spring lake church
biblical positions on cultural topics

At Spring Lake Church, we adhere to the same doctrine as the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA) which is summed up by this quote: "In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, charity. In all things, Jesus Christ." Essential doctrines are of vital importance and pertain to salvation. Without a correct understanding and acceptance of these things, we will not be forgiven or receive eternal life. Non-essential doctrines are still of vital importance, but are not matters of salvation. They pertain to the health of the church and the spiritual vitality of the believer. This document summarizes what the leadership at Spring Lake Church believes the Bible teaches about many of the critical issues that are impacting our culture today.

Marriage is a covenantal relationship instituted by God going back to the Creation as described in the book of Genesis (Genesis 2:24). After creating Adam, the Lord saw that man needed a helpmate if he was to fulfill His command to spread His rule and reign over the face of the earth (Genesis 2:18-23). Eve was created out of Adam’s side as that helpmate and so began the institution of marriage as referenced by Jesus in Matthew 19:4-6 (NIV).

“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

Marriage was created by God, so He alone determines the purpose, nature, and boundaries of this covenantal relationship between one man and one woman. Marriage was designed to be a compelling picture of the Gospel, displaying the love Christ has for the Church and simultaneously mirroring the kind of love we see in the Godhead. God is the head of every marriage. Husbands are to be the sacrificial, servant leaders of their wives, laying down their lives as Christ does for the Church (Ephesians 5:25-29, 33; Colossians 3:19, 1 Peter 3:7). Wives are called to come under that loving, gentle leadership in a way that honors and glorifies God (Ephesians 5:22-33). Sex was designed to take place only in the context of this covenantal relationship, which makes all other extramarital sexual participation, whether before or during the marriage, outside of God’s design for sexual intimacy (Matthew 5:31-32, 19:9; 1 Corinthians 7:2, Hebrews 13:4).

Marriage is meant to be a picture of the gospel, and is a covenantal relationship between God, the husband, and wife. It is our view that no marriage is beyond redemption through Jesus. Regrettably, sin has marred the divine design of marriage as displayed in Genesis 3, sometimes turning a harmonious covenantal relationship into a competition for power and control between husband and wife (Genesis 3:16). In the wake of the Fall in Genesis 3, the Bible allows for the covenant to end either by death or in divorce in certain instances where there has been adultery or abandonment by an unbelieving spouse (1 Corinthians 7:15; Matthew 5:31-32, 19:9). Under these exceptions, it is our position that when there has been unrepentant adultery (any sex outside of marriage) or abuse (emotional, verbal, psychological, financial, or physical) committed by one spouse against the other that the offending spouse has abandoned their marriage vows. Such abuse or abandonment permits the offended spouse to no longer be in that marriage should they so choose (1 Corinthians 7:15). Having said that, we believe that qualified biblical counselors, church leadership, and the church community should be involved in helping couples in these situations navigate what wisdom and faithfulness to Christ looks like according to the Word of God. The hope, even in these exceptions, is for reconciliation and restoration of the marriage. At the same time, we recognize that unrepentant and ongoing adultery and abuse fall under the category of abandoning the marriage (1 Corinthians 7:15-16). In the case of abuse, we believe this is a violation of the personhood and value given to every human being made in God’s image. Therefore, safety must be prioritized for all those involved. In addition, separation is sometimes warranted for the purpose of individual healing before marriage matters can be addressed.

In the case of remarriage, we believe that remarriage is allowed in instances where the previous spouse has died (1 Corinthians 7:39). We also believe remarriage is allowed where a divorce was biblically permissible as outlined above and reconciliation with the former spouse is no longer an option. Remarriage must be entered into with much care and counsel, allowing time for healing and recovery from whatever caused the previous marriage to no longer exist.

The Bible teaches that sex is a gift from God to be shared between one man and one woman in a life-long marriage relationship (Genesis 2:23-25) and all sexual activity that falls outside of these parameters is sinful. The umbrella term for this kind of sin is “sexual immorality”. Believers are directly told to have nothing to do with this kind of behavior (1 Corinthians 6:18-20; Ephesians 5:3). God’s blueprint for human flourishing in the area of sexuality has two paths: fidelity to one’s spouse in marriage and chastity in singleness.

Sexual immorality extends not just to physical action, but also to the ways that we view one another. When we look at someone lustfully, we objectify, degrade & commit adultery in our hearts (Matthew 5:28). Spring Lake Church considers the viewing of all pornography as sinful since it glorifies lust and sexual immorality. We are committed to helping men and women find victory over these temptations and live lives of purity through grace and forgiveness.

