OUR SOCIAL STAND MAKES US DIFFERENT
The Holy Spirit is the great Guide in righteous living. Love for Christ is
expressed in a desire to do His will, and His will is expressed in the
Scriptures. There are times when the church body must stand together on
certain social issues. For the sake of discussion, these will be divided
into two sections: (1) Social Issues and (2) Guidelines and Helps.
Social Issues of the Day
Because of the attitudes and vast changes that have been taking place in our
culture, it is important for the church to understand how the timeless biblical
principles relate to contemporary society.
Marriage and Divorce.
Our first guiding principle is that the Christian marriage and family must be
protected in our society. We follow two principles: commitment and
compassion.
We believe that marriage is a lifelong commitment (Genesis 1:26-28, 31; 2:21-24;
Malachi 2:13-16; Matthew 19:3-9; John 2:1-11; Ephesians 5:21-6:4; 1
Thessalonians 4:3-8; TLB; Hebrews 13:4).
To encourage the lifelong commitment of marriage in accordance with the
Scripture, we:
Instruct the unmarried to abstain from premarital sex.
·
Provide positive and encouraging counseling for those who are planning to be
married.
·
Encourage Christian marriages to develop, mature, and grow.
·
Seek to save the home and marriage through the power of prayer, good counsel,
and God's Holy Spirit during times of marital unhappiness.
Our second guiding principle is compassion. We realize that many
have been deeply hurt by divorce. We want to have the compassion of Christ
in ministering to the needs and healing of pain of those who have been involved
in the dissolution of a marriage.
·
Jesus spoke to the issue of divorce (Matthew 5:31-32; 19:3-9), and we must speak
with the same empathy, love, and understanding of Jesus.
·
As such persons approach remarriage, we seek to give guidance, wisdom, and help
in this important step.
Remarriage should only be approached a Christian basis with an understanding of
the
sanctity of the home.
Abortion.
We oppose induced abortion for personal convenience or population control.
We believe induced abortion to be permissible only on the basis of sound medical
reasons that give evidence of life-endangering conditions for the mother.
And this only after adequate medical and spiritual counseling (Exodus 20; Job
31:15; Psalm 139:3-16; Isaiah 49:5; Luke 1:31, 41-44; Romans 12:1-2).
Homosexuality.
We recognize the physical, psychological, and social pressures and perversions
that lead individuals into a practice of homosexuality. Yet we affirm the
biblical position that such acts are inconsistent with Christian discipleship.
(Genesis 1:27; 19:1-25; Leviticus 20:13; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11;
1 Timothy 1:8-10).
·
We believe that God's grace is sufficient to overcome the practice of
homosexuality. (Philippians 4 :13)
·
We believe that His love is for all people. (John 3:16)
·
We believe that God can redeem and restore (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)
Drug Abuse and Addiction.
Many in our society have grown dependent on the use of drugs and stimulants.
As a church, we take a stand against such misuse and abuse by abstaining from
the practice. For the sake of this generation and future generations, we
protest the misuse and abuse of drugs in their various forms:
Drug Abuse.
We stand against the use of unprescribed hallucinogenics, stimulants, and
depressants, and the misuse and abuse of regularly prescribed
medicines. Only on competent medical advice and under medical supervision
should drugs be used.
Alcoholic Beverages.
We realize that wine was used as a beverage in Bible times. However, the
use of alcoholic beverages has caused tremendous destruction, death, and despair
to millions of people ranging from unborn babies to the aged. Therefore:
·
We serve unfermented wine at the Lord's Supper.
·
No alcoholic beverages are used at any church functions.
·
Our people join this protest by abstaining from the use of alcoholic beverages.
(Proverbs 20:1; 23:29-35;
Habakkuk 2:5; 1 Corinthians 6:9-12, Galatians 6:21; Ephesians 5:18)
Tobacco.
The use of tobacco is dangerous to the health of people of all ages. And we
realize that it can be addictive and detrimental to individuals as well as to
our culture. Therefore, our people abstain from the use of tobacco.
Guidelines and Helps
In dealing with special guidelines there are three concepts we must keep in
mind:
1)
Guidelines and helps are instructive and not legalistic
2)
The church family is to encourage, not enforce legalistically
3)
A church member is to follow the guidelines conscientiously, not legalistically
We believe that the following practices should be avoided:
1)
Games of chance that are detrimental to good stewardship and spiritual growth.
2)
Participation in lotteries and other forms of gambling, whether legal or
illegal, can lead to an addictive lifestyle which is detrimental to both the
individual and society. Be wise in how you spend your money.
Membership in organizations that hurt the Christian's witness and openness.
There are some quasi-religious organizations that demand so much secrecy as to
be contrary to the Christian concept of openness and transparency. There is
the potential of these groups becoming more prominent in an individual's life
than service and commitment to the kingdom of God.
Entertainments that promote the pornographic, the violent, and the
undermining of Christian living. In choosing our entertainment, there are
three excellent principles to consider:
1)
The Christian stewardship of leisure time,
2)
Encouraging the best in Christian living and learning, and
3)
Avoiding what would be detrimental to Christian experience.
We particularly advise our people concerning the motion picture industry. Many
video presentations, motion pictures, subscription networks, media streams and
theatrical performances undermine the Christian life and home by promoting the
violent, the pornographic, and the obscene.
As you consider the application of these guidelines and helps to your own life,
pray that God will help you through His Holy Spirit. He wants your life to
be positive, roductive, and molded to His image. He does not want you to
"conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what
God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12:2).
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