Professional sports leagues, movie stars, politicians, multi-national corporations, social media "influencers" and many other powerful entities have all taken a modern "progressive" view on the definition of marriage and gender fluidity. Christians in these institutions are increasingly forced to accept moral relativism on such issues or risk losing their jobs or other benefits. All of this is being done in the name of "tolerance."
There is, of course, a clear biblical view on these issues that pastors and churches must not be afraid of expressing.
The First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, Florida, has boldly stepped up and presented a "statement on biblical sexuality." Not surprisingly, they are coming under "heavy fire" for doing so.
The statement reads: "As a member of First Baptist Church, I believe that God creates people in his image as either male or female and that this creation is a fixed matter of human biology, not individual choice. I believe marriage is instituted by God, not government, is between one man and one woman, and is the only context for sexual desire and expression."
Senior Pastor Heath Lambert told The Christian Post that the statement has the unanimous support of the church leadership, pastors and lay people.
Unlike secular entities who often try to force everyone to embrace the current secular worldview, Pastor Lambert takes a biblically tolerant position.
He told The Christian Post, "This is a statement for the members of our church, who are free to sign it or not. If people don't like our statement, they can ignore us. They [can] go to any other church, or to no church."
"We might disagree with their position as strongly as they disagree with us, but we will not hate them or mistreat them in any way," Lambert added, saying, "Instead, we want to love them and serve them in any way we can. As Christians, we know what a lost world often forgets: you can love people who are different from you and with whom you disagree."
JDFI commends Pastor Heath Lambert and the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville. What the church must never do is abandon clear biblical teachings to be more "inclusive." We pray that other churches will speak biblical truth on these critical issues at a time when so many people, including children, are confused and deceived by the moral relativism of our age.
There is, of course, a clear biblical view on these issues that pastors and churches must not be afraid of expressing.
The First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, Florida, has boldly stepped up and presented a "statement on biblical sexuality." Not surprisingly, they are coming under "heavy fire" for doing so.
The statement reads: "As a member of First Baptist Church, I believe that God creates people in his image as either male or female and that this creation is a fixed matter of human biology, not individual choice. I believe marriage is instituted by God, not government, is between one man and one woman, and is the only context for sexual desire and expression."
Senior Pastor Heath Lambert told The Christian Post that the statement has the unanimous support of the church leadership, pastors and lay people.
Unlike secular entities who often try to force everyone to embrace the current secular worldview, Pastor Lambert takes a biblically tolerant position.
He told The Christian Post, "This is a statement for the members of our church, who are free to sign it or not. If people don't like our statement, they can ignore us. They [can] go to any other church, or to no church."
"We might disagree with their position as strongly as they disagree with us, but we will not hate them or mistreat them in any way," Lambert added, saying, "Instead, we want to love them and serve them in any way we can. As Christians, we know what a lost world often forgets: you can love people who are different from you and with whom you disagree."
JDFI commends Pastor Heath Lambert and the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville. What the church must never do is abandon clear biblical teachings to be more "inclusive." We pray that other churches will speak biblical truth on these critical issues at a time when so many people, including children, are confused and deceived by the moral relativism of our age.
