Our denomination itself is experiencing a rise of those who would call themselves “progressives.”  But whatever their intentions are, their “progress” is nothing less than regress—for what they are espousing is far removed from and even blatantly contrary to Scripture and sound doctrine. Much of this error will be proposed or debated by these individuals at the PCA’s General Assembly in another week.

I have always been fascinated by inventors and inventions.  I have from childhood enjoyed reading about Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, Henry Ford, and others like them who designed and built devices that made the world more modern.

So as a kid, it always fascinated me to think about my grandparents’ generation in terms of what technology was like when they were born and what it was before they died.  My grandparents grew up with no indoor plumbing.  No electric lighting.  No air conditioning.  They rode horses or horse-drawn wagons everywhere.  In fact, the military still used horsed in battle. Travel from state to state was mainly by train, but getting from Texas to Tennessee could take days.  They did not have telephones.  They could send short telegraph messages to people in other cities, but otherwise communication to those in other states was limited to the mail service.  But in their lifetimes they came to have indoor bathrooms and kitchens, electric lighting, window AC units, and telephones with private lines.  They had cars that could go over 100 miles an hour (and grandpa actually got close to that regularly!).  They flew to the other side of the world in jet airplanes.  They saw men land on the moon.  I used to think that they lived in the most fascinating century in history.  There was no progress made like what was made between 1895 and 1990.

But at my age, I realize that people in their twenties might say the same about my generation.  When I was younger, we had only black and white TV, no computers or word processors, no DVRs, no video games, no cell phones, no Internet, no email, no GPS, no electric cars, no self-service gas stations, etc.  Because in my generation, technological progress continues to move at warp speed.

Now much of this progress is good.  God created man with creativity, ingenuity, and rational thinking capability.  Many of these things make our lives better.  I am grateful for AC living in Forsyth, GA in the summer. However, not everything that is considered progress by our culture is progress in fact.  Because there is one area in which God did not and does not intend for “progress.”  In fact, to grow and develop in this area is not progress but rather regress.  I am speaking of moral truth and ethics as given to us by God.  Yet when it comes to these, the world is regressing at warp speed—to an extent that I could never have imagined 40 years ago.

Unfortunately, the church, following the world, is regressing as well in terms of morality and “truth.”  It may be moving at a relatively slower speed, but only very slightly—and this does not make its position less alarming.

Our denomination itself is experiencing a rise of those who would call themselves “progressives.”  But whatever their intentions are, their “progress” is nothing less than regress—for what they are espousing is far removed from and even blatantly contrary to Scripture and sound doctrine. Much of this error will be proposed or debated by these individuals at the PCA’s General Assembly in another week.

What we need is a return to God’s original plan for gender and sexuality.  This can be summarized with five biblical truths.

First, God designed only two sexes when He created our world.

This is made abundantly clear in Genesis 2:7, 18-23, which tells us that God created man, and subsequently created woman.

“Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him…So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”

And that is where the creation of genders stopped.

Our LORD Himself affirmed this thousands of years after creation.  In Matthew 19:4, Jesus said in answer to a question about marriage, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female…?”

Notice here that there is NO progress through the centuries.  All things were created by the LORD from the beginning, including only two genders—and as Scripture teaches us, God said, “It is good.”  That means that there is no evolution of future genders.  Creation was perfect then and what is perfect cannot be improved upon.  Progress can only take place when there is a situation which needs improvement.

Unfortunately, many in our culture have decided that they will be “god.”  As such, they believe that they have spoken into existence all kinds of new genders: Bisexual, pan-sexual, transgender, agender, genderqueer, and non-binary, to name only a few.  They have further decided, having put themselves in the place of God, to determine their gender for themselves.

And the Christian response to this can only be, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female?”

So where should the church take its stand regarding all of the “gender confusion”?  To begin with, we must never affirm a person in their gender confusion or gender rebellion.  Some people espousing this sort of philosophy are deliberately rebelling against God.  But others, children especially, are being confused by adults.  Either way, we must not use language that affirms a “chosen gender” that is contrary to God’s creation of that person.

