The Nashville Statement: A Different Take

In case you hadn't heard, last week there was something that hit the news. It was portrayed negatively in the news media by some, applauded by others. It's called the Nashville Statement. You can look it up here: https://cbmw.org/nashville-statement/. It is a bunch of Evangelical Christians who got together to make a document about what Biblical Sexuality looks like in addition to various affirmations and denials of said sexuality. Most of the news media took this and spun it to say that it was a bunch of bigots and hateful people who signed it.

I've read the document. I've looked at the names on the list. Some of them I've at least heard of. I don't know anyone personally on the list who signed it. The people that I've heard of that signed it are Christians who stand for Biblical values, regardless of what they are. However, I personally have not signed it. Why not, you ask? Let me answer that question like this: I stand for Biblical principles. Most of the items contained in the statement I completely agree with. But there are things I believe that are not contained in that statement. I do not need to sign a document stating that I believe one thing or another about biblical sexuality. My God has a book that states all of this already, plus more. He knows what I stand for and stand against.

The biggest problem with that document is that people will not come in droves to our churches and ministries because we signed that statement. In fact, they are, more than likely, sure to steer clear of our ministry. Why? Because they see us as hate-filled bigots. Are we? No. Most of us probably are not. However, they do not personally know us just like we personally do not know them. The problem with the posturing back and forth at what's right and wrong is the fact that no relationships are being built. The first priority of the Christian is to make disciples. We cannot make disciples if we are not making relationships. Sins aren't usually let go of until after conversion happens. We cannot expect the people of the world to look and act like Christians. Heck, Christians have a hard time looking and acting like Christians. I mean, I mess up daily. Don't you? So how in the world can we expect someone who doesn't know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior to know and act on these morals? Truth is, we can't. They won't until they have someone show them the freedom that comes in the Christian life. The Nashville Statement, while a good thought and filled with sound doctrine, does nothing but alienate people. In that regards, the document isn't accomplishing anything but drawing a line in the sand. Instead of drawing lines in the sand, we need to be tearing down walls. Building up relationships and showing the love, grace, forgiveness and freedom that Christ first showed us.

The purpose of this article isn't to bash The Nashville Statement or anyone who signed it. The purpose of me writing this is to shed a different perspective on this whole situation. Gears are shifting here in America. We are going from a Christian culture to a progressively anti-Christian culture. We can no longer do things the way we've always done them. We can no longer stand up and shout at the top of our lungs how wrong the latest trend is that is sweeping the culture. We stand up and proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and show people why we don't partake in certain things. Instead of telling them simply that they're going to Hell, explain the solution to that problem. Explain that Jesus Christ is the remedy for the sin and condemnation to Hell. Explain that everyone, no matter the sin, has the ability to come to Him and be forgiven. Most of all, we need to get off our moral high horses and remember that we are a low-down, dirty, sin-filled person too - who has simply been redeemed and made a new creation by Christ. We need to remember that we were redeemed by grace by Christ - that there wasn't a darn thing we did to earn it. We simply came to Him and asked forgiveness. That's what The Nashville Statement tries to accomplish. The problem is that people can't see around the sexual rhetoric encased in that statement. I simply pray eyes are opened and hearts are softened to the message of Christ, whether through The Nashville Statement, or some other means like evangelism and relationship building.