Statement on God’s Design for Marriage, Gender, and Human Sexuality

Authority

We believe in the plenary, verbal inspiration of the whole Bible and that it is the supreme and final authority in faith and life. (2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:20–21) The Bible speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, and it is the ultimate source for all that we believe.

For purposes of Cadence International’s faith, doctrine, policy, conduct, and discipline matters, the Cadence Board of Directors, in coordination with the Cadence Executive Leadership Team, is the organization’s interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.

Marriage and Family

We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person male and female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. (Genesis 1:26–27)

We believe and affirm that God created marriage to be a sacred, lifelong union between one man and one woman. (Genesis 2:22–24; Matthew 19:4–6; Mark 10:6–9) Marriage is intended to be an enduring covenantal relationship which reflects Christ’s own unconditional commitment to the Church. (Ephesians 5:25–27)

Biblical Boundaries on Sexual Practices

God’s design for human sexuality as revealed in Scripture is that sexual intimacy is a gift from God and is intended to be a physical and emotional expression of love and commitment between a man and a woman within the life-long, covenant relationship of marriage. (Genesis 2:24; Ephesians 5:22–33; 1 Corinthians 7:1–5; Hebrews 13:4)

The Bible reserves all sexual relationships to the confines of covenantal marriage. Participating in, promoting or nurturing the lust for premarital, extramarital, or homosexual behavior is a sin. (1 Corinthians 5:1–13; 6:9–11; 1 Thessalonians 4:1–8)

Affirming and building on the moral law of the Old Testament, (Leviticus 18:22; 20:13) the New Testament clearly includes homosexual behavior in the lists of sexual immorality and other sinful behavior to both abstain from and avoid. (Romans 1:25–27; 1 Corinthians 6:9–11; 1 Timothy 1:9–11)

Sexual celibacy is a worthy state for single men and women. Unmarried people who abstain from sex can be whole, mature persons who are just as pleasing to God as persons who are faithful in marriage. (Matthew 19:12; 1 Corinthians 7:1, 8)