Q: Is it OK to by gay and a Seventh-day Adventist, or must I stay in the closet? — Name withheld by request
A: Thank you for your question. First of all, I want to affirm that you are a child of God, and are no less valuable in His sight than anyone else. Second, as Seventh-day Adventists, we believe that we are all sinners in need of a Savior — that we all need to come to the foot of the cross and surrender our lives to Him. We also believe that the Bible is God’s living Word for us today and that He speaks and guides us through these sacred writings.
Regarding your specific question, I would like to introduce you to some people who have struggled with the same questions that you are wondering about. Their names are Ron, Danielle, Michael, and Wayne. When they heard each other’s stories, and found many similarities, they started a ministry together called ‘Coming Out’ Ministries. They have recently released a full-length feature film documenting their stories, called, “Journey Interrupted.”
I highly encourage you to visit their website, comingoutministries.org, and take a look at their resources, videos, and more. I believe you will find encouraging, helpful answers to your questions through their ministry.
You may also read more about ‘Coming Out’ Ministries and the release of “Journey Interrupted” in a recent article published in the Adventist Review online.
As mentioned earlier, Seventh-day Adventists believe completely in the Word of God as our rule of faith and follow, through the grace of God, the heavenly instructions given even though many tines those instructions may not seem politically correct. What really matters is to follow God’s instructions since He created us and knows what is best for our lives.
You can read the biblical understanding of Seventh-day Adventists in three official church statements:
If you place yourself in God’s hands, the Holy Spirit will lead you to biblical truth in word and in action and your life will take on fuller meaning as you allow God to control you. What a privilege to rely on God’s power in our lives — this is Christ’s righteousness at work — justifying and sanctifying us.