Understanding Biblical Convictions and Cultural Expectations

Does the word “inclusion” simply serve as a cultural buzzword, or does its definition really matter? According to the Oxford Dictionary, inclusion is:

1. “The action or state of including or of being included within a group or structure.”
2. “The practice or policy of providing equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized.”

This definition seems balanced. However, the LGBTQ+ community often interprets inclusion as full acceptance, support, and celebration of all behaviours and lifestyle choices related to their sexuality and/or chosen identity.

Consider your local church. Which definition has your church adopted?

Inclusion in Practice

A member of the LGBTQ+ community could walk into most evangelical churches on Sunday mornings and participate in worship. In this sense, they experience inclusion like every other member of the congregation.

If two gay men or women started cuddling during worship, many evangelical Christians would be completely distracted. Is this distraction warranted? If so, based on the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Corinthian Church, we should be equally distracted (and unsettled) if a married man is cuddling with another woman in worship, since adultery and homosexuality should be equally convicting:

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

1 Corinthians 6:9-11, ESV

Depending on the level of cultural inclusion in a congregation, these situations might either go unnoticed by church members or be internally disruptive. This is where the congregation must choose inclusion based on biblical convictions or cultural expectations.

As Christians, we must always uphold the authority of Scripture and ensure our inclusivity aligns with biblical teachings.

The Practical Side of Inclusion

Let’s flip the scenario. What if a married heterosexual couple was cuddling during a worship gathering? In almost every congregation, it would go unnoticed. Why is that? Is it just cultural expectation, or is there a deeper conviction at play?

This raises practical questions about inclusivity and how it plays out in everyday life. What behaviours are automatically considered acceptable, versus what culture is forcing us to accept? When defining inclusion, every Christian should ask deeper questions:

• Is my inclusivity biblically defensible?
• Does my standard for inclusivity fit within Christian discipleship?
• Am I living out Christ-centred inclusivity, helping every person become more like Jesus?

We shouldn’t be surprised or ashamed when inclusivity in the church looks and acts differently than in culture. Consider Paul’s call to action, given in his letter to the Roman Church:

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Romans 12:1-2, ESV

Balancing Grace and Truth

In navigating LGBTQ+ inclusion, we must balance grace and compassion with biblical truth. Jesus calls us to extend grace to everyone, including those who identify as LGBTQ+, while also upholding the truths of Scripture.

This balance is crucial in reflecting Christ’s grace and truth to the world.

Jesus shows His grace in the greatest way by taking our sin on the cross, then conquering sin and death three days later through resurrection, promising those who believe, eternal life.

His grace is offered through this wonderful gift, that all of us—the sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, and swindlers (1 Cor. 6:9)—are welcomed into His kingdom. And yet, we are called in truth to turn from these sinful ways, and everything in between, to embrace a better life through the power of God’s Spirit, becoming more like Him.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV

The Role of the Church Community

The church community plays a vital role in supporting individuals as they strive to live according to biblical teachings. Through discipleship, mentorship, and fellowship, the church provides a nurturing environment for spiritual growth and transformation. This community helps believers hold each other accountable, offering encouragement and fostering a sense of belonging.

“1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

Galatians 6:1-5, ESV

• Discipleship: Mature believers guide others in understanding and applying Scripture to their lives, modelling Christ-like behaviour and encouraging spiritual disciplines such as prayer and Bible study.
• Mentorship: Allows for deeper, one-on-one relationships where personal struggles and victories can be shared and addressed in a biblical context.
• Fellowship: Provides a space for believers to gather, share life experiences, and support each other through the challenges of living out their faith in a secular world.

By being actively involved in the church community, individuals can better navigate their personal journeys of faith, experiencing the grace and truth of Jesus through the support of their fellow believers.

“Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”

1 Thessalonians 5:11, ESV

This communal support system, created and implemented through Christ, is critical in helping members grow in their relationship with God and live out their biblical convictions, even within a culture that is increasingly hostile toward those convictions.

Navigating Cultural Conflict and the Role of the Holy Spirit

It’s unlikely that an evangelical church can navigate this issue in the next decade without conflict. The world may eventually (if it doesn’t already) hate us for our position on inclusion related to sexuality and gender identity.

However, in large Muslim, Sikh, and Orthodox Jewish communities, LGBTQ+ inclusivity is almost completely absent. Yet, these faith groups don’t seem to receive the negative attention that Christianity does, almost as if these worldviews are veiled from cultural scrutiny by some dark supernatural force. (I’ll leave that there for you to ponder. 🤔)

Regardless of how our culture perceives our position on sexuality or gender identity, we must remind ourselves of the work of the Holy Spirit. I have seen members of the LGBTQ+ community enter a local church, encounter Jesus, experience transformational shifts in their convictions, and start pursuing heterosexual relationships.

They weren’t forced to change; rather, as they explained, the Holy Spirit showed them a better way.

How does this happen? What’s going on inside these individuals? The same conviction and empowerment that every sinner turning to Christ experiences. Much of it is found in Jesus’ promise from John’s Gospel account, which is where we’ll end today’s discussion.

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”

John 16:13, ESV

Join the Conversation; Share Your Thoughts

1. How does your church approach LGBTQ+ inclusion?
2. Do you think cultural expectations should influence church practices?
3. How should the church support LGBTQ+ individuals while upholding biblical convictions?