Professing Christians, like Preston Sprinkle, who heads up The Center for Faith, Sexuality, and Gender, argues for what he calls “pronoun hospitality.” In his words:

“…all Christians can and should use pronouns that reflect the expressed gender identities of transgender people, regardless of our views about gender identity ethics. If a person identifies herself to you as ‘she,’ I hope you will consider it an act of Christ-like love to call her ‘she’ out of respect, whether or not you believe that the way she expresses her gender identity is honoring to God.”

But this is NOT loving; it incorrectly accommodates and affirms a falsehood which can never be loving.

An analogy may help to clarify.  Those in the Mormon Church believe themselves to be Christians.  Knowing this to be true, I would never refer to a Mormon in my conversations with him as a Christian.  To do so would affirm a lie, one which would be detrimental to his understanding of the gospel. One cannot be saved if he does not realize that he is lost, and that he won’t know he is lost if I affirm Mormons as being Christians.

This is why Jesus never affirmed the Pharisees in their view of themselves as children of God, even though this offended them.  To have done so would sent the message that repentance and faith in Christ as Messiah was not necessary. Of course, we do show love to all people, but we are NOT doing so by adding to their confusion by affirming their faulty notions of themselves.

Second, God created sexual relations exclusively for one man and one woman in marriage.

Going back to the beginning.  In Genesis 2:24, God said that, “A man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”  Being “one flesh” refers to both a spiritual and sexual relationship.  So God created marriage only to be heterosexual—only between a man and a woman.  Likewise, the sexual relationship must only be in the context of marriage.

And again, Jesus affirmed this in His teaching. Some have argued that Jesus never mentioned homosexuality, by which is meant that He did not teach that it is wrong for Christians. This is simply not true.  It is true that He did not mention the word “homosexuality,” but he did specifically forbid porneo, the Greek word for “sexual immorality,” which was used to describe all sexual sin as forbidden in the OT, including homosexuality. Besides in Matthew 19:5-6, Jesus clearly taught, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh.”

Jesus specifically confirmed God’s original design for sexual relations as ONLY between a man and a woman.  Only the joining of a male and a female constitutes marriage; only a male to female sexual relationship has been ordained by God.

So, nothing was changed by Jesus with regard to homosexuality, or for that matter, regarding any sexual relations forbidden in the Law.   Only a male and a female can enter into a marriage and the corresponding sexual relationship accorded to it.

The various sexual relations that are forbidden in Scripture:

• Exodus 20:14 (the 6th Commandments) condemns a sexual relationship with someone who is the spouse of another: “You shall not commit adultery.
• Leviticus 20:11-12 condemns incest. Those who engage in these kinds of sexual relationships “have committed perversion.”
• Leviticus 20:13 declares that, “If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination.” God is not interested in how either of them feel or what is their personal attraction.  Homosexuality is a perversion.
• Leviticus 20:15 condemns bestiality. “If a man lies with an animal, he shall surely be put to death, and you shall kill the animal.” I cannot stand the thought of this kind of thing.  But it is something that went on in the pagan nations, enough so that God made a point of warning His people of the evil of this.
• But sexual sin is not limited to what we rightly called perversion. Deuteronomy 22:23-29 makes clear that any sex outside of marriage—even if not adultery—is sin.  Thus, both consensual sex outside of marriage and rape are condemned.
• And Hebrews 13:4, summarizes for Christians the entirety of God’s revelation, affirms “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.”

So, what is the church’s responsibility in this? What are Christians to do in order to uphold the truth?  By not affirming any immoral sexual relationship by our words or actions. And by disciplining its members who engage in any of the biblically forbidden sexual relationships.

I have a sister who is involved in a homosexual relationship.  She and her partner believe themselves to have been married many years ago.  When our children were young, my sister’s partner wanted to be referred to as “Aunt ___________.”  We did not allow this.  We could not, since it would have implied that there was a family relationship by marriage which, in fact, did not exist because there was no real marriage.  We were firmly loving.  Others in our extended family choose to relate differently, but in doing so we believe they communicated a wrong message.

I know an elder who told me that even though he did not believe in what is called “homosexual marriage,” he had no problem with attending a homosexual wedding ceremony of a close relative.  He felt that by attending he was simply affirming love for the relative.  I think that you will find that this is the view of a surprising number of Christians.  But I believe this is a serious mistake.

