Faith & Sexuality
It’s hard to imagine a topic that has dominated our cultural, religious, legislative, and judicial conversations more than issues surrounding human sexuality. Even within the confines of our churches, it can be a complex and often divisive issue. As believers, we are called to love our neighbors as ourselves, including those who identify differently than ourselves. While the Bible clearly defines marriage as a lifelong union between one man and one woman, it also calls us to extend grace and compassion to all people. It's important to remember that everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, is created in the image of God and deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.
As much as every person is made in the image of God and worthy of our love, sin also affects all people, Christian or otherwise. Lust, infidelity, and objectification of any sort are harmful, destructive, and outside of God's plan for healthy & holy sexuality. Rather than focusing solely on the sexuality of others, we should examine our own hearts and seek God's forgiveness for our own shortcomings, reveling in Jesus’ amazing grace towards us. We are called to be people of truth, yes … but also those of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
#Faith #Sexuality #WeDon’tTalkAboutThat
Message Series Description:
It's been said, over and over, that it's impolite to talk about religion or politics. And it seems that, as time has marched along, other topics have been added to that list: sexuality, racism, mental health, and more. These topics all tend to devolve into heated arguments, ad hominem attacks, and outright vitriol ... unless everyone already agrees on the issue! And the church has tragically leaned into this cultural phenomenon.
Instead of talking about these sometimes controversial or volatile topics with nuance, grace, and truth, the church has often slipped into a position of simply not addressing them, talking about them in an un-Jesus-like way, or (even worse) getting it flat out wrong when it's discussed. And when this happens, obstacles and offenses are piled onto the gospel, making it that much harder for people to encounter Jesus and to accept His good news.
But there is a better way, a way that holds tightly and rightly to truth, while effervescing with grace and compassion. This way IS the way of Jesus. And it is what we need to do rather than simply say, "We don't talk about that." This weekend we'll begin that conversation.
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