Polyamory (being in multiple loving relationships at the same time, with the informed consent of all involved) has become a recent discussion in culture, with 33% of American adults stating that open marriages are completely acceptable and another 16% stating that they are neither acceptable nor unacceptable1
Several widely known media publications (including the New York Times, Business Insider, Washington Post, New York Magazine, The Atlantic, Time Magazine, VICE, Axios, Wired, and Huffington Post) have recently offered articles on how to normalize and advance polyamorous relationships, with many publications stating that polyamorous relationships are completely natural, genuine, and anyone against them is simply close-minded2
Polyamorous relationships obviously are anti-Biblical, with several verses specifying that marriage is only between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:23-24, Matthew 19:4-6, and Matthew 19:9), at least one verse stating that marriage should be done to avoid sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 7:2-5), and several stating that sexual activity outside of marriage is immoral and adulterous (Exodus 20:14, Proverbs 6:32, Matthew 5:27-28, 1 Corinthians 6:18, Ephesians 5:5, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, Hebrews 13:4)3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13
Group Discussion Question: Why do you believe that so many people today are comfortable with polyamorous relationships?
Transexual Culture
While there are scientific arguments against transexual culture and transgender ideology that have been voiced by respected theologians, it is suggested that the group focus primarily on Biblical and Church history evidence that supports and/or disagrees with these issues14
Preferred pronouns (the use of pronouns for an individual that are different than the pronouns that would be used for that individual’s birth gender) are seen as anti-Biblical amongst the majority of Christian denominations, with some groups stating that giving into preferred pronouns goes against the 9th commandment (You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor) and allows the transgender individual to disobey the 10th commandment (You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s)15,16,17,18
There are some denominations that suggest utilizing gender-neutral pronouns at the very least, though there is no specific explanation within these denominations regarding pronouns for transgender people19
Transgender ideology appears to conflict with several Bible verses, some of which state that God created only two genders, man and woman (Genesis 1:27, Matthew 19:4-5), and some of which state that humans should not be envious and desire what they do not have (Exodus 20:16, Proverbs 14:30, 1 Corinthians 13:4, James 3:14-16, 1 Peter 2:1, etc.)20,21,22
Group Discussion Question: Do you agree that the support and endorsement of transgender ideology is anti-Biblical?
Group Discussion Question: For those that do believe that transgender ideology is anti-Biblical, how can you act appropriately as a Christian in-public and in-private with those that disagree?
Surrogate Pregnancy
Surrogacy is when a woman carries and delivers a child for another couple or individual23
The Catholic Church holds the strongest position on Surrogacy, teaching that it is not morally permissible24
The Lutheran Church states that surrogacy violates the One Flesh union of marriage by inviting a third party in25
A (draft) revised set of social principles from the United Methodist Church supports surrogacy, as well as other reproductive strategies26
The Southern Baptist don’t appear to openly advertise a specific opinion on the subject
There have been concerns raised by theologians regarding surrogacy that lie outside of the argument of marriage, including concerns over a birth mother wanting to keep the baby that she birthed (which may be her genetic child), whether it is right to pay for (commercialize) surrogacy, whether surrogacy takes advantage of poverty-stricken women27
Group Discussion Question: Do you feel that altruistic surrogacy can be Biblically right, and where would you draw the line for when it becomes inappropriate?
Group Discussion Question: What about sperm donation or other fertility treatments? Are these Biblically right?
The Rights of Beings
While the Bible states in Genesis 1:27 that God created mankind in his own image, a designation that does not apply to any other creatures or spiritual beings, there are discussions today regarding the rights of humans in relation to one-another, as well as the rights of animals in relation to humans28
Peter Singer is the foremost advocate for animal liberation/interests, arguing that a being’s right to life is associated with their capacity to hold preferences (which is tied to a being’s intelligence and capacity to feel pain and pleasure)
In his book Practical Ethics, Singer argues that the idea of the sanctity of life should be discarded, and argues in favor of both abortion rights as well as non-voluntary euthanasia (including infanticide and euthanasia of the disabled), all based on his view that humans without capacity to hold preferences can be morally killed (he argues that cognitive animals have a greater right to life than infants and those with dementia)29,30
Even though there is a strong Christian disagreement with Peter Singer’s viewpoints, there is conflict among Christians as to what should be done to minimize suffering for animals, but it appears to be a generally agreed viewpoint that animal suffering should be minimized when possible31
Group Discussion Question: What should be done to minimize animal suffering around the world? Is it right to eat meat at all?
Group Discussion Question: Is euthanasia or assisted death ever Biblically right?