Again, an analogy may help.  During the time of the Old Testament, many of the Gentile nations around Israel practiced child sacrifice.  Eventually, some of the Jews began to do this, including some of Israel and Judah’s kings.  Now what would you think of the logic of a person who said, “Yes, I know that this is immoral, and utterly despicable, but I am going to the child sacrifice ceremony that my brother and his wife are having because I want to affirm my love for them.  By doing this, hopefully I can reach out to them with the love of God”?  Now I would hope that you would give me a sound rebuke for utterly unsound reasoning.  You cannot participate in the sin without being guilty of affirming it.

Third, God has revealed that sexual sin is a matter of both action and desire.

At this point it should be clear that having sexual relationships in any context outside the marriage between a man and a woman is wrong. People can call it whatever they want: consensual, an affair, love, or a fling.  But being physically involved in any of those actions is prohibited in Scripture and considered immoral; it is a perversion of God’s design and command. Biblical Christianity has taught this for millennia.

Yet sexual sin is not limited to action.  Desires or inclinations can be sinful as well.

Look at what Jesus said in Matthew 5:27-28, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

The Greek words translated with the phrase “looks with lustful intent” (ESV) literally means, “sees with a desire for her.”  So Jesus is saying that it is NOT just the act of adultery that is wrong; sexual desire for what is prohibited is likewise sinful and wrong.

The reason this needs to be understood is that there is a view of homosexuality and the Christian that has been propagated by REVOICE and which has become prevalent in the PCA.  Basically stated it is this: A person can be a homosexual Christian (or Same-Sex Attracted Christian), without being guilty of any sin–as long as one is celibate, that is, they do not practice homosexuality.  The homosexual desire is not wrong, only the action is.

But considering what Jesus said, this is far too simplistic—and is entirely wrong.  Desire for what is forbidden is wrong just as acting upon that desire is.  This is why coveting or greed, both of which are desires in the heart, are sinful even if they do not lead to the action of stealing.  Both actions and desires can be sinful.

Paul made this same point in Romans 1:24-27, repeatedly, I should add. In verse 24, those who rebel against God as creator will be given up to unclean desires, which in turn leads them to do what was dishonorable with their bodies.  In verse 26, women are given up to dishonorable passions (strong desire) when they commit acts against nature with each other (lesbianism).  And in verse 27, the men who burn in unnatural sexual desire towards men will be guilty of shameless deeds.  What is Paul saying?  Both perverse actions and perverse desires are sinful and wrong.

This is why Paul instructs believers in Colossians 3:5-6 to: “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness…On account of these the wrath of God is coming.”  Sin is not just wrong action.  Wrong desires are sinful also.

Peter reiterates this in 2 Peter 2:10 when he warns of those who have (literally translated) defiling or impure desires.

Again, why is this important?  Because in the PCA today we have both Teaching and Ruling Elders who are arguing that a person can be a homosexual or same-sex attracted as an internal inclination without being sinful, as long as they do not act on their desires.  In fact, we have those in the denomination who actually refer to themselves as “gay” or “same-sex attracted” Christians – arguing at the same time that this in no way makes them perverse, because they are celibate.

Now this may sound persuasive to some; in fact, it does to many.  But it is a biblical and moral error.

Imagine someone meeting with the session for membership telling us that he was “attracted to children.” Should we the elders think that would be okay?  Should they say, “As long as you do not act on that, everything is great”?  Furthermore, should we get him involved with teaching a children’s class or VBS or the youth group?  I hope it is obvious that we would say, No, of course not.  That is just perverse because it’s disordered.

Or suppose a potential member told us that he was “animal attracted”?  Do you think we would accept that as perfectly fine as long as he did not act on that attraction?   No, of course not.  That is just abhorrent.  It’s despicable!

So how can we even for a moment entertain the view that homosexual action only, not same-sex desire or inclination is sinful?

And yet at the PCA’s most recent General Assembly (2019), a pastor stood up and stated that he was born same-sex attracted and that he still is – and that there is no sin in this because he lives a life of misery, celibacy, suffering and loneliness.  He received applause from a number of people in attendance.  That was alarming.

So how have we gotten to this point?  Because culture has bombarded us over and over in television and movies and commercials, and quite honestly it has broken us.  We no longer see homosexualityt as abominable.  It may be seen as outside God’s perfect will, but we do not see it as perverse.  And so we do not see the desire as a total perversion of God’s creation and command.

