MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE
This church believes that marriage is a sacred and divinely instituted relationship and is to be entered into solemnly. We believe that God intends marriage to last until one spouse dies. It is reserved exclusively as a relationship between one man and one woman, who are brought together by God and joined together for life. We reject all counterfeit relationships, including domestic partnerships and so-called same-sex “marriage.”
God disapproves of and forbids divorce. We believe that divorce is always a sin, and never sanctioned, encouraged or endorsed by God. However, it is a sin that can be forgiven when properly repented of and confessed, and those who are divorced should not be treated as second class people, though they may bear the consequences of their sin. Although divorced and remarried persons or divorced persons may hold positions of service in the church (upon confession and repentance) and be greatly used of God for Christian service, they may not be considered for the
offices of pastor or deacon. We further believe that while divorce is never sanctioned by God, He has, in His mercy, provided a means of temporary separation so that the parties involved may work on rebuilding their relationship and seeking to regain their marital union in wholeness. Such separation should be entered into only as a last resort after all other Biblical measures have failed.
In addition, we affirm the teaching of Scripture that no divorced person is free to remarry, and that any marriage to a divorced person is expressly forbidden by God.
(Genesis 2:24, 25; Malachi 2:14-17; Matthew 19:1-12; Mark 10:1-12; Rom. 7:1-3; Ephesians 5:22-33; 1 Cor. 7; 1 Tim. 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6)
We believe that God has commanded that no inappropriate intimacy—sexual or otherwise— 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. We believe that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman.
(Gen. 2:24; Gen. 19:5, 13; Gen. 26:8-9; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom. 1: 26-29; Rom. 7:2; 1 Cor. 5:1; 6:9; 1 Cor. 7:10; Eph. 5:22-23; 1 Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4)
This church believes that marriage is a sacred and divinely instituted relationship and is to be entered into solemnly. We believe that God intends marriage to last until one spouse dies. It is reserved exclusively as a relationship between one man and one woman, who are brought together by God and joined together for life. We reject all counterfeit relationships, including domestic partnerships and so-called same-sex “marriage.”
God disapproves of and forbids divorce. We believe that divorce is always a sin, and never sanctioned, encouraged or endorsed by God. However, it is a sin that can be forgiven when properly repented of and confessed, and those who are divorced should not be treated as second class people, though they may bear the consequences of their sin. Although divorced and remarried persons or divorced persons may hold positions of service in the church (upon confession and repentance) and be greatly used of God for Christian service, they may not be considered for the
offices of pastor or deacon. We further believe that while divorce is never sanctioned by God, He has, in His mercy, provided a means of temporary separation so that the parties involved may work on rebuilding their relationship and seeking to regain their marital union in wholeness. Such separation should be entered into only as a last resort after all other Biblical measures have failed.
In addition, we affirm the teaching of Scripture that no divorced person is free to remarry, and that any marriage to a divorced person is expressly forbidden by God.
(Genesis 2:24, 25; Malachi 2:14-17; Matthew 19:1-12; Mark 10:1-12; Rom. 7:1-3; Ephesians 5:22-33; 1 Cor. 7; 1 Tim. 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6)
We believe that God has commanded that no inappropriate intimacy—sexual or otherwise— 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. We believe that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman.
(Gen. 2:24; Gen. 19:5, 13; Gen. 26:8-9; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom. 1: 26-29; Rom. 7:2; 1 Cor. 5:1; 6:9; 1 Cor. 7:10; Eph. 5:22-23; 1 Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4)
