We believe, based upon the teaching of the Judeo-Christian Bible in both the Old and New Testaments, that marriage is an institution ordained by God from the foundation of the world, and intended as a lifelong union of one man born biologically as a male and one woman born biologically as a female. This idea originates in the account of creation preserved in Genesis chapters 1 and 2. Genesis 1:26-28 states that God created man in His own image, both male and female. The passage specifies that the unity of one man and one woman is in some way necessary to represent the image of God in humanity. In addition, we believe that any alternatives to the biblical categories of biological masculinity and femininity are illegitimate and must therefore be disregarded as being inconsistent with our biblical faith.

Genesis chapter 2 provides a more detailed account in which God created the first man, Adam, and decided that it was not good for him to be alone (Genesis 2:18). God indicated that He would make “a suitable helper for [the man].” God brought all of the animals to Adam, but none of them was a suitable helper for him, so God then created Eve, the first woman, from part of Adam himself. God did not create a second man to be Adam’s helpmate, or an assortment of multiple women, but rather one woman. Together they were man and wife and had “no shame” or sin in their union with each other (Genesis 2:15-25).

Jesus Christ reaffirmed the teaching of the Old Testament when He said, as recorded in Matthew 19:4-6, “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. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

The Apostle Paul states in Ephesians 5:22-32 that marriage is not merely a human institution, but is a divine metaphor specifically intended to illustrate the union of Christ and the Church. For this reason also, only a covenant union between a man and a woman can be a correctly understood as marriage because a union between two men, two women, or one man and multiple women or any collection of people cannot properly illustrate the relationship between Christ (the bridegroom) and His church (the bride). To revise this unambiguous definition of marriage in any form is a departure from its biblical distinction and is to create something wholly different and therefore no longer to be regarded as marriage. MVM is not at liberty to affirm any such revisions regardless of cultural inclination or pressure to do so.

I Corinthians 6:9-11condemns a variety of lifestyles including those associated with fornication, adultery, prostitution, and homosexuality. The Bible condemns all forms of sexual immorality and encourages Christians to flee from it because of its destructive effects, and because the body of the Christian is the temple of the Holy Spirit (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:16 & 6:12-20).

Romans 1:18-32 makes it clear that it is not only sinful to engage in homosexual unions, but also to approve of such sins in others or encourage their practice. As a result, in order to maintain our consistent Christian witness, MVM cannot sanction, approve, or promote in any way adultery, fornication (a sexual relationship between an unmarried man and woman; i.e. “cohabitation”), pornography, pedophilia, polygamy, bestiality, or homosexual unions. This is made clear by numerous other verses throughout the Old Testament as well as by these and other passages in the New Testament.

MVM follows what the Bible reveals as the “sure foundation” of the teachings of Jesus Christ and his apostles (Matthew 7:24-29 and 1 Corinthians 14:37). The church is called to teach and practice these teachings and is not at liberty to depart from them for a different authority if it is to authentically bear the name “Christian.” Though we strive to live peaceably with all people and to obey legitimate government authority, in instances involving matters as foundational as marriage we must ultimately obey God rather than man if the two come into conflict (Acts 4:18-22).

Sexual activities outside of marriage, including but not limited to fornication, adultery, incest, homosexuality, pedophilia, and bestiality are inconsistent with the teachings of the Bible and the church. Lewd conduct, transgender behavior, and the creation or distribution or viewing of pornography, are incompatible with God’s intention for human sexuality. MVM welcomes any and all men who are currently living a homosexual lifestyle or struggling with same-sex attraction. However, to be clear, we will seek to lead men out of this lifestyle and embrace God‘s biblical definition of manhood and marriage between one man and one woman.