Marriage and Family
MARRIAGE, DIVORCE, AND REMARRIAGE:
Since marriage is a God-ordained picture of Christ’s union with His Church, we believe that God disapproves of and forbids unlawful divorce and intends marriage to last until a spouse dies. Divorce and remarriage is regarded as adultery except on the grounds of fornication, desertion or ongoing abuse, but reconciliation through biblical counsel ought to be sought prior to any permanent dissolution.
Mal. 2:14-17; Matt. 19:3-12; Rom. 7:1-3; 1 Tim. 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6
Family Relationships:
We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God but
ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions for men and women in the home and the church. The husband is to be the leader of the home, and men are to be the leaders (pastors and elders) of the church. Accordingly, only men are eligible for licensure and ordination by the church.
Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:18; 1 Tim. 2:8-15; 3:4-5, 12
We believe that God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. The husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church. The wife is to submit herself to the Scriptural leadership of her husband as the church submits to the headship of Christ. Children are a heritage from the Lord. Parents are responsible for teaching their children spiritual and moral values and leading them, through consistent lifestyle example and appropriate discipline, including Scriptural corporal correction.
Gen. 1:26-28; Ex. 20:12; Deut. 6:4-9; Ps. 127:3-5; Prov. 19:18; 22:15; 23:13-14; Mk. 10:6-12; I Cor. 7:1-16; Eph. 5:21-33; 6:1-4, Col. 3:18-21; Heb. 13:4; I Pet. 3:1-7
HUMAN SEXUALITY:
We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex. We believe that God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one’s gender by surgery or appearance.
Gen. 2:24; Gen. 19:5, 13; Gen. 26:8-9; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom. 1: 26-29; 1 Cor. 5:1; 6:9; 1 Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4
We believe that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman.
Gen. 2:24; Rom. 7:2; 1 Cor. 7:10; Eph. 5:22-23