2 July, 2021

我们听闻国外一些卫理教会接纳同性婚姻议決案。虽然他们的決定对马来西亚卫理公会沒有影响（因为我们是自治的教会），但是许多人往深层去想，这会对各地教会引起的冲击。其实在某些程度上，这次的決定对我们马来西亚卫理公会是有影响的，因为我们的信徒确实要知道，我们在圣经信念方面对同性婚姻课题的立场。就是在国外的教会，同性婚姻从来沒有一致通过接纳的，这课题导致了教会的分裂，也使很多人为该決定伤痛。通常这项決定是基于人权观点而作出的。

我们要概括的提出三点：
1. 圣经的权威
2. 圣经的婚姻制度
3. 我们基督徒对同性婚姻的回应

壹）圣经是上帝权威性的话语
• 圣经是上帝所默示的 (提后3:16)，圣灵感应藉著人被写成的(彼后1:20-21)
• 圣经能教导我们有关救恩的训示（提后3:15），带领人们与上帝建立关系。换句话说，虽然圣经对历史和科学方面有辅助，但是我们却不能把圣经当作是历史或科学书籍，圣经主要的目的是带领我们与上帝建立关系。
• 既然圣经是上帝的话语，于教训、督察、使人归正、教导人学义都是有益的（提后3:16）。这表示上帝没有让我们疑惑什么是真理，什么是错误的，什么是对的，什么是错的。圣经教导我们应该怎样过圣洁生活。
• 虽然圣经是在特定文化下著作，这能教训、督察、使人归正、教导人学义的话语，并不只属于过去年代，乃是上帝昔在今在永在文化的话语。

贰）婚姻制度
• 我们是上帝所造的性别人类，男女都为上帝所创造。(创1:27)
• 一男一女的婚姻制度为上帝所设立的。(创2:24)
• 主耶穌确认婚姻的一男一女制。(太19:4-6)

叁）我们对同性婚姻的回应
• 基督徒应该忠于圣经新旧约的话语。
• 婚姻制度是上帝所设立的：由一男一女组成，一夫一妻制。
• 一夫一妻制是上帝所设立的，不是根据任何文化习俗的。这神圣制度是超时超文化的。
• 同性婚姻没有任何圣经的依据。
• 圣经不但没有支持同性婚姻，也反对任何在一男一女婚姻以外的性关系。
• 即使我们谨守圣经婚姻的教导，我们也要肯定圣经对邻舍的爱。虽然我们不能接纳同性婚姻，但是我们肯定不憎恨那些偏离圣经教导的人们。我们肯定我们爱邻舍的心。我们会敞开我们的心门、教会的门，给那些寻求和需要服事的人，迈向成为基督真正门徒的道路。
• 马来西亚卫理公会法規(2016年)说明：

301.3说明：“卫理公会认为，在分別会友出来担任牧职工作时，公开自称女同性恋、男同性恋、双性恋、跨性恋、奇性恋和性別不确定者都不能被举荐担任本会任何层面之职份。虽然如此，我们不能因此不以基督的爱牧养他们。”

• 在上述法規第三部的社会準则84.4e条例：“我们认为同性恋不符合基督教的教导。不过，我们接受同性恋者是具有神圣价值的人。教会致力于提供他们辅导、治疗、引导和关爱团契的灵性及情绪上的支持。＂

此外，在84.4f：“我们相信凡对自己性別感到混淆的人，需要上帝恩典的医治与转变能力，而不是采取变性手术。＂

     祈盼我们忠于上帝在圣经中所说的话，不屈服于任何歪曲上帝话语的教导。我们不能把上帝的话语视为古代文字，隨意按时尚文化和肉体情欲来诠释。我们作为一个教会，必須小心顾好我们的讲台、智力和情感，防患那些引入人为理论的人。与此同时，我们也不利用讲台取笑那些拒绝圣经生活方式的人。

     从人权的假设来辩论是个大谬论，因为人都恁己意诠释来争取人权。我们不要受以文化和政治正确观点为起点的辩论而影响。人心会改变，政治也会跟着文化起舞，我们却要忠于圣经教导。

     愿我们对马来西亚卫理公会常存祷告的心，并且忠心传扬上帝不变的话语。为偏离正道的人祷告，使他们回归正途。

马来西亚卫理公会会督理事会

2nd July 2021

Dealing with Same-Sex Union, Biblically and Pastorally

We are hearing of some Methodist Churches overseas who are approving same-sex marriage. Although their decision has no implication on the Methodist Church in Malaysia (as we are an autonomous Church), yet there are many who are thinking through its implications for the Church all over. In some ways, the decision has affected Methodists in Malaysia too, especially our lay members who genuinely want to know where the church really stands in terms of biblical convictions. Even in the churches overseas the same-sex marriage approval has never been arrived at unanimously. It has split churches and caused many to grieve over the decision taken. Often, the decision is made from the perspective of human rights.

