statement of faith

 As an evangelical organization that cooperates with Christians from a variety of churches, denominations, and traditions, GracePlace MKE gladly adopts the following statement of faith from Langham Partnership, an interdenominational coalition of Christians from around the globe.

1. There is one, eternal God, Creator and Lord of the universe who, in the unity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, both governs all things according to God’s will and is accomplishing God’s purpose in the world and in the church.

2. The Holy Scripture in its entirety is inspired by God’s Spirit through human authors and constitutes the revelation of God’s truth to humanity. It is wholly true and trustworthy in all that it affirms. Whatever the Bible, rightly interpreted, is found to teach, we are bound to believe and obey. It is our supreme authority in every matter of belief and conduct.

3. All human beings are created in God’s own likeness and therefore have inherent value and equality before God. Human sin and guilt since the fall have rendered us subject to God’s wrath and condemnation and have resulted in our alienation from God’s life, suppression of God’s truth and hostility to God’s law. God’s love desires all to come to repentance and to be reconciled rather than condemned.

4. Salvation from the guilt, penalty and all other consequences of sin has been achieved solely through the work of Jesus Christ – his perfect obedience, substitutionary death, bodily resurrection and exaltation as Lord. Jesus alone is truly God and truly human, the only mediator between God and humanity. There is salvation through no other person, creed, process or power. Each sinner is justified before God and reconciled to God only by divine grace appropriated by faith alone.

5. The work of the Holy Spirit is necessary for the individual’s new birth and growth to maturity. The Holy Spirit empowers and indwells the church, enabling its constant renewal in truth, wisdom, faith, holiness, love, ministry, power and mission.

6. There is one, holy, universal and apostolic church, which is the Body of Christ, and to which all true believers belong. The church’s calling is to worship God forever and to serve God in the world.

7. As the Father sent the Son into the world, so the Lord Jesus Christ sends his church to participate in God’s mission by words and works. The church is called: to make Christ known; to proclaim God’s truth and the gospel of God’s grace; to make disciples among all nations; to exhibit God’s character through compassionate care for the needy; to demonstrate the reality of God’s kingdom through creative and sacrificial living, the community of love, the quest for righteousness, justice and peace, and the care of God’s creation.

8. As the Lord Jesus ascended to his Father, so he will return personally, visibly and in glory. He will raise the dead and bring salvation and judgment to final completion. God will then fully establish his Kingdom and finish the new creation – a new heaven and a new earth from which all evil and evildoers, all suffering and death, will be excluded and in which God will be glorified forever.

We believe that God created humankind male and female in his own image and likeness, and that Scripture, beginning with Genesis 1-2, reveals God’s glorious design for marriage and human sexuality. Marriage is ordained by God to be an exclusive, lifelong, and covenantal union of one man and one woman, which signifies the relationship between Christ and his Church, and involves two partners who are both similar (i.e., human) and different (i.e., opposite sex) joining together for the sake of mutual support and, ordinarily, for the generation of humanity. We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to be enjoyed exclusively within this marriage covenant, and that any inward cultivation or outward expression of sexual desire apart from the one-flesh bond between husband and wife is out of accord with God’s creational intent, and therefore against his good and gracious will. (Mal. 2:14; Matt. 19:4–6; Gen. 2:24; 1 Cor. 6:12–7:5; Gen. 1:28; Mal. 2:15; Gen. 2:18; Eph. 5:22–33; 1 Pet. 3:7; Col. 3:18–19; Gen. 2:25; Matt. 5:28; Matt. 19:9; Gal. 5:19–21)

We believe that God instituted the nuclear family at creation as the most basic unit of physical kinship; that marriage and the family are therefore good; and that stewarding these bonds in obedience to Christ is one of the primary means by which the Kingdom of God expands. We also believe that every Christian has been adopted into the family of God, and that the bonds of spiritual kinship between brothers and sisters of faith are in fact deeper and more fundamental to Christian self-understanding than natural family relationships. We believe that the local church should be a place in which all Christians experience true belonging and genuine intimacy, and that God gives each member of his household—married and unmarried alike—unique opportunities to extend welcome and hospitality so that all might partake in the joys, benefits, and responsibilities of kinship. (Prov. 22:6; Eph. 1:5; Gal. 4:4–5; Eph. 2:19; 3:15; Rom 12:5; Matt. 12:50; 19:29; Col. 1:1–14; 1 Cor. 12)

We believe that sin entered the world as a result of the rebellion of Adam and Eve and now permeates every aspect of creation, including human sexuality. Along with every form of sexual desire apart from the one-flesh bond between husband and wife, we believe that same-sex sexual desire experienced by gay, lesbian, bisexual, and other same-sex-attracted people is a product of the Fall; that same-sex sexual desire was not a pre-Fall reality; and that same-sex sexual desire will not exist in the new creation, after the return of Christ. (Gen. 3; Gen. 6:5; Jer. 17:9; Rom. 3:10–19; 1 Cor. 6:9–10; Matt. 22:30)

