Homosexuality: Another Adventist Point of View

Appendix A:  Formal Address of Homosexuality by the Seventh-day Adventist Church

Seventh day Adventist Position Statement on Homosexuality — 1999

This statement was voted and approved by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist Executive Committee at the Annual Council Session on Sunday, October 3, 1999 in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA

The Seventh day Adventist Church recognizes that every human being is valuable in the sight of God, and we seek to minister to all men and women in the spirit of Jesus. We also believe that by God's grace and through the encouragement of the community of faith, an individual may live in harmony with the principles of God's Word.

Seventh day Adventists believe that sexual intimacy belongs only within the marital relationship of a man and a woman. This was the design established by God at creation. The Scriptures declare: "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh" (Gen. 2:24, NIV). Throughout Scripture this heterosexual pattern is affirmed.

The Bible makes no accommodation for homosexual activity or relationships. Sexual acts outside the circle of a heterosexual marriage are forbidden (Lev. 20:7 21; Rom. 1:24 27; 1 Cor. 6:9 11).

Jesus Christ reaffirmed the divine creation intent: "‘Haven't you read,' he replied, ‘that at the beginning the Creator "made them male and female," and said, "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh?" So they are no longer two, but one'" (Matt. 19:4 6, NIV). For these reasons Adventists are opposed to homosexual practices and relationships.

Seventh day Adventists endeavor to follow the instruction and example of Jesus. He affirmed the dignity of all human beings and reached out compassionately to persons and families suffering the consequences of sin. He offered caring ministry and words of solace to struggling people, while differentiating His love for sinners from His clear teaching about sinful practices.

(An excerpt from this statement voted and approved by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist Executive Committee at the Annual Council Session in Washington, D.C., USA, October 12, 1987)

In His infinite love and wisdom God created mankind, both male and female, and in so doing based human society on the firm foundation of loving homes and families.

It is Satan's purpose, however, to pervert every good thing; and the perversion of the best inevitably leads to that which is worst.  Under the influence of passion unrestrained by moral and religious principle, the association of the sexes has, to a deeply disturbing extent, degenerated into license and abuse which results in bondage.  With the aid of many films, television, video, radio programs, and printed materials, the world is being steered on a course to new depths of shame and depravity.  Not only is the basic structure of society being greatly damaged but also the breakdown of the family fosters other gross evils.  The results in distorted lives of children and youth are distressing and evoke our pity, and the effects are not only disastrous but also cumulative.

These evils have become more open and constitute a serious and growing threat to the ideals and purposes of the Christian home.  Sexual practices which are contrary to God's expressed will are adultery, premarital sex, as well as obsessive sexual behavior.  Sexual abuse of spouses, sexual abuse of children, incest, homosexual practices (gay and lesbian), and bestiality are among the obvious perversions of God's original plan.  As the intent of clear passages of Scripture (see Ex 30:14; Lev 18:22,23,29 and 20:13; Matthew 5:27,28; 1 Cor 6:9; 1 Tim 1:10; Rom 1:20-32) is denied and as their warnings are rejected in exchange human opinions, much uncertainty and confusion prevail.  This is what Satan desires.  He has always attempted to cause people to forget that when God as Creator made Adam, He also created Eve to be Adam's female companion ("male and female he created them" Gen 1:24 NEB).  In spite of clear moral standards set forth in God's Word for relationships between man and woman, the world today is witnessing a resurgence of the perversions and depravity that marked ancient civilizations.

The degrading results of the obsession of this age with sex and the pursuit of sensual pleasure are clearly described in the Word of God.  But Christ came to destroy the works of the devil and reestablish the right relationships with human beings with each other and with their Creator.  Thus, though fallen in Adam and captive to sin, those who turn to Christ in repentance receive full pardon and choose the better way, the way to complete restoration.  By means of the cross, the power of the Holy Spirit in the "inner man," and the nurturing ministry of the Church, all may be freed from the grip of perversions and sinful practices.

(Excerpts from the 1995 Revised 15th Edition of the Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual, pages 154, 169, 182-3)

Today the ideals that make (these) social relationships safe and happy are breaking down to an alarming degree.  Under the influence of passion and unrestrained by moral and religious principle, the association of the sexes has to an alarming extent degenerated into freedom and license.  Sexual perversions, incest, and sexual abuse of children prevail to an alarming degree.  Millions have abandoned Christian standards of conduct and are bartering the sweet and sacred experiences of marriage and parenthood for the bitter, remorseful fruits of lust.  Not only are these evils damaging the familial structure of society, but the breakdown of the family in turn fosters and breeds these and other evils.  The results in distorted lives of children and youth are distressing and evoke our pity, while the effects on society are not only disastrous by cumulative.

