The Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRC), a small but influential evangelical denomination, recently voted in their annual 2022 synod to strongly clarify their denominational teaching on human sexuality. In a 123-53 (69% majority) vote held last week at the denomination’s flagship Calvin University in Grand Rapids, the denomination declared it holds “adultery, premarital sex, extra-marital sex, polyamory, pornography and homosexual sex” as sins that require individual repentance and are indeed issues affecting one’s salvation.
This confirms for the denomination that the issue of human sexuality itself has “confessional status” in the faith, an important theological and pastoral clarification for all Christians.
The CRC report affirms, “The church must warn its members that those who refuse to repent of these sins — as well as of idolatry, greed, and other such sins — will not inherit the kingdom of God,” adding, “It must discipline those who refuse to repent of such sins for the sake of their souls.”
The Synod also declared specific CRC churches who have moved to ordain members in same-sex relationship must comply with denominational and biblical orthodoxy. Specifically, the Synod notified Neland Avenue Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids that it was in serious violation of Christian orthodoxy by ordaining someone in a same-sex “marriage” to the office of deacon in its congregation. It also took the Grand Rapids area denominational leadership to task for not correcting the waywardness of that local congregation.
A delegate of the Grand Rapids leadership was weakly equivocal in his response to this denominational directive, “We’re going to take this seriously,” but “we’re not likely to initiate discipline against this couple. … I don’t know if we’ll have the stomach to do that.”
Just a few years ago, this strong move by the CRC would not have been significant news as the historic Christian faith, Jesus, its founder, and the Scriptures are all crystal clear on the matter of God’s view of human sexuality: It is created exclusively as a gift for husband and wife.
But given the tsunami-like push in our culture by many that no longer permits anyone to even raise an eyebrow at the misguided nature of same-sex sexuality and gender ideology, this is a very important and encouraging move by a Christian denomination.
Still, the fact that the vote was only 69% in favor of the historic and biblical position demonstrates how much unfortunate and unnecessary confusion has crept into once stalwart communities of Christian faith and practice. This is exactly why such clarifying moves like this by the CRC are important for all Christian communities and should be celebrated and encouraged.
Additional Resources
Pastors and Church Leaders: Please Speak Out About LGBT Issues
‘Jesus Didn’t Say Anything About Homosexuality’ – A Christian Response
Answering Revisionist Gay Theology
The Bible and Homosexual Practice, by Dr. Robert A.J. Gagnon
Focus on the Family: Homosexuality Resources
Is God Anti-Gay? And other questions about homosexuality, the Bible and same-sex attractions, By Sam Allberry
The Gay Gospel: How Pro-Gay Advocates Misread the Bible, by Joe Dallas
What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality? By Kevin DeYoung
Photo from The Banner.