Christian Obedience and Sanctification

We believe God calls his people to a life of holiness, and that it is the responsibility of every Christian to turn away from all illicit sexual desire, and to steward their sexuality in obedience to Christ. Further, we believe that both singleness and marriage are vocations to be honored and commended by the Church. We believe that all Christians who joyfully embrace celibacy—whether on a temporary basis before marrying, or as a lifelong pattern of faithfulness—uniquely model the life of the world to come, when the people of God neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like the angels. (Matt. 5:8,48; 1 Cor. 6:13; Heb. 13:4; 1 Cor. 7:6–9; Matt. 19:10-12; Matt. 22:30)

We believe that theological dialogue about the nature of sexual orientation is necessary, and that continued conversation regarding the discipleship and spiritual care of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and other same-sex attracted Christians is especially important. While discussions about terminology can be fruitful, we believe they can also cause unnecessary division within the family of God and needless pain for many non-straight Christians. Whether individuals choose “gay” or “same-sex-attracted” to describe their orientation and experience is a matter of wisdom and liberty, and should not divide believers who otherwise share a commitment to historic Christian teaching about marriage and sexuality. (2 Tim. 2:14)

We believe that all Christians have been given a new spiritual identity in their union with Jesus Christ, through the work of the Holy Spirit, and as a result of their adoption by the Father as sons and daughters in God’s family. We believe that this spiritual identity constitutes the core reality of Christian existence; that it is the truest element of Christian personhood; and that it should therefore be the central feature of Christian self-understanding. As those who share one Lord, one faith, and one baptism, we believe that other features within the composite of individual identity—such as nationality, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation—do not change or add to this spiritual identity, but should be ordered in relation to this ultimate identity in Christ, which unites all within the household of God. (Rom. 6:6; 1 Pet. 2:9; 1 John 3:1–2; Phil. 3:8; Rom. 8:12–17; Phil. 3:4–11; Acts 22:25–28; 1 Cor. 9:19–23)

We believe that the Christian tradition celebrates deep, committed relationships between believers that are marked by spiritual intimacy, emotional connection, and even chaste, non-sexual expressions of physical affection. Such expressions of intimacy and affection should be ordered according to the patterns and principles of spiritual kinship that exist within God’s family. As modeled by Jesus and his disciples, we believe that the pursuit of intimate, rich, platonic friendship is consistent with the biblical witness and Christian tradition, and that such relationships can be marked by varying degrees of permanence, affection, and a shared sense of partnership in life and ministry. (John 13:1–20; 21:12; 1 Sam. 18:3, 20:17,42)

We believe that all Christians have the capacity for both sinful (i.e., fleshly) and holy (i.e., Spiritual) desire for relationship with other people; that intimate friendship between believers can be a means of sanctification; and that the Holy Spirit can direct and shape affection for other image-bearers in ways that honor their dignity and celebrate their unique personhood. We believe that Christians should seek wisdom and prudence when entering any relationship marked by greater intimacy, and that believers must exercise care and resolve to avoid all forms of temptation. We believe that Christians must actively resist and turn away from every thought, action, desire, or behavior that does not align with God’s revealed intentions for human sexuality, since we are not our own, but belong—body and soul, both in life and in death—to our faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. (Rom. 8:12–13; Col. 3:5)

We believe that Christians should live for the glory of God, the good of their neighbors, and the mutual flourishing of their spiritual brothers and sisters in the Church; that authentic obedience to Christ is empowered by the Holy Spirit and expressed in self-sacrificial love; and that all Christian conduct should be blameless and above reproach for the sake of genuine  sanctification and a compelling Christian witness.

We believe that the mission of every Christian is to bear witness to the arrival of God’s Kingdom in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and to his present reign over all creation; that obeying his twofold command to love God and neighbor is the joyful task of every believer; and that this law of love must shape the witness of the Church in every time and place within God’s world. We believe that love of Christ compels his disciples to bear witness to God’s truth and grace in every new trial and opportunity; that cultural shifts brought about by the Sexual Revolution (1960’s to the present) require a clear and compassionate response; and that Christians are called to offer a joyful and compelling witness to Christ’s redeeming love among all people, including members of the LGBTQ+ community. (Matt. 28:18–20; Matt. 22:36–40; John 13:34–35)

We believe that the Spirit of God is active on the stage of history and in the hearts of God’s children, and that the Church is invited to play an active role in expanding God’s Kingdom. Praise to God for his work in the world is an essential mark of faithful Christian witness. (Acts 9:31; Eph. 3:10)

Personhood and Dignity

In the beginning, God created humankind in his own image to represent his wise and gracious rule in the world, and to mirror his goodness as those who are fearfully and wonderfully made. Each person, including those within the LGBTQ+ community, reflects this image, possesses inherent honor and dignity, and is worthy of contributing to and benefitting from the common good of the societies to which they belong. We praise God for this. (Gen. 1:26–28; Ps. 139)

Care and Compassion

God reveals throughout Scripture his special desire to care for the vulnerable, to protect his image bearers from unchecked evil, and to establish justice and equity in his world. God has compassion on the needy and the oppressed—including those who suffer mistreatment on account of their perceived expression of gender or sexuality—and He invites all people to receive salvation in Jesus Christ, rest in His mercy, and trust in His tender care. We praise God for this.

