纽约华人教会就同性恋议题阐明圣经立场

纽约华人教会牧者领袖昨日举行记者会，首次就同性婚姻议题正式、公开的阐明了圣经立场。这标志著纽约华人教会在同性恋议题不再保持沉默，在维护传统婚姻事工上开始转守为攻，盼望引起全球华人教会积极回应。

纽约华人基督教同工会、维护一男一女婚姻协会与丰收灵粮堂及多位教牧同工昨日举行记者招待会，在宣传袁幼轩特会的同时，亦发表了《纽约华人基督教同工会关于对同性婚姻立场的宣言》（简称《宣言》）。

记者会上，南塔光浸信会主任顾奇伟牧师代表纽约华人基督教同工会大声宣读了《宣言》，向社区大众清楚表明华人教会就同性恋相关议题的圣经立场，令在场人士肃然起敬。

《宣言》的诞生具有重要的历史意义。一方面，它显示出大纽约华人教会捍卫圣经立场反对同性婚姻的决心，在维护传统婚姻上获得历史性的突破，向前迈出信心的一大步；另一方面，《宣言》彰显了教会的合一，势必大大推动全球华人教会在同性恋议题上更加积极主动，敢于表达圣经立场。

《宣言》不仅停留在口头，必将落实在实际行动上。本周日及下周一举行的袁幼轩教授特会就是纽约华人教会维护传统婚姻行动的第一步（点击此处看袁教授特会介绍）。届时，袁教授将在特会中讲述他从同性恋、毒枭、囚徒到神学教授的传奇见证，影响社区正确看待同性恋议题。

据纽约华人基督教同工会书记顾奇伟牧师表示，迄今为止，约有40位教牧同工透过签署《宣言》表达对传统婚姻的支持。他还盼望更多的大纽约牧者签署，有意者请和纽约华人基督教同工会联络，电话：(917)673-3245，电邮：rock4god2002@gmail.com。

以下是《纽约华人基督教同工会关于对同性婚姻立场的宣言》（中英版）全文

婚姻是神的精心设计，也是社会结构的最基本单位。 2011年六月纽约州通过同性婚姻法案，2012年五月奥巴马总统宣布支持同性婚姻，造成婚姻伦理极大的混乱。身为教会牧者，保护婚姻价值的工作刻不容缓。我们不因法律的限制，或以所谓平等权力的实施而对真理认知静默不语。有关同性婚姻的争议是关乎圣经真理和立场的是非问题，教会持守圣经原则、坚守反对同性恋的立场非常重要。为此纽约华人基督教同工会发表以下宣言：

一：我们相信一夫一妻制是神的心意

婚姻是一男一女的结合。夫妻二人连为一体，是上帝创造时所命定。在一男一女的婚姻关系中，完成养儿育女、成为父母、荣耀上帝的使命。这是形成人类社会的基础。

二：我们相信圣经清楚指出同性恋为罪

"不可与男人苟合，像与女人一样，这本是可憎恶的。"（利未记18:22）
"因此神任凭他们放纵可耻的情欲，他们的女人，把顺性的用处，变为逆性的用处，男人也是如此，弃了女人顺性的用处，欲火攻心，彼此贪恋，男和男行可羞耻的事，就在自己身上受这妄为当得的报应。"（罗马书1:26-27）

三：我们相信神的话："婚姻，人人都当尊重，床也不可污秽。因为苟合行淫的人，神必要审判。"（希伯来书13:4）

四："神爱世人，甚至将祂的独生子赐给他们，叫一切信祂的，不至灭亡，反得永生。"（约3:16）"因为世人都犯了罪、亏缺了神的荣耀．如今却蒙神的恩典、因基督耶稣的救赎、就白白的称义。"(罗3:23-24) 包括同性恋者，我们都是罪人，因耶稣基督的救赎成为新造的人。教会不认同同性恋行为，但关心接纳同性恋者，帮助他们脱离捆绑，在基督里得自由。

2012年九月

Chinese Christian Workers Inc.
Position Statement on Same-Sex Marriage

September 2012

Marriage is God\'s masterpiece and also the fundamental social unit. In June 2011 New York State passed the Same-Sex Marriage Law. In May 2012, President Obama stated his open support of gay marriage. These two events have created tremendous confusion concerning marriage and morality. As pastors and ministers of Christian churches, we must not delay to protect the sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman. We cannot keep silent simply because of regulations or the promotion of “equal rights”. The dispute over same-sex marriage concerns whether we stand on Biblical truths. It is of crucial importance that Christian churches maintain the principle of the Holy Bible and hold firmly to the opposition against same-sex marriage. Therefore, Chinese Christian Workers Inc. proclaims the following position statement:

We believe it is God’s will to have one man and one woman in marriage.

Marriage is the union of one man and one woman.“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24) is God’s intention at creation. In the marriage relationship of one man and one woman, the mission to become parents, to raise children and glorify God is accomplished. This forms the basic infrastructure of human society.

We believe the Bible clearly points out that homosexuality is a sin.

“You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.”(Leviticus 18:22)

“ For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.” (Romans 1:26-27)

We believe in the Word of God which says: “ Let marriage be held in honor among
all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.” (Hebrews 13:4)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in
Him should not perish but have eternal life.”(John 3:16) “ For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”(Romans 3:23-24) All of us, including homosexuals, are sinners and can be born again through the salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Chinese Christian church body does not condone homosexual behavior, but is concerned about homosexuals and is willing to help them break off from the chains of sin and enjoy true freedom in Christ.