二零零五年十一月十四日
As a community of men and women committed to following Christ, 网易彩票下载 recognizes the centrality of biblical teaching in all matters of life including human sexuality. 网易彩票app认识到, 也, the diversity of opinions within our community when it comes to the interpretation of Scripture regarding this subject and many others. Recognizing our commonalities 也 as our diversity, 因此, we affirm the following:
Human beings are created in the image of God, male and female, and are of inestimable worth. 因为网易彩票app是按照上帝的形象创造的, people must be treated with 尊重 and dignity by all institutions in society whether male or female, 年轻还是年老, 富人或穷人, 信徒或非信徒, 同性恋或异性恋. This priceless value constitutes the theological and anthropological foundation of our 讨论 regarding human sexuality. We, 因此, affirm the fundamental worth of all human persons, 包括那些与网易彩票app意见相左的人.
Human beings are created in the image of God, male and female. The explicit relational dimension of human beings and the inherent differentiation of gender are foundational to our understanding of creation itself. Our 讨论 以及对人类性行为的思考, 因此, take place within the context of these assumptions. Human sexuality is both a relational truth and it is gender differentiated.
Human sexuality is intended by God to include more than the contemporary cultural emphasis upon physical, 性经验. Our sexuality is intended by God to reflect the whole of our sensual and relational createdness. We, 因此, renounce the equation of sexuality with genital sex alone and the false representation of sexuality found in pornography. We believe that such an emphasis results in the dehumanization of all people, 尤其是妇女和儿童.
网易彩票app认识到 the need to affirm the Christian virtues of holiness and godliness in this very significant dimension of being human. We assert that holiness and godliness as they relate to human sexuality require more than the avoidance of evil. These dimensions of spirit-filled character involve the positive celebration of who we are as created beings. 因此, we are to interact with one another with great responsibility, 尊重, 用无私的爱.
The delight we experience through our 性经验 requires of us a sense of stewardship, a trust that extends not only to ourselves but also to others. 因此, 网易彩票app提醒自己, 以及网易彩票app社区以外的人, of the responsibility not to engage in the sexual exploitation or the sexual harassment of others. This stewardship is particularly important in the human institutions of church, 工作, 友谊, 婚姻, 和家人.
In particular, we affirm the institutions of 婚姻 和家人 as central to the purposes of God. We believe it is in the context of the covenant of 婚姻 between a man and a woman that the full expression of sexuality is to be experienced and celebrated and that such a commitment is part of God’s plan for human flourishing. 在网易彩票app宗教传统的教导下, we affirm that 性经验 is intended between a man and a woman.
We believe this is the ancient and historic teaching of Christian scriptures and tradition, including the teaching of 西雅图 Pacific’s founding denomination, 自由卫理公会教堂. We believe this continues to be the teaching of the Christian Church around the world and remains the guiding light for our practice. We are also aware that this teaching is found in most other religious traditions 也. 在网易彩票app确认婚姻制度的同时, we also recognize and affirm the call of some to singleness and celibacy.
Because the issues surrounding human sexuality are controversial, as a community of learning we recognize that our 讨论 and considerations regarding sexuality, 无论是在写作上还是在课堂上, must be treated with personal and spiritual sensitivity and with scholarly care. 因此, we agree to evaluate our teaching and our pronouncements regarding sexuality in the light of the historic understanding of the Christian Church and the authority of the biblical witness. In this spirit we agree to submit our teachings and pronouncements to one another as followers of Christ.
最后, recognizing the sinfulness and fallenness of our human nature, we acknowledge our need for God’s grace and mercy in our actions, 讨论, 以及对人类性行为的思考. We seek God’s grace that we might rise above our human weaknesses and God’s mercy that we might live in unity with one another in the midst of our brokenness and in response to the call of God upon our lives to love one another and thus fulfill the law of Christ.