Human Sexuality Statement

Introduction

The issue of human sexuality has always been complex, requiring careful examination of Scripture and personal reflection. We know our convictions have, at times, caused real harm to those who disagree or even question these matters. We want to engage this topic with both truth and sensitivity, remaining faithful to Christ and the values of His Kingdom. Jesus demonstrated a balance between truth and grace throughout His ministry.¹ This is a tension we hold carefully—conviction with compassion.

God has designed sexual expression for His glory and our good through the bond and covenant of marriage. While the world around us holds different views, we hold to God’s design with humility, knowing that God’s plan is better than our own.

Our Belief

We are Bible-believing Christians who hold to the historic Christian view of marriage and sexual expression: marriage is a lifelong covenant union of one man and one woman, ordained by God.² ³

We know this conviction affects people we care about—family, friends, and members of our community. Consistent with our convictions is the value of the image of God in all people. This belief is not a judgment on anyone’s worth or God’s love for them, but an invitation to dwell together even when we hold different beliefs.

Sexual intimacy is a gift from God, to be enjoyed within the safety and commitment of marriage between a husband and wife. Any expression of sexual activity outside that covenant is contrary to God’s Word and His design for our bodies.⁴

We also recognize the need for nuance and care. We want to stand with those who experience same-sex attraction and are seeking to follow Jesus faithfully. We want to walk with those who have been victims of sexual assault, or who carry wounds related to sexuality. In practice, this means offering pastoral care, creating safe spaces for listening, providing counseling and prayer support, and walking alongside people with patience. Scripture does not forbid us from loving one another with tenderness and empathy, and we believe the church must be a safe and compassionate community for all who seek Christ.

Humble Orthodoxy

We seek to hold biblical truth with conviction while embodying the humility, curiosity, and love Christ calls us toward as His people. We call this Humble Orthodoxy.

Harsh Orthodoxy holds right beliefs but expresses them with arrogance, unkindness, or dismissiveness—ignoring the need for context, graciousness, and compassion.

Soft Relativism offers kindness and warmth but avoids biblical truth to prevent offense.

Both can and have caused real harm. We seek a better way: conviction without cruelty, compassion without compromise.

We see this modeled in the ministry of Jesus—His defense of the woman caught in adultery,⁵ His welcome of Zacchaeus,⁶ and His call to repentance with compassion for those far from God. When we have been harsh, we are sorry. When we have been unclear, we ask for forgiveness.

Because Jesus welcomed all to hear and respond to the good news, Bridge City Church welcomes all people—regardless of sexual practice or orientation—to attend worship, engage in fellowship, and explore the way the gospel redeems every part of our lives.

A Clear Rejection of Harm

Because we are committed to reflecting the character of Christ, we explicitly reject all forms of bullying, harassment, discrimination, or mistreatment toward any person, including those who identify as LGBTQ+.

Every person bears the image of God and must be treated with dignity, honor, and care. There is no place in the life of our church for ridicule, coercion, exclusion, or harm in speech, posture, or practice.

We also reject so-called “conversion therapy” practices that rely on coercion, shame, or psychological or spiritual pressure to force change in a person’s sexual orientation or identity. Such approaches have caused deep harm and are inconsistent with the way of Jesus, who calls people through grace, truth, and the work of the Holy Spirit—not control or compulsion.

Our commitment is to pastoral care that is patient, honest, and non-coercive. We walk with people; we do not force outcomes. We trust that transformation is the work of God over time, not something produced through pressure or fear.

Holding to historic Christian teaching on sexuality must never be used as a justification for harm. Where the church has participated in such harm, we grieve it and repent of it.

Covenant Partnership (Church Membership)

Church membership is for those who put their hope in Christ for salvation and commit to rejecting sin while pursuing a life of dedication to Christ and obedience to Scripture. This does not mean moral perfection—it means a sincere commitment to the journey of following Jesus together. Membership is not for those who have “arrived,” but for those committed to the long walk of growth—daily trusting God’s grace, turning from sin when we fall, and growing in obedience over time.

We also recognize that this affects people who are still working through what they believe about sexuality and other difficult topics. Membership calls us to walk together in grace and truth, with patience for one another as God continues His sanctifying work. Membership is one way we live out our discipleship together at Bridge City Church, learning and growing in shared practices of worship, fellowship, and service.⁷ ⁸

Our Commitment

We seek to be a community where people encounter the transforming love of Jesus Christ. We will teach what we believe is true, extend grace freely, walk patiently with one another, and depend on the Spirit’s power to form us into Christ’s likeness.

Our commitment flows directly from our values:

Unity through reconciliation: We work to break down barriers and heal divisions, knowing the gospel calls us into one body where differences are met with love.⁹

Restoration through resilience: We walk with one another through wounds, struggles, and setbacks, believing God can redeem brokenness and bring new life.¹⁰

Valuing the image of God in all people: We see every person as created and loved by God, and so we extend dignity, compassion, and care regardless of background or story.¹¹

These values shape not only what we believe, but how we live together as a church family.

Footnotes

John 1:14

Genesis 2:24

Matthew 19:4–6

1 Corinthians 6:18–20

John 8:1–11

Luke 19:1–10

Acts 2:42–47

Hebrews 10:24–25

2 Corinthians 5:18–20

Colossians 3:12–14

Genesis 1:27