The Statement of Faith, as stated above, states CBM’s core beliefs, but is not intended to exhaust the extent of CBM’s beliefs. Based on the CBM’s commitment to the Bible for understanding sexuality and gender, and consistent with CBM’s Statement of Faith, CBM professes the following Statement on Gender, Sexuality, Gifts, and Redemption:
- We believe that God wonderfully and immutably created each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God (Genesis 1:26-27). Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.
- We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31). Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of CBM.
- We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God (Matthew 15:18-20; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
- We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture. (Gen 2:18-25.) We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other. (1 Cor 6:18; 7:2-5; Heb 13:4.) We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.
- We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. (Acts 3:19-21; Rom 10:9-10; 1 Cor 6:9-11.)
- We believe that the primary purpose for spiritual gifts as given by the Holy Spirit is for the edifying of the church and the propagation of the gospel of Christ. We believe that tongues, miracles, and the raising of the dead, as evidenced in apostolic times, were to authenticate the giving of the new revelation. We believe that specific manifestations of spiritual gifts are not required as evidence of God’s presence or filling of the Holy Spirit. (I Cor. 12:28-31; 13:8-10; Eph. 2:20; 4:7-12; Heb. 2:3-4).