Homosexuality argument: Isn't demanding adherence to traditional marriage inconsistent with the history of the church?
Our affirmation that a traditional understanding of marriage essential to Christian orthodoxy is only inconsistent with the historyof the church in that a traditional understanding of marriage has never been challenged in the way it is today. History testifies that heresy precedes orthodoxy in formal assertion. Every ancient creed was written in response to heretical teachings. In other words, theological controversies forced the church to state clearly its convictions on pressing issues. Thus, the fact that marriage was never addressed by any of the ancient creeds or confessions demonstrates that it never needed to be addressed because it was never a matter of controversy. Creeds are contextual documents-theological responses to sub-orthodox teachings situated in a specific time and context. Errors are not corrected until after they arise. That no one ever questioned the biblical and traditional understanding of m...