The fact is, homosexuality no longer has any shame attached to it.  It is more than a little interesting to note what God said about His people in Jeremiah, when their lives became totally removed from Him.  “They do not know how to blush.”  Perverse action is no longer shameful.  And so the associated desire is not either.  It is acceptable.  And that is why we are where we are now – in the church.

Fourth, God transforms the natures and lives of those whom He saves.

The chief doctrines encompassed here are the doctrines of regeneration and sanctification.

Regeneration (what Jesus referred to as being “born again”) was prophesied as being part of the New Covenant in Jeremiah 31.  Looking ahead to the coming of Jesus Christ, God said that He would save for Himself a people on whose hearts He would write His law.  The truth is that in saving His people through His Son Jesus, He would give them a knowledge of and love of His law.

God said the same in Ezekiel 36:25-27.  He would change the hard heart to a soft heart, one molded by Him.  In other words, God would internally change those He saved.

This is what Paul spoke of when he wrote in Titus 3:3-5, “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions (or intense desires) and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.”

When God justifies us, God does not leave us in under the power of sin but declares us as righteous because of the saving work of Christ; reigning sin is defeated.  Not every bit of us is not changed in this life; the remains of sin continue in our mortal bodies.  But after salvation God continues to work in us through His Word and the power of the Holy Spirit, so that “the many lusts (or sinful desires) are more and more weakened and mortified.”  This is the doctrine of sanctification.

But there are many “Christians” today, who either do not believe this or who categorically deny this.  Teaching Elder Greg Johnson, stated at the PCA’s General Assembly two years ago, in no uncertain terms that God rarely, if ever, changes a homosexual internally.  They remain unchanged in orientation and desire.

On the other hand, Rosaria Butterfield, a former lesbian, begs to differ.  She was converted through the ministry of a godly couple who loved her and spoke the truth to her.  She is now married to a pastor and is mother to several children.  Ironically, when she spoke at Wheaton College, she was protested by “Christians” who were offended because she said God could change homosexuals.

But more importantly, these who say that God cannot or won’t normally change the desires of the heart deny Scripture.  Paul stated unequivocally in 1 Corinthians 5:17,  “Therefore in any man be in Christ he is a new creation; old things have passed away.  Behold, all things have become new.”

What is at stake here are the doctrines of Regeneration and Sanctification.  And those who deny these hobble along in error and immaturity, if they are Christians at all.

Fifth, God’s children are never identified by sinful inclinations or temptations but rather find their identity in Christ.

It has become fashionable in the church to identify oneself according to one’s temptations or inclinations, as though these were permanent parts of our human natures.  So, as I said, we have those who claim to be “Homosexual-Christians” or “Same-Sex Attracted-Christians.”

If this is correct, why is this never seen in Scripture?  Why are there not people in the NT identifying themselves according to the sinful proclivities they had before coming to Christ?

We do see is the opposite, however. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11states, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, or sodomites/homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

What Paul says is that believers used to be identified by their sins. But having been justified (declared righteous), having been washed (regenerated), and sanctified (set apart to God) those sinful identifications are past tense.

What does this mean? That those who hang on to their former identities from their past sins are contradicting God’s Word.  Do we stop sinning in this life?  Do we ever become perfect in this life?  No.  But we are changed; transformed in Christ.  We are continually being conformed, more and more, into the image of Christ.  So we are not identified by our sins and our past actions or desires.

What the church desperately needs is an understanding of these truths.  This is why this General Assembly is so important and why we all need to pray that we will have a revival that results in fidelity to God’s Word.

Recently, a letter was signed by some former, but not all, moderators of the PCA.  In it, they down-played disagreements as minor, emphasizing that the most important thing is working for unity.  Brothers and sisters, it is not. What is most important is honoring God and His truth, not down-playing any part of it.  If we all are committed to the truth on these major issues, we will have unity.  And we want that.  But unity cannot be had at the price of accepting or tolerating heresy.  That will ultimately destroy the church!

David Martin is a Minister in the Presbyterian Church in America and is Pastor of Dayspring PCA in Forsyth. Ga.