Family and Belonging

God demonstrates that he is Father to the fatherless by welcoming into His family all who trust in Jesus, and by adopting them as his beloved sons and daughters. He invites all people to find family in the Church, and equips each member of the Body of Christ to minister His presence to their siblings in the faith. Further, Christ calls his church to be a people of hospitality so that all men and women—including members of the mainstream LGBTQ+ community—might taste the joys and blessings of kinship. We praise God for this.

We believe that human finitude limits all attempts to understand the complexity of God’s world, and that indwelling sin taints every effort to apply the gospel of Christ to its many and varied challenges. Lament toward God on account of sin, evil, and brokenness in ourselves, the Church, and the world, is an essential mark of faithful Christian witness.

Public Life and Justice

Many Christians have been slow to confront mistreatment of LGBTQ+ people, whether in the form of degrading stereotypes, unjust practices in a variety of different social contexts (such as secular housing or employment discrimination), or even acts of violence and persecution in various parts of the world. Sadly, these forms of mistreatment are often compounded by additional factors, as in the case of LGBTQ+ people of color. Many of these men and women never experience the Life offered in the gospel and will die before encountering any Christian who loves them in the way of Jesus. We lament this.

Christian Ministry and Discipleship

Evangelical Christian culture in North America has produced organizations, institutions, and ministries that frequently meet the needs of biological, nuclear families, but often neglect to care for unmarried people in general, and LGBTQ+ people in particular. Traditional Christian faith communities regularly promote forms of discipleship that elevate marriage, romance, and sexual pleasure over the unmarried state, implicitly suggesting that a life of singleness and celibacy is inferior or unfulfilling. Moreover, many leaders and organizations have avoided the duty of listening to people who experience same-sex attraction in order to understand the variety of ways in which their sexual orientation shapes their experience in the church and in the world. Many of these men and women have been deeply wounded by their families of origin on account of their orientation, and also experience great isolation and loneliness in the church. We lament this.

Doctrinal Practice and Culture

Evangelical Christian culture has been widely shaped by “ex-gay theology” and a variety of  ministries which promote the pursuit of orientation change as a chief measure of sanctification for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and other same-sex attracted Christians. Many of these believers have learned to measure their human value and spiritual maturity by the degree to which they experience heterosexual desire, and to question the legitimacy of their faith on account of its absence or inconsistency. Thousands of men and women have suffered great spiritual harm and continue to live with deep emotional scars as a result of their participation in ministries focused on orientation change. Moreover, Christians have often disregarded the inherent dignity of LGBTQ+ people as fellow image-bearers of God, treating them more as political enemies than as people whom Jesus calls his church to love. Many LGBTQ+ people long to hear Christian leaders apologize for these unbiblical and damaging approaches to ministry, discipleship, and public life. We lament this.

We believe that God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem his broken creation and to make all things new; that victory over sin and death is sure on account of the shed blood of Jesus Christ; and that the family of God will soon be united in Glory. Hope in God on account of His sovereign grace is an essential mark of faithful Christian witness.

Salvation By Grace

According to the good news of the gospel, all whom Jesus saves are simultaneously sinful, yet counted righteous in the eyes of God by grace alone through faith in the perfect life, atoning death, and victorious resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave. Despite the ongoing presence of sin in every human person, Christians can rest secure in the love, delight, and affection of their Heavenly Father. This spiritual reality creates space for believers who find themselves attracted to the same sex to be honest about their orientation and its related struggles, to receive freedom from the grip of sin and shame, and to steward their sexuality in joyful faith and confident obedience. The faithful witness of these Christians who choose obedience to God over other earthly longings prophetically points to the beauty of Jesus, and inspires other believers to join in similarly radical forms of discipleship. Jesus is our hope.

Union with Christ

According to the good news of the gospel, the Church is comprised of all who turn from sin and trust in the saving work of Jesus. As those who have been united to him by faith and by his Spirit, the church is both the object of Christ’s pursuit, and the embodiment of his work in the world. Christ continues this work through his body, the Church, as believers in every time and place are empowered by his Spirit to become servants of all: drawing those on the margins into the community of faith, welcoming them with his mercy and love, and highlighting their unique honor and status in the Kingdom of God. Jesus is our hope.

Life in the Spirit

According to the good news of the gospel, Christ will soon return to make all things new, and to establish a world in which sin, death, sickness, and tears will be no more. This future age of life and resurrection is now present in the ongoing ministry of the Holy Spirit, as Christ animates his Body to bear witness in the world to the free grace of God; unites God’s people in truth and in love; and comforts believers with the knowledge that God’s promises are true. As those who now live as aliens and sojourners awaiting the world to come, the family of God looks with great hope and expectation for the day when they finally behold the full majesty and glory of their Father in heaven. Jesus is our hope.