Coastal Community Church's Statement on Marriage
In Light of the Supreme Court's Decision on Same-Sex Marriage
Since the Bible is the only completely reliable and truthful authority, our first question when faced with a decision is, “What does the Bible say?”
The Bible clearly teaches the enduring truth that marriage consists of one man and one woman. From Genesis to Revelation, the authority of Scripture witnesses to the nature of biblical marriage as uniquely bound to the complementarity of man and woman. This truth is not negotiable. The Lord Jesus himself said that marriage is from the beginning (Matthew 19:4-6), so no human institution has the authority to redefine marriage any more than a human institution has the authority to redefine the gospel (the Good News of Jesus Christ), which marriage mysteriously reflects (Ephesians 5:32).
The Supreme Court’s decision on same-sex marriage will have no effect on our church’s practices or expectations for couples wishing to be married by one of our pastors.
The greater issue for all people is not sexual orientation, but rather soul orientation. God created all men and women in His image. As homosexual couples race toward marriage and heterosexual couples run away from it, all will eventually discover that no human relationship will ever satisfy their deepest needs. There will always be a sense that something else is needed. That something else is Jesus. And we are here to help them discover that relationship.
Since the Bible is the only completely reliable and truthful authority, our first question when faced with a decision is, “What does the Bible say?”
The Bible clearly teaches the enduring truth that marriage consists of one man and one woman. From Genesis to Revelation, the authority of Scripture witnesses to the nature of biblical marriage as uniquely bound to the complementarity of man and woman. This truth is not negotiable. The Lord Jesus himself said that marriage is from the beginning (Matthew 19:4-6), so no human institution has the authority to redefine marriage any more than a human institution has the authority to redefine the gospel (the Good News of Jesus Christ), which marriage mysteriously reflects (Ephesians 5:32).
The Supreme Court’s decision on same-sex marriage will have no effect on our church’s practices or expectations for couples wishing to be married by one of our pastors.
The greater issue for all people is not sexual orientation, but rather soul orientation. God created all men and women in His image. As homosexual couples race toward marriage and heterosexual couples run away from it, all will eventually discover that no human relationship will ever satisfy their deepest needs. There will always be a sense that something else is needed. That something else is Jesus. And we are here to help them discover that relationship.