and evolution; today it is sexual perversion and “social justice”. The strategy is the same: get your nose into the tent and slowly gain acceptance and later control.
Thanks for posting this. My wife mentioned that the PCA had discussed this issue but we couldn’t find out the results. It’s nice to know that some Christian leaders have some biblical understanding.
Very nice.
This is PCS??? Can’t believe there is any question about homosexuality. The Bible is clear on the matter. I’m glad I’m in the OPC.
J. Gresham Machen wrote an excellent book on the dangers of the church loosening up to go along with what is considered modern. It’s called Christianity and Liberalism.
It is indeed the PCA.
Sometimes you need to draw a line in the sand for all to see, including your own membership.
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