Pastor Steve and Pastor Luke tackle one of the most personal and pastoral questions the church wrestles with today: how do we maintain biblical convictions about sexuality and marriagewhile genuinely loving people in our lives who are gay? Before answering the specific relational questions listeners have sent in (a gay family member, a gay friend at church, attending a gay wedding), Steve and Luke slow down to lay the theological foundation — starting with a "people-first hermeneutic," walking through what Scripture teaches about sexuality andmarriage, distinguishing desire from action, and reminding us that all of us are sexual sinners in need of grace. Clarity is kindness — and compassion andconviction can be held together. Episode Timestamps • [00:00]Introduction & PG-13 Content Warning • [00:47] The Three Listener Questions • [02:48] Why We Need a Foundation Before Answering Situations • [03:36] A People-First Hermeneutic • [05:09] Cherry Hills' Position on Sexuality and Marriage • [06:26] What Scripture Says — Genesis 1-2 and Beyond • [07:27] Desire vs. Action — Distinguishing Attraction from Sin • [09:40] We Are All Sexual Sinners — 1 Corinthians 6 • [12:02] Holding Compassion and Conviction Together • [13:04] Resources for Further Thinking • [16:33] Summary & Preview of Next Week People's Questions Answered "I have a family member who is gay, married, and anelder in a church where they live. How can I best lovingly confront withoutalienating?" "I have a friend who is gay. I like him a lot. I thinkhe would be an excellent member of the church, but I don't think I can convincehim to change his sexuality. What should I do?" “My brother-in-law isgay. What should we do if he gets married? How should we respond as Christians and as his loving family? Do we attend the wedding? How can we remain loving family members and still recognize this as a sinful lifestyle?" Cherry Hills' Position "As a church, we believe that God made humanity male and female, that marriage is intended to be a lifelong covenantal union between one man and one woman, and that marriage isthe only biblically permissible context for a sexual relationship." This is sometimes called the historical, traditional, or non-affirming view — the normative view throughout most of church history until recently. Steve's Bottom Line "Clarity is kindness. Ambiguity is inhospitable to LGBT people who may look at our church and wonder what we think. We want to be upfront about what we believe — and be able to graciously explain why." Resources Mentioned • Love Thy Body by Nancy Pearcey • Undeceptions Podcast by John Dickson (Wheaton professor) — two-part episode on this topic • Washed and Waiting by Wesley Hill • Gay Girl, Good God by Jackie Hill Perry • Anything by Mark Yarhouse (Wheaton psychologist) • Preston Sprinkle — The Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender (resources for parents, teens, and pastors) • Pastor Luke's doctrinal statement on sexual ethics in the Bible Key Scripture References Genesis 1-2 (creation of humanity male and female; marriage defined)Matthew 19 (Jesus affirms Genesis)Romans 1:18-321 Corinthians 6:9-11 ("and such were some of you")Luke 10 (neighbor) Coming Next Week Part 2 will answer the specific relational questions listeners have asked — how to lovingly engage with a gay family member, a gay friend, or the question of attending a gay wedding, all while holding onto biblical conviction. Connect With Us Submit your questions at cherryhillsfamily.org/podcast, text"podcast" to 217-546-4818, or use the link in the show notes. Subscribe, share, and leave a 5-star review!