These evils have become more open and threatening to the ideals and purposes of the Christian home.  Adultery, sexual abuse of spouses, incest, sexual abuse of children, homosexual practices, and lesbian practices are among the obvious perversions of God's original plan.  (page 154)

To disfellowship* a member means to expel an individual from membership.  To cut off a member from fellowship with the church, the body of Christ, is always a serious matter; it is the ultimate in the discipline that the church can administer; it is the extreme measure that can be meted out by the church....

Among the grievous sins for which members shall be subject to church discipline are the following:

(4)   Such violations as fornication, promiscuity, incest, homosexual practice and other gross sexual perversions, and the remarriage of a divorced person, except of the "innocent party" in a divorce for adultery or for gross sexual perversions.  (page 169)

Though marriage was first performed by God alone, it is recognized that people now live under civil government on this earth.  The first fact, therefore, that should be kept clearly in mind is that marriage has both a divine and civil aspect.  The divine aspect is governed by the laws of God, the civil by the laws of the state.

In harmony with these principles, the following statement sets forth the position of the Seventh-day Adventist Church on the subject of divorce and remarriage:

(2)   Unfaithfulness to the marriage vow has generally been seen to mean adultery and/or fornication.  However, the New Testament word for fornication includes other sexual irregularities.  Therefore, sexual perversions, including homosexual practices, are also recognized as a misuse of sexual powers and a violation of the divine intention of marriage.  As such, they are just cause for divorce.

(3)   In the event that the reconciliation is not effected, the innocent spouse has the biblical right to secure a divorce, and also to remarry.

(4)   A spouse found guilty of unfaithfulness to the marriage vow by the church shall be subject to church discipline.  Even though he or she may be genuinely repentant, the transgressor shall be placed under censure by the church for a stated period of time as an expression of the church's abhorrence of such evil.  The transgressor who gives not evidence of full and sincere repentance shall be disfellowshiped.*  In case the violation has been so flagrant as to bring public reproach on the cause of God, the church, in order to maintain its high standards and good name, shall disfellowship* the individual even though there is evidence of repentance.  (page 182-3)

*  Delegates to the 57th General Conference Session of Seventh-day Adventists, held July 2000 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, voted to change the term "disfellowshiped" to "removed from membership." The Church Manual committee intended to make the term "less loaded with negative implications," said Lowell Cooper, General Conference vice president. The subheading was changed from "Queries Concerning Receiving and Dropping Members" to "Queries Concerning Receiving and Removing Members."  July 2, 2000, Adventist News Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada report by Andy Nash and Heather Osborn

(Excerpts from Bible Information Online (topic: Homosexuality), PO Box 19039, Spokane, WA 99219, an official service of the Upper Columbia Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, 1996)

What does the Bible teach about homosexuality?  It's in the Bible, Romans 1:26-27, NIV.  "Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts.  Even their women exchanged natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another.  Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion."

Is homosexuality a sin?  It's in the Bible, Leviticus 18:22, TLB.  "Homosexuality is absolutely forbidden, for it is an enormous sin."

Can a practicing homosexual go to heaven?  It's in the Bible, I Corinthians 6:9, TLB.  "Don't you know that those doing such things have no share in the Kingdom of God?  Don't fool yourselves.  Those who live immoral lives, who are idol worshipers, adulterers or homosexuals--will have no share in his kingdom."

Like all sinners, homosexuals are called to repent.  It's in the Bible, I Timothy 1:10-11, TLB.  "Yes, these laws are made to identify as sinners all who are immoral and impure; homosexuals, kidnappers, liars, and all others who do things that contradict the glorious Good News of our blessed God, whose messenger I am."

Sinful patterns of all kinds must stop, and need God's forgiveness.  It's in the Bible, I Corinthians 6:11, NIV.  "And that is what some of you were.  But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of the God."

If you are homosexual, what should you do?  First, acknowledge your sin.  It's in the Bible, Psalm 51:2-4, TLB.  "O wash me, cleanse me from this guilt.  Let me be pure again.  For I admit my shameful deed---it haunts me day and night."

Second, ask forgiveness for your sin---God says you can start over again.  It's in the Bible, Psalm 51:7-12, TLB.  "Sprinkle me with the cleansing blood and I shall be clean again.  Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.  And after you have punished me, give me back my joy again...."

(It's in the Bible is a trademark of Bible Information Online)