Twitter Responds to ‘Nashville Statement’ on Human Sexuality Signed by Evangelical Leaders

Aug 30, 2017 12:28 PM EDT

A group of over 150 evangelical leaders sparked controversy on Twitter after releasing "the Nashville Statement" reiterating the belief that marriage is between a man and a woman and that approval of "homosexual immorality" is sinful.

Earlier this week, The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood released the list of 14 beliefs in response to an "increasingly post-Christian" culture.

"We are persuaded that faithfulness in our generation means declaring once again the true story of the world and of our place in it-particularly as male and female," the preamble to the statement reads. "The pathway to full and lasting joy through God's good design for his creatures is thus replaced by the path of shortsighted alternatives that, sooner or later, ruin human life and dishonor God."

Each of the Nashville Statement's 14 beliefs - covering a range of issues from sex outside of marriage to gender identity - include one sentiment the signers affirm and one they deny. Six of beliefs specifically mention the words or phrases "homosexual," "transgender" or "sexual attraction for the same sex."

For example, it affirms that "homosexual immorality or transgenderism" is a "departure from Christian faithfulness" and it is not an issue which "otherwise faithful Christian should agree to disagree."

Additionally, it denies that "God has designed marriage to be a homosexual, polygamous, or polyamorous relationship" and that "marriage is a mere human contract rather than a covenant made before God."

"The spirit of our age does not delight in God's good design of male and female. Consequently, confusion reigns over some of the most basic questions of our humanity," CBMW President Denny Burk said in the statement.

"The aim of the Nashville Statement 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."

The statement was endorsed by a number of influential pastors and leaders at a Nashville conference Friday, including Southern Baptist pastor Jack Graham, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, President, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission Russell Moore, and dozens of others.

However, the statement sparked plenty of controversy on social media.

Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, who officiated some of the city's first same-sex marriages when it became legal in Tennessee, called the statement "poorly named" and said it "does not represent the inclusive values of the city (and) people of Nashville."

Author and pastor John Pavlovitz tweeted, "I have my own statement on the #NashvilleStatement. It could be lots of words but honestly I could probably narrow it down to just a finger."

"The God I know does not support the #NashvilleStatement," wrote Black Lives Matter leader Deray Mckesson.

Moms Demand founder Shannon Watts attacked the group that drafted the document for voting for Trump and suggesting "Jesus has been hijacked."

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) tweeted: "Faith should be welcoming and accepting, not used as a tool to discriminate against LGBTQ people #NashvilleStatement."

Tweeted inspirational speaker Julie Rodgers, "If you're LGBTQ and you read the #NashvilleStatement: know that God delights in you and loads of Christians joyfully support you."

Others came out in support of the statement, including conservative writer Matt Walsh.

"The response to the #NashvilleStatement proves that many leftists want to outlaw Christianity. They don't believe it has a right to exist," he tweeted.

Tweeted DesiringGod.org founder John Piper, "The Nashville Statement on human sexuality, including homosexuality and transgenderism is very important."

Conservative political commentator Ben Shapiro tweeted, "Did I miss the part of the #NashvilleStatement where any serious Christian doctrine changed in the slightest?" he tweeted, adding "File this one under the same category as 'Pope Condemns Abortion.'"