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Q: I just wondering what the Gospel Hall's stance was on homosexuality? Would a homosexual be welcome at a Gospel Hall? Also what is its stance on gay marriage? Thanks! A: There are two stances that most assemblies with the name Gospel Hall on the building would take - one stance in relation to the general public and the other as to homosexuality within the membership of the church. 1) Homosexuality is a sin. The Bible consistently tells us that homosexual activity is a sin (Genesis 19:1-13; Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9). Romans 1:26-27 teaches specifically that homosexuality is a result of denying and disobeying God. However, the world is full of all kinds of sin in addition to homosexual activity. All immoral behavior is condemned as wrong whether it be adultery, prostitution, pornography, fraud, deceit, malice, alcohol and drug abuse, idol worship, violence, murder, covetousness, greed etc. etc. The problem of sin is addressed during gospel preaching at the Gospel Hall. We do not to tell sinners to reform, try to leave their vices behind or promise to change their ways because the solution for our sinful condition is found in accepting the price of the punishment for our sins that Jesus Christ suffered on the cross. "For when we were still sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5:6. The entire world needs this salvation, regardless of their sexual activity. A non-homosexual person should feel no greater accomplishment in his status with God than the homosexual "There is no difference, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23 2) Homosexuality is excluded from the church. 1 Corinthians 5 is the Biblical guide to how a church should handle a list of specific sins that are contrary to biblically-defined godliness. Sexual immorality, greed, idolatry, slander, drunkenness or a swindler sadly appears among Christians even though such behavior is a contradiction of everything that God is. A person practicing such behavior obviously should be excluded from the local church until the person changes his behavior. Here is the chapter in its entirety. 1 Corinthians 5 1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father's wife. 2And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this? 3Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present. 4When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.
6Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? 7Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth. 9I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. 12What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you."
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Joel Hovey
