DEAR NEIGHBOUR:

Imagine you found yourself in a church that segregates people by race, or age or language. Suppose it happened explicitly by their policies, or more implicitly, by excluding certain people and centering others. 

Wouldn’t we say there’s something seriously wrong there?

Of course we would.

We’d say, with the Apostle, this is “contrary to the Gospel” (Gal. 2:14). 

Yet in many churches, sexual minorities find themselves pushed to the margins, or, to the centre. Sadly, this is the experience of many of you reading this. You’ve wanted a spiritual family, and ended up spiritually homeless.

Perhaps your exclusion was explicit when someone asked you not to return, or implicit through hateful, hurtful, things said or done behind your back.

Perhaps you observed the double standard of churches that believe in “biblical marriage” but seem to ignore abuse or immorality between spouses; these churches tolerate all sorts of ‘unbiblical’ marriage — just not the homosexual kind.

Maybe you were put through conversion therapy in an effort to ‘cure’ you.

We acknowledge the harm that many of you have suffered in the Church.

In so many ways, you learned that whatever they say they believe, the ‘gospel’ at work in many churches is salvation by grace alone, through faith in Christ alone, for the straight alone.

That is no gospel at all.

It’s a false gospel.  

On the other hand, perhaps, because of your sexuality, you were put on a pedestal: you became the proof your church was ‘progressive’ or ‘tolerant’.

Perhaps leaders boasted about you in ways they didn’t about others and offered you opportunities unavailable to others.

Perhaps in sermons and in personal discipleship, certain Scriptures and topics were avoided so as not to offend you.

Perhaps others joined the church just so they could say they have a gay friend. You didn’t ask to be the token queer person; yet when they set aside the teaching of Scripture and centred you, that’s what happened.

This too is a false gospel - it says that all - except for sexual minorities - have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

As a church, we aim to be a community that pursues holiness, and that makes space for those figuring out what holiness looks like. We haven’t always gotten this right, but we’re learning. 

We must begin with clarity. To that end, let us answer a handful of key questions you might have:

What do we believe and teach about sexuality?

We believe and teach the historic biblical ethics of marriage and sexuality: that marriage is intended by God as the lifelong, loving covenant between a man and a woman (Gen.2:24; Matt.19:3-10).

We also believe God has reserved sex for the marriage covenant between a man and a woman. Any sexual activity that doesn’t conform to this design is sinful sexual immorality (1Cor. 6:9,18; Gal. 5:19; Eph. 5:3; Col. 3:5). 

Are we an “Affirming” church?

The Scripture’s teaching about marriage and sexuality precludes our leaders and staff from officiating or participating in same-sex weddings. We acknowledge that to many, this means we’re a “Non-Affirming” church.

We believe that if we became Affirming, we’d have to disregard the Church’s historic view of sexuality, and worse, elevate sexuality above the Gospel as the root of our unity. This isn’t the first time churches have made this mistake (Gal. 5:6; 6:15), yet it is a mistake.

The Gospel is itself radically inclusive, and requires no such improvement.

Is there such a thing as a “gay” Christian?

We all experience desires for things that God has, in love, forbidden. Having these desires doesn’t disqualify anyone from His Kingdom; it qualifies us for discipleship.

The shame of same-sex-attraction can be powerful, but it’s disobeying God that’s the sin, not temptation.

Fighting sexual temptation is common to all of us; it’s what we do when we’re tempted that’ll show whether Jesus is Lord of our sexuality (1Cor. 10:13).

We honour those Christians who struggle with ongoing same-sex-attraction, who in other words, are “gay”.

Your faith and repentance are beautiful, and we admire your radical obedience to Jesus in a culture that makes it so difficult.

In this community, it is no one’s goal to make you straight; we want to embrace you as we press on together toward holiness.  

How do we relate to the Trans community?

We believe that God’s image is reflected equally in both genders: male and female (Gen.1:27; 5:2). We reject that gender is a social construct while we acknowledge that there exist in our culture many unhelpful gender stereotypes, which have caused much gender confusion, pain, and dysphoria.

To those whose gender identity is different from their biological sex, we say: We hope you’ll join us and grow in holiness and Christlikeness with us.

We’ll call you by your preferred name, and make gender-neutral washrooms available.

FOLLOWING JESUS TOGETHER…

In this church you’ll often hear Jesus’ invitation: ”Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me.” (Mt.16:24).

He invites all of us: “Repent and believe the good news!” (Mk.1:15).

In repentance, we all must discard practices, attitudes, or beliefs that are sinful and unhelpful, and so become more and more like Him.

This is the calling of all Christians, regardless of the specific sin we struggle with.

Our crosses look different, but we all have one.

You who believe in Jesus and are part of the LGBTQ+ community don’t need us making it any harder than it already is to carry yours.

And, you don’t need us pretending you don’t have one.  

What you need - indeed, what we all need - is faith in Jesus’ promise that “No one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.” (Lk.18:29)

What a promise!

What a Saviour! 

We’d be honoured to be that community for you: a home.

A true spiritual family.

One that elevates the Gospel, and centres Jesus.

One that would rather die than say “no” to someone to whom He has already said “Yes”.

It can be messy, but we’re learning. 

If this describes the desire of your heart, then neighbour, we invite you to join us. 

For Jesus’ sake,

The Elders and Directors of Benediction Church