King’s Church policy on morality
What is a moral policy?
“Morality means a code of conduct held to be authoritative in matters of right and wrong.” (Wikipedia).
This moral policy is our way of spelling out in clearly defined points the morality that we believe the Bible promotes. This moral policy also represents the morality that King’s Church seeks to promote and the standard which it requires all those who are involved in regular ministry or employment with the church to keep.
Everyone is welcome
King’s Church Beverley believes that anyone is welcome to come to our public meetings as often as they want, irrespective of their life-style, existing church membership, marital status or their doctrinal beliefs. We believe that it is not the role of the church to judge and condemn people for what they have done or the way that they are living, but to make them feel welcomed, valued and accepted. We believe that the church is called to demonstrate the attitude that was clearly seen in the life of Jesus, who was called “the friend of sinners” (Luke 7, 34). People from every walk of life were welcomed into His presence and loved by him, even though many of them were living in ways that actually contradicted the message that he was preaching. In Jesus’ dealings with people we can see the principle “Mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2, 13).
So why have a moral policy?
In these days, where many people within society are unsure of what is right and wrong (or even if there is a right and a wrong), we feel that the church has a calling to be a prophetic voice that calls society back to the ways of the Lord as outlined in the scripture. We believe that we have a responsibility within our community to promote Biblical values, which we believe are the foundation on which life should be built and the compass which shows the direction that should be taken, if there is any uncertainty over what is right or wrong on a particular issue. The Moral Policy is our way of giving practical guidance as to what the Bible teaches is right and wrong in the issues of morality that we face in today’s society.
Although God loves and welcomes us just as we are, God also asks us to change so that we become pleasing to Him. We believe that it is not restrictive, out-dated or narrow to live according to the teachings of scripture. On the contrary, we believe that following the scriptures is actually the pathway for each individual to come into personal freedom, fulfilment, meaning and happiness. For those who are considering the claims of Christ and deciding whether or not to become His follower, we believe that it helpful for them to understand clearly which areas of their lives might need some adjustment if they were to make a decision to follow Jesus and to live as his disciple. We believe that it is not possible to be a true disciple of Jesus whilst living in long-term and knowing disobedience to the commands of scripture.
Unity of Message
We also believe that the church has a responsibility to ensure that those who come for ministry, whether for themselves or their children, should receive ministry that is consistent with the values, doctrines and morality that the church promotes. That is why we require all those involved in regular ministry within the church, whether teaching in the children’s work, leading worship or hosting a Church in the home group to give their assent to the church’s values, doctrinal statement and the moral policy.
If a person has difficulty in giving their assent to any of the issues raised in this document, or feels that they are having difficulties in living up to them, the issues at question should be discussed with one of the church pastors to see if a common understanding or a resolution can be found. We hope that the church will be able to provide the understanding, support, encouragement and pastoral help that will enable each individual to make progress in the areas that they are struggling with. We want to demonstrate the principle of “carrying each other’s burdens, and in this way you (all) will fulfil the law of Christ”
(Gal.6, 2).
Those who disagree or don’t live up to the moral policy
The moral policy lays out the morality that King’s Church seeks to promote and which we aim to live up to. In reality, none of us achieve perfection in our morality all the time. That doesn’t mean, however, that we should lower the standards and aim only for that which is easily achievable.
In situations where people don’t live up to the Biblical morality, God is merciful. He sees the desire of our hearts to do right, even if our actions don’t quite match up to our desires. There is always grace and forgiveness from God as soon as a person recognises that their action is wrong and seeks to live in a different way. If, however, a person in ministry within the church or an employee deliberately and continuously violates the moral policy of Kings Church, it will be interpreted as a decision to resign and to step down from their ministry and/or paid employment. He/she obviously no longer shares the church’s objective of promoting the values and morality outlined in the Bible and specified in this policy document.
Supporting scriptural references for the Moral Policy below
1) Proverbs 3, 5 – 8; Matt. 7, 24 – 27; 1 Tim.4, 13 – 14; Psalm 119, 105; Col. 4, 2
2) Ecclesiastes 4, 12; Galatians 5, 13 – 15; Genesis 2, 18; Lev. 19,18; Matt 22,39; Gal. 6,10
3) Titus 3, 1 – 2; Gal. 3, 28 – 29; Romans 12, 10; Col. 4, 6; Eph. 5, 4; Prov. 16, 28;
4) Deuteronomy 18, 10 – 12; Acts 19, 19; Galatians 5, 19 – 20; Exod. 20, 3 : Exod. 22, 13;
5) Philippians 2, 3 – 7 & 14 – 15; Col. 3, 9; Prov. 16, 11-13; Exod. 20, 15;
6) Luke 16, 13 – 15; Exodus 20, 17, Colossians 3, 5;
7) Malachi 2, 13 – 16; Leviticus 18, 22; Malachi 4, 6; Genesis 3, 21; 1 Cor. 6, 12 – 20;
Eph. 4, 17-24; 1 Thess. 4, 1-8; Romans 1, 26-27; Genesis 1,27; Deuteronomy 22, 5; Col. 3, 5; Eph. 5, 3;
8) Proverbs 22, 6;
9) Isaiah 46, 3 & 4; Psalm 139, 13-16
10) 1 Cor. 6, 19
11) Eph. 5, 18; Gal. 5, 21;
12) Luke 6, 38; Leviticus 19, 34; Matthew 25, 37 – 40
13) Jeremiah 6, 16; Proverbs 22, 28; Habakkuk 3, 2
* King’s Church uses the Biblical definition of the word “marriage”. In the Bible, the word marriage always refers to the joining of one man with one woman for life-long union (Matt. 19, 5 & 6).
The King’s Church Moral Policy
We say;
1) Yes to loving God and taking Biblical values as the foundation and compass for life. A part of loving God is recognising the importance of maintaining a personal devotional life through regular times of personal prayer, bible reading and church attendance.
2) Yes to loving my neighbour as myself and seeking to be Christ-like in my attitudes and actions towards everyone, regardless of their race, age, gender, social class, religious beliefs, sexual orientation or status in the community. This should be especially demonstrated to those within the spiritual family of the Church.
3) Yes to respect and treating each other with dignity. Yes to speaking well of each other, using language appropriate for Christian believers, avoiding gossip and speaking negatively of others behind their backs. We believe that judging and condemning others is inappropriate for Christian believers.
4) Yes to abstaining from involvement in astrology, spiritism, tarot-card reading, fortune-telling and the consulting of physics, new age, Wicca, witchcraft, the occult and the practising of other religions.
5) Yes to personal integrity and true humility. Yes to considering others as better than yourself and to avoiding pride. Yes to being honest in speech and all financial dealings.
6) No to covetousness, greed and a self-centred love of money.
7) Yes to commitment to the family and marriage*. Yes to upholding the principles laid out in the Bible regarding sex and sexuality, including the abstaining from fornication (having sex without being married), adultery (whilst being married, having sex with someone other than your partner), immodesty, the viewing of pornography, homosexuality and the changing of your birth gender.
8) Yes to protecting our children from harmful influences and taking responsibility for their personal and spiritual development.
9) Yes to protecting life from conception to a natural death.
10) Yes to a total abstinence from the use of illegal drugs.
11) Yes to the responsible use of alcohol, recognising that drunkenness or dependency on alcohol is inappropriate for Christian believers.
12) Yes to generosity to all who are in need.
13) No to the erosion of our moral and spiritual heritage