On Tuesday, The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood released the Nashville Statement, a proclamation of 14 affirmations regarding gender and sexuality that many have deemed highly problematic. Consisting of a preamble and 14 articles, the document has been roundly criticized by many, but these quotes from the Nashville Statement prove the anti-LGBTQ sentiment is rife among evangelical leaders.
The Nashville Statement was developed by the CBMW at the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission's annual conference, which took place this year in Nashville, Tennessee. It was signed and endorsed by scores of evangelical Christian leaders.
The preamble of the document notes that it believes that Western society is becoming increasingly "post-Christian" and that the statement will serve to declare "once again the true story of the world and of our place in it — particularly as male and female."
The Nashville Statement is hugely controversial because it condemns both homosexuality and transgender identities and promotes heterosexual marriage as the only "legitimate" type of marriage. It also condemns polyamorous relationships as well as sexual relations outside of marriage.
The following represents a selection of some of the most problematic components of the Nashville statement, which many have decried for being discriminatory and anti-inclusive.
Only Heterosexual Marriage Is Allowed
WE DENY that God has designed marriage to be a homosexual, polygamous, or polyamorous relationship. We also deny that marriage is a mere human contract rather than a covenant made before God.
No Sexual Relations Outside Of Marriage
WE DENY that any affections, desires, or commitments ever justify sexual intercourse before or outside marriage; nor do they justify any form of sexual immorality.
Being OK With Homosexuality Is "Sinful" and "Anti-Christian"
WE AFFIRM that it is sinful to approve of homosexual immorality or transgenderism and that such approval constitutes an essential departure from Christian faithfulness and witness.
Christians Should Not "Agree To Disagree" About Homosexuality Or Transgender Issues
WE DENY that the approval of homosexual immorality or transgenderism is a matter of moral indifference about which otherwise faithful Christians should agree to disagree.
One Can "Forsake" Their Gender Identity And "Accept" Their Biological Sex
WE AFFIRM that the grace of God in Christ enables sinners to forsake transgender self-conceptions and by divine forbearance to accept the God-ordained link between one's biological sex and one's self-conception as male or female.
Biological Sex Determines Gender
WE AFFIRM that the differences between male and female reproductive structures are integral to God's design for self-conception as male or female.
Being Gay Or Transgender Is "Not Consistent With God's Purpose"
WE DENY that adopting a homosexual or transgender self-conception is consistent with God's holy purposes in creation and redemption.
Overall, these quotes reflect why many people are so the Nashville Statement has sparked so much outrage, as it seemingly seeks to perpetuate divisiveness and only promotes a certain type of existence as being "right" and "acceptable" in God's eyes.
Hopefully, the crafters of the Nashville Statement will take note of the public backlash to their document and reconsider some of their divisive words.
