Conservative Congregational Christian Conference (CCCC) adopts resolution opposing gay marriage

Delegates to the 56-year old denomination’s 2004 annual meeting recently adopted the seven-paragraph statement that calls the legitimization of same-sex unions tantamount to rewarding evil.

The Conservative Congregational Christian Conference has adopted a resolution
opposing homosexual marriage.

Delegates to the 56-year old denomination’s 2004 annual meeting recently
adopted the seven-paragraph statement that calls the legitimization of same-sex
unions tantamount to rewarding evil.

The statement urges charity toward homosexuals and condemns hatred and
violence aimed at "any group of people in society."

Randy Stinson, executive director for The Council on Biblical Manhood and
Womanhood, said he is grateful to see conservative denominations addressing this
hot-button issue with biblical clarity and conviction.

"It is a great encouragement to me to see denominations and affiliations of
churches agreeing together on the serious ramifications of the homosexual
agenda," Stinson said. "I am grateful for groups like the 4 C's who have taken a
clear biblical stand, and I pray that it will encourage others to do so as
well."

The statement says the argument that "gays were just born that way" is a
misguided argument that is a perversion of God’s intention for the expression of
human sexuality and is clearly condemned by Scripture.

"A misconception underlying the attempts at legitimizing ‘homosexual
marriage’ is the notion that homosexual practice is the natural expression of an
inherited, even God-given, homosexual ‘orientation.’ Nothing could be further
from the truth. God’s disapproval of this activity is revealed in the things
that he has made as well as his word," the statement reads in part.

"God’s word teaches that homosexual practice is the result of misguided and
misdirected desire and is strongly condemned by God. It is not, therefore,
something that should be considered another healthy expression of normal human
sexuality."

The CCCC’s- or "4’Cs"- website describes the organization as "a theologically
conservative denomination believing strongly in the autonomy of the local
church. It is made up of churches that are Congregational, Christian, and
Evangelical and Reformed in their background, as well as independent Community
churches. It is solidly committed to the basic doctrines of the Christian faith,
but allows for diversity in those areas where Christians have tended to
disagree."

The resolution, in its entirety (including footnotes), is reprinted
below.

Without apology the current movement for the legitimization of "homosexual
marriage" is to be opposed by confessing Christians. To allow for legal
equivalency of same-sex relationships is to reward evil.

A misconception underlying the attempts at legitimizing "homosexual marriage"
is the notion that homosexual practice is the natural expression of an
inherited, even God-given, homosexual "orientation." Nothing could be further
from the truth. God’s disapproval of this activity is revealed both in the
things that he has made as well as his word.

God’s word teaches that homosexual practice is the result of misguided and
misdirected desire and is strongly condemned by God (Romans 1:24-27; Genesis
19:4-9; Jude 1:7; Judges 19:22-23; Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; 1 Corinthians 6:9; 1
Timothy 1:10). It is not, therefore, something that should be considered another
healthy expression of normal human sexuality.

In nature, the anatomical complementarity of men and women reveals the
Creator’s design for the physical union of men and women. Additionally, only a
heterosexual union bears the potential of progeny (Genesis 1:27-28; 2:18-24).
This is important, for whenever the obvious and organic connection between
sexual intercourse and procreation is trivialized, a dehumanizing
objectification of sex develops. In turn, this leads to irresponsible abuses of
God’s gift of sexual expression. Homosexual practice is one of those abuses.

The biblical expectations of monogamous and covenantal marriage (Mark 10:6-9;
Matthew 19:3-9) have long served for the preservation and prosperity of society.
If these are abandoned in our nation to accommodate "same-sex unions," we will
be opening the door to further expressions of "committed relationships" which
could fairly demand sanction by the State. Bigamous, polygamous, incestuous and
even so-called "voluntary" relations between adults and minors could, in time,
receive full and complete protection and benefits under the law. This is a road
down which our society must not travel and love for our neighbor demands that we
strive to not let this happen. We have the obligation to call upon all officers
of the State to cease the abuse of their authority in their giving approval or
privilege to those who seek to have such practice recognized and sanctioned by
the State.

One additional and important consideration for Christians is the role which
God purposes for marriage to play in the outworking of his redemptive purposes.
The apostle Paul teaches that marriage between a man and a woman is intended to
demonstrate the relationship that Christ has with his church (Ephesians
5:22-33).

We of the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference, out of our
commitment to biblical teachings, condemn hatred toward any group of people in
society. We therefore deplore any criminal acts committed out of hatred, and
believe that any attempt to use biblical principles to justify violence and
harassment against homosexuals is detestable. However, that same commitment
impels us to declare our belief that every expression of homosexual
"orientation" is sinful and that all practicing homosexuals, along with all
others who act on misguided and misdirected desire, should not be given sanction
but rather called to repentance. We affirm the promise of Holy Scripture that
forgiveness and grace are freely available to all who come in faith to Jesus
Christ in true repentance of sin.