All of human existence, including our sexuality, has been deeply damaged by the Fall into sin (Genesis 3; Romans 1:22-32, 5:12). This side of the Fall, every individual has desires, which if acted upon would result in sinful disobedience to God (Galatians 5:17). Therefore, we should determine the boundaries for sexual ethics not based on our desires, but God’s revealed Word. We do not claim to know the exact source of same-sex sexual attraction, and do not believe that simply experiencing that temptation or attraction is sin. However, Scripture clearly teaches that same sex sexual activity is sinful (Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 Timothy 1:9-10; cf. Leviticus 18:22), and based on Jesus’ teaching, we also conclude that same-sex lust is sinful (Matthew 5:27-28).
Just as with any other sin, those who have struggled in this area can repent and find forgiveness and transformation through Jesus (1 Corinthians 6:11). Therefore, we are committed to helping anyone struggling with same-sex attraction to place their identity in Christ, overcome temptation and live a life of holiness. Finally, our commitment to the biblical sexual ethic should not in any way be seen as condoning the mistreatment of those who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual. All people are made in God’s image and are worthy of dignity, honor, and respect (Genesis 1:26-27). We are a church community that stands upon biblical truth and is radically generous and hospitable to those who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual.

Scripture teaches that God created human beings as His embodied representatives (Genesis 1:26-27). We are each given a body by God, not as a meaningless shell of our “true self”, but as an integral part of who we are (Psalm 139:13-16). Jesus’ own incarnation and resurrection affirm the goodness of our human bodies and remind us that they matter to God. One essential aspect of our embodiment is the biological sex of our bodies as either male or female. We read in Genesis 1:27 that God created human beings in His image, as male and female.

Then, as Genesis 2 expands on the creation of humans, we see men and women’s equality and differences affirmed. The differences between male and female are a part of God’s good design for human beings. We are meant to receive our maleness or femaleness humbly as a gift, just as we receive many other aspects of our personhood. Though throughout human history, different culture shave expressed masculinity and femininity in different ways, God’s people have always been commanded to recognize and maintain differences between male and female as a way of recognizing God’s good design (Deuteronomy 22:5; 1 Corinthians 11:2-16). One of sin’s effects onGod’s good world is that some people experience mental distress or discomfort with their biological sex – generally referred to as “gender dysphoria.” Others don’t align with stereotypical attributes of masculinity or femininity and so choose to label themselves transgender, non-binary, or gender non-conforming. Our posture towards those who feel this way should begin with compassion and care.

We must treat each individual with the dignity and honor that fellow image-bearers deserve. Yet, we want to come alongside those struggling and help them embrace the sexed body that God has given them and the unique gifts that come with being male or female. We believe that transitioning socially or medically only takes one further away from God’s design and will ultimately lead to heartache and pain.

We affirm the sanctity of life as an absolute truth, a divine gift from God. From the moment of conception to natural death, each life, created in God's image, possesses intrinsic worth (Genesis 1:26-27, 25:21-22; Luke 1:41-44; Psalm 139:13-16). In a society where the respect for life is often compromised, we stand unwaveringly in defense of its dignity and value. We offer loving compassion and forgiveness to those who have experienced abortion, reassuring them of their worth and the hope of healing through the gospel. We unequivocally advocate for the God-given right of every individual to live a full life, as ordained by their Creator, without compromise or exception.

First and foremost, we are citizens of the Kingdom of God (Philippians 3:20). We live as ambassadors of Christ in our world (2 Corinthians 5:20). Spring Lakers who are also citizens of the United States have the right to vote and engage in politics. We are thankful for the religious freedom we are granted in this country and pray for our political leaders. Spring Lake Church will not endorse specific candidates. We encourage our attenders and members to become informed and vote in a way that honors their role as ambassadors of Christ and reflects biblical principles. We also caution Spring Lakers to not put politicians, political parties, and/or political ideologies above our allegiance and devotion to Jesus Christ.

All people are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). This divine design gives each person their purpose and value and lays the foundation for how we are to treat people of different ethnicities, languages, and backgrounds. However, sin has negatively impacted mankind’s treatment of one another. Such attitudes or behavior is never justified. Despite sin’s devastating impact, God’s image remains in each person. His plan is to bless all people of the world through faith in Jesus (Genesis 18:18; Matthew 28:19; Revelation 7:9). Jesus breaks down the wall of hostility between people (Ephesians 2:14-22) and makes them one. The diversity of languages, ethnicities and backgrounds should be celebrated in the church as it reflects the purpose of God in the church. It also impacts how we treat those outside the church as the gospel, which we share through our words, actions, and attitudes, is for all people. There is no room for a spirit of superiority over others in the heart of a believer (Philippians 2:1-8). Therefore, we oppose a spirit of racism that divides, mistreats, or ridicules others and which does not reflect the heart of the God we serve.