Christ Lutheran Church
Cleveland, Ohio
by: Rev. Dean Kavouras, Pastor
May 19, 2025
Policy On Marriage And Sexuality
For the last 65 years the culture has been driving the church as regards marriage and sexuality; and many are saying that resistance is futile. But in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the power of His Holy Spirit, the church shall resist culture’s siren song, and call all Christians to holiness. Our chief Biblical warrant for what we are about to proclaim is as follows:
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. (1 Thes. 4:3-8)
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As regards marriage Christ Lutheran Church, in keeping with Holy Scripture and Christian Tradition, affirms that marriage is the life-long union of one man, and one woman in possession of a marriage license from the state. Any lesser version of this divine, holy and life-long union – which is a model of the relationship that exists between Christ the Bridegroom and the Church – is a pretense and scandal and must be avoided by all the baptized.
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Likewise marital intimacy is to be engaged only within the bonds of the marriage between husband and wife. Any other behavior is known in Scripture as adultery if married; and fornication if not married. Both of these are transgressions of Divine Law and draw the wrath of God; unless a person confess his/her sin, and receive absolution.
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For those who have sinned by living together without the benefit of marriage, the Lord calls them to repentance and absolution given by the church. In which case they will be cleansed from their sins and restored to Christ who is the Bridegroom. Then our God will once again restore “the joy of salvation” to such persons. (Psalm 51) In such case repentance includes separation of residences (unless there are children in common) the cessation of marital intimacy, and immediate application for a marriage license from the state.
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If anyone has committed fornication and then wishes to repent and be restored to the “joy of salvation” that person(s) must immediately cease marital intimacy until a marriage license is obtained and a private wedding ceremony is performed.
Blessed Scripture, God’s own Word, says in 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 “Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
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Also as regards persons engaged in homosexual sin, transgender sin, cross dressing, the bi-sexual sin, gender dysphoria and related errors, or approves of these behaviors, defies nature, reason, logic, human anatomy and Divine Law. Such behavior, or encouragement of it, is a momentous offense in the sight of God and puts a person on a collision course with God’s judgment – a most perilous place. All such errors are covered in the following verses of Sacred Scripture:
22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. 28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God,
God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. (Romans 1:22-32)
That said let all hear what the LORD says by the mouth of his prophet Ezekiel: “I do not desire the death of the sinner, says the LORD, but that the sinner should repent and live.” (Ezekiel 18:23). Also from the 130th Psalm, “Let Israel hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.” Moreover be sure to know that however far a person has fallen, or however inextricable a situation one has placed himself into that our God with whom “nothing is impossible” (Luke 1:38) will show you the way of escape. (1 Cor. 10:13).
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Any and all Christians who transgress the Royal Law in these matters should attend Divine Liturgy regularly in order to pray, and to find the grace, strength and wisdom to change one’s ways. However no one who lives in unrepentant sin (of any sort) may commune at the Lord’s Holy Altar unless he has first turned from his sin, and received absolution. “No one who abides in Him keeps on sinning …” (1 John 3:6)
To receive Holy Communion “unworthily,” which means: without repentance and absolution, is deadly to the soul. (1 Corinthians 11:27-30 ESV) And so let all Christians hear St. Peter’s words: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 5:6-11 ESV)
And so to set the record straight, whatever may have gone unaddressed in the past, no longer will.
Blessed Scripture, God’s own Word, says, “Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:18-20)
It is the doctrine of the Holy Christian Religion that the Law of God be preached and applied never to harm the sinner, but so that the wrongdoer should repent and save himself from this “perverse generation.” (Acts 2:40)
In closing let us all hear this word from our Lord Jesus Christ, “Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Mt. 11:28)
DCK
May 19, 2025