Over 150 evangelical leaders sign 'Nashville Statement' affirming biblical view of human sexuality

A broad coalition of more than 150 Christian leaders have signed a statement affirming the biblical view of human sexuality, including the belief that marriage is between one man and one woman.

The document known as the Nashville Statement contains a preamble and 14 articles that respond to the increasingly post-Christian, Western culture that "has embarked upon a massive revision of what it means to be a human being."

The statement, published on Tuesday, was sponsored by the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW) and the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC).

Among the initial signatories were British theologian J.I. Packer; CBMW founders Wayne Grudem and John Piper; pastors John MacArthur and Alistair Begg; family leaders James Dobson, Tony Perkins and Dennis Rainey; theologians R.C. Sproul and D.A. Carson; and authors Rosaria Butterfield and Sam Allberry.

"Our true identity, as male and female persons, is given by God. It is not only foolish, but hopeless, to try to make ourselves what God did not create us to be," part of the statement reads, according to Tennessean.

In article 10, the authors of the statement asserted that matters pertaining to sexuality, including homosexual practice and transgenderism, is not an area where Christians can "agree to disagree," but an issue that is central to the Gospel message.

The statement also makes the declaration that same-sex attraction is not "part of God's original design," but it maintains that "people who experience such attraction may live fruitful lives through faith in Christ as they practice purity."

The name of the document was derived from a meeting CBMW convened on Aug. 25 in Nashville, where the statement was discussed by a coalition of scholars, pastors and other evangelical leaders. The meeting was hosted by the ERLC, during its national conference and in conjunction with its Research Institute meeting, according to Baptist Press.

ERLC's annual conference this year focused on parenting and addressed various issues, including how parents could talk to their children about their biblical view of sex, same-sex attraction and gender identity.

CBMW President Denny Burk said that the aim of the document is to "shine a light into the darkness -- to declare the goodness of God's design in our sexuality and in creating us as male and female."

In a written statement, Burk said that the coalition is hoping to provide help to church Christian organizations that are seeking biblical guidance on how to address the issue of homosexuality and transgenderism.

He further noted that it also seeks to build a group of "like-minded evangelicals to stand together for the challenging days ahead" and to encourage young evangelicals who are under pressure to abandon biblical teaching.