This week’s sermon was on LGBTQ inclusion.  There are three common positions related to how the church approaches the issue of LGBTQ inclusion:

• Side A believes that LGBTQ orientation and behavior are within God’s will. A church that believes this fully includes LGBTQ Christians in the church and affirms same-sex marriages.
• Side B believes that LGBTQ behavior is not within God’s will, but that orientation itselfis not a matter of sin or salvation. A church that believes this includes LGBTQ Christians but calls them to celibacy and does not affirm same-sex marriages. There may be limitations regarding participating in certain leadership capacity for those who do not practice celibacy.
• Side X believes that LGBTQ orientation is sin. A church that believes this excludes LGBTQ people and does not believe that LGBTQ people can be Christians unless their orientation is converted.

New City’s approach can best be described as Third Way (inclusive of both Sides A and B), which we describe as follows:

1. We reject Side X.  We do not believe that the Scriptures say that the orientation (same-sex attraction) itself is sin or a matter of salvation.
2. We believe that there is a reasonable dispute between Side A and Side B regarding what the Scriptures say about how LGBTQ Christians are called to live.  Pastor Kevin reviewed the arguments of Side A and Side B on the 7 passages that speak on this issue, on whether agape love takes precedence, and on the marriage passages.
3. We believe that Romans 14-15 teaches us to love one another, not judge one another, and seek the unity of the church even when we disagree.