Our Church’s View on Homosexuality and Transgenderism

Homosexuality is learned: 

It could begin at a young age, during this early sensitive time, we may be exposed to stimulus in the environment that cause us to become attracted to the same sex. For example: a child sees a sensual/erotic image in his environment that triggers him to develop sexual attraction towards the same sex. This image is then recalled by the child in his mind in the form of mental imagery, and if not self corrected early on, it can become habituated in the child’s mind over time. However, this is difficult for the child to self reframe because these thoughts and mental images are occurring internally within the child’s mind, he has not developed the self awareness or the self will to reframe, and thus allowing those mental images to arise and dwell in his mind.

And since the human sexual drive is such a deep seated emotional mechanism, once this habit develops – or once those neural networks are formed and solidified, it can become difficult to break.

Later, as the child ages and enter into adolescence, he may find himself in the state of uncertainty. He may start questioning himself, he may ask why am I attracted to the same sex? Could I be gay? Then he may start identifying with this identity. Once he assigns/accepts himself with this identity, he made the choice to be gay.

Identifying to be gay is a choice, but this choice starts out unconsciously and subconsciously early on, and then it becomes a conscious choice later on.

What is our church’s position on homosexuality?

Our church looks at this topic from the parental points of view – the fatherly perspective and the motherly perspective.

First, the fatherly perspective would say we should do our best to reframe from erroneous choices. When God granted us freewill, which is a magnificent gift, we also assumed the responsibility that comes with this freewill, that includes doing our best to choose rightly and reframing from erroneous choices. God designed male and female to be partners for necessary reasons. And we as children of God should adhere to the way She has intended.

The motherly perspective on homosexuality is that God is an all loving Mother. She loves Her child always. Under no circumstances She would abandon Her child. Thus, the motherly perspective ultimately prevails. Our church’s stance on homosexuality is that if our members ultimately decide to be gay after they have become an adult, then our church would accept them just as how God accepts them.

We empathize that the decision/choice to be gay should be made after the individual has become an adult or 10,000 days old. The reason being that a child’s mind is still developing, he/she has not gained enough experience and developed the faculties to make such a important decision that will impact them for the rest of their lives. Thus we asked that our members to wait until they have become an adult before making their decision.

Our church’s view on gay marriage:

Gay adult couples are permitted to get married in our church.

Should gay couples have children?

The duty to provide care and guidance to our children is a big responsibility assigned to us. To raise our children properly requires the right teachings from both male and female parents. Each sex offers it’s own unique emotional and nurturing skills needed to guide/bring up the child properly. God designed male and female distinctly different, with each offering complimentary skills and tools to shape and mold our children rightly.

Without a proper balance of nurturing from each sex – the mother and the father, the child may not be set up to develop into his/her best self emotionally. And therefore, our church urges our gay members to consider the wellbeing of the children and forgo having them (through surrogacy or adoption).

Our church’s view on transgenderism:

Similar to the topic on homosexuality, we believe transgenderism is a choice, and this choice is influenced by the environment and upbringing.

Similar to our view on homosexuality, our church takes the parental points of view – the fatherly perspective and the motherly perspective. The fatherly perspective says that we should reframe from erroneous choices and adhere to the way God has intended. The motherly perspective is that God doesn’t abandon Her child, She always love Her child. Thus, our church accepts transgender members. Choice ultimately prevails.

However, we believe this decision/choice should be made after the individual has become an adult, which is 10,000 days old in our belief system. As mentioned, the reason is because a child’s mind is not mentally and emotionally matured enough to make such a decision/choice. A child simply has not have enough time and experience to gain the necessary faculties to make such a big life-altering decision, especially involving irreversible hormonal and physical alterations to his/her body. Therefore our church asks our members to wait until adulthood to make this choice/decision.