CONDENSED STATEMENT OF BELIEFS
- The Great Commandment
You [followers of Christ] shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 22:37-40
- The Great Commission
All authority has been given to Me [Jesus] in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28:18-20
- Matrimony is a holy monogamous marriage between one man and one woman
Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. Genesis 2:24
…let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 1 Corinthians 7:2-4
Now to the married I [Paul] command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband.
1 Corinthians 7:10
For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body… For this reason [Eve created out of Adam – bone of his bone, flesh of his flesh] a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.
Ephesians 5:23, 31
Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled… Hebrews 13:4
- Matrimony is ordained by God
And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” Genesis 2:18
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you…” Exodus 20:12
And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. Genesis 2:21-24
“For the Lord God of Israel says That He hates divorce, for it covers one’s garment with violence,” says the Lord of hosts. “Therefore take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.” Malachi 2:6
- Matrimony is the basic unit of society through its ministry and testimony
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. Ephesians 5:22-33
- The Importance of the Marriage Covenant
Marriage is a covenant made between two people, one man and one woman, with God. The Christian marriage covenant requires the married parties to be faithful, loving and helpful to each other as long as they both shall live (Malachi 2:15-16; Matthew 5:32; 19:5-6,9; Romans 7:2-3; I Corinthians 7:10-11, 15; II Corinthians 6:14; Ephesians 5:22-25).
Marriage is a union ordained by God. It was first instituted by God in the early chapters of Genesis, codified in the Levitical law, the Old Testament prophets compared it to a relationship between God and his people, examples of it are in the historical narratives, and, the scripture discusses the unique unity of this relationship. Jesus explained the original intention and core elements of marriage, and several New Testament Epistles give explicit instructions on this union. Marriage is a typology of Jesus Christ and the Church. As such, this Church views marriage as a profound spiritual institution established by God. We believe the term “marriage” has only one meaning, and that is marriage sanctioned by God which joins one man, and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture.
Due to the importance of marriage in the biblical witness, this Church adopts the following:
Hope Unlimited Church Santa Fe, Inc. facilities, or properties, or those of its wholly owned subsidiaries, may not be used by any individual, group, or organization that advocates, endorses, or promotes homosexuality or transgender life as an alternative or acceptable lifestyle. This policy applies to events including but not limited to: Birthday Parties, Classes, Reunions, Anniversaries, Baby Showers, Weddings, and Renewal of Vows Services.
- Statement on Gender and Sexuality
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Genesis 1:27
This means that man and woman are two distinct genders willed by God their Creator in their respective beings, which reflect the image and nature of God. ‘Being man’ or ‘being woman’ is a reality that is good and willed by God. Therefore, to reject one’s biological gender is to reject the work of the Creator and imply that God made a mistake. God does not make mistakes. Romans 1:24-27, Job 42:1-3, Isaiah 55:8, 9
As God’s image bearers, man and woman have inalienable rights and ensuing responsibilities. Man and woman should be treated with dignity and respect. They should also lead lives worthy of the dignity of their unique gender. This is done by living chastely – a call all baptized Christians are called to follow. Ephesians 5:3
As man and woman “put on Christ” – the model for all chastity – they pledge to lead a chaste life consistent with their vocation either by consecrating themselves to God or entering the God ordained institution of marriage. A chaste person respects the gift of sexuality given to him or her by God. Married people are called to live conjugal chastity. “Marriage” has only one meaning: the matrimonial covenant, by which one man and one woman unite themselves in a lifelong partnership. God commands that the gift of sexual intimacy occur only between spouses of the opposite sex who are joined in Holy Matrimony.
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8, Romans 13:13-14, Hebrews 13:4
Therefore, any sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God. Galatians 5:19-21, I Corinthians 6:9-10
But God is merciful to all sinners. He offers redemption to all who confess and forsake their sins. Seeking His forgiveness and Mercy through Jesus Christ.
Matthew 16:19, Isaiah 22:22, Matthew 18:18, John 20:21,
John 20:22-23
In the Spirit of Christ, every person deserves to be treated with compassion, love, respect, and dignity, regardless of his or her position on Church teaching. Hateful behavior is inconsistent with the Gospel of Christ and the doctrine of the Church and should always be repudiated.
In order to preserve the integrity of this Church as a reflection of the church as the Body of Christ, it is imperative that all Church employees and volunteers agree to and abide by this Statement on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality. Church employees and volunteers have a special duty to live this statement since they serve as role models for society and the church community.
