The Madera Tribune Red Line

According to the Statement of Faith of the Madera Ministerial Association, “We believe the Bible to be inspired, infallible, ultimate, and authoritative Word of God. We believe that the truths taught in the Bible are relevant and authoritative for all generations.”

God made no provision for same-sex unions of any kind, and throughout His Word He clearly stated that any form of homosexuality is sin and an affront to His holy nature. In the creation account of Genesis, which we take as literal truth, God first created man, then woman, bringing the woman to the man for completion through their relationship that included sexual union. God did not bring a man to a man, or a woman to a woman for such fulfillment.

Sodom and Gomorrah, literal cities in Old Testament times, were destroyed because of the sin of homosexuality. The Apostle Paul states in the New Testament book of Romans, chapter 1, that when mankind defies God and His Word, that God then gives them over to shameful lusts including homosexuality as they come under His wrath. Paul also includes homosexual offenders under the category of the wicked who will not inherit the kingdom of God in 1 Corinthians 6:9.

It should be noted that God does not isolate homosexuality from other sins, for all sin separates us from the glory of God and calls for repentant faith in the Lord Jesus Christ who died for man’s sins and sinfulness, and rose from the grave to give us eternal life in His name.

It must be understood that Christ demonstrated His love toward all sinners when He died in our place on the Cross. Thus His loving desire is for homosexuals to repent of their sin just like anybody else and to place their total (faith) in the Lord Jesus for salvation from sin.

With these thoughts stated, it is incumbent upon every Christian to reach out to the homosexual with the love of Christ without condoning their sin just as they would reach out to any other person lost in sin, separated from God.

Our desire as ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is to call all people out of sin, and into a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. We care for the homosexual, but do not condone his or her practice, as it is totally contrary to God’s nature and His Word.

Any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication or adultery are perversions of God’s gift of sexual intimacy. Thus, although the Legislature, court, or people may “legalize” such marriages and unions, this does not legitimize them in the eyes of God, who is our Creator, Redeemer and absolute Lord.

Pastor Randy Brannon,
president of the Madera Ministerial Association