We wish to state three things broadly:
1. The authority of the Bible
2. The institution of marriage as espoused in the Bible
3. Our Christian response to same-sex marriage

1. The Bible is the authoritative word of God
 It is “God-breathed” (2 Tim 3:16). Meaning, the Bible is the Word of God, brought into existence by the breath of God. The human authors wrote the Word of God under inspiration from God (2 Pet 1:20-21).
 The Word of God is able to instruct us for salvation (2 Tim 3:15). God has spoken to us through the Bible primarily to show us the way to come into a relationship with Him. In other words, the Bible is not to be used as a historical or a science book, although it does complement both. However, primarily it is a Book that leads us into a relationship with God.
 Since the Bible is the Word of God, it is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16). This is to say that God has not left us to wonder what truth is and what error is, what is right and what is wrong. The Bible is able to instruct us as to how we should live.
 While the Bible was written within particular cultures, this Word of God that is able to teach, rebuke, correct and train in righteousness is not a Word only for the past. It is the Word for the past, present and future cultures.

2. The institution of marriage
 We are all sexual beings created by God as male and female (Gen 1:27).
 Marriage is an institution established by God for a man and a woman (Gen 2:24)
 Our Lord Jesus affirmed the institution of marriage as it should be between a man and a woman (Mt 19:4-6).

3. Our Christian response to same-sex marriage
In view of the affirmations above, what then should our Christian response be to same-sex marriage?
 We must be faithful to the Word of God contained in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.
 Marriage is instituted by God in terms of heterosexual monogamy. It is a union between one man and one woman.
 Heterosexual marriage is God’s created order for humankind, and it is not something based on any culture of the past. It is a divine institution meant for all cultures of all times.
 Same-sex marriage does not find support in the Bible.
 The Bible is not only unsupportive of same-sex intercourse, but it is against any sexual relationship that deviates from the one man-one woman sexual act within the context of marriage.
 Even as we follow the teaching of the Bible about marriage, we must follow the teachings of the Bible with regards to loving our neighbours. While we do not accept same-sex union, we affirm that we do not hate those who deviate from the path stated in the Bible. We affirm our love for our neighbours. The doors of our hearts and the doors of our churches are open to anyone who will come to be ministered to, and be on the way to being a true disciple of Jesus Christ our Lord.
 In The Book of Discipline of the Methodist Church in Malaysia (MBOD 2016) the following is stated and we take cognizance of it:

“The Methodist Church believes that, in setting persons apart for ministry, self-avowed practicing LGBTQI (Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual, Trans-Sexual, Queers and Indeterminate) are not to be certified as candidates to serve at any level in the Methodist Church in Malaysia. Nonetheless, this does not prevent us from ministering to them with the love of Christ.” (301.3)

 In the section called Social Principles in the MBOD 2016, the following is stated:

“We consider the practice of homosexuality to be incompatible with Christian teachings. However, we do recognise that homosexual persons are individuals of sacred worth. The Church is committed to provide counselling, healing and guidance as well as the spiritual and emotional support of a caring fellowship.” (84.4e)

“We believe that individuals who are confused about their sexual identity need the healing and transforming power of God’s grace rather than sex-change operations.” (84.4f)

     We pray that we will be faithful to the Word of God that is contained in the Bible, and not give in to teachings that distort the Word of God. We must not treat the Word of God as an ancient text that can be interpreted according to cultural fashions and fleshly desires. We, as a Church, need to be careful that we guard our pulpits, our intellects, and our emotions from those who are eager to bring about man-made theories that cannot be sustained. At the same time the pulpit must not be used to ridicule those who reject the biblical lifestyle.

     To argue from the presupposition of human rights is a huge fallacy because each has his own way of interpreting rights and demanding rights. Let us not be swayed by arguments that want to be culturally and politically correct. Cultures will change and politics will adjust itself to cultures. We, on the other hand, must be faithful to the teachings of the Bible.

     Let us be prayerful for the Methodist Church in Malaysia and preach the unchanging Word of God faithfully. For those who have deviated from the truth, we pray for them to return to the Truth.

Blessings,
The Council of Bishops
The Methodist Church in Malaysia