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Where JHM Stands …
On Just Some of the Most Debated
Moral, Political & Social Issues of Our Time
God is a God of love, not
condemnation. (1John 4:8) Doctrine
is important, yet God prefers love over preciseness of Doctrine. (John
13:34,35) As you read where JHM
stands morally, politically and socially on the issues listed, please keep
one thing in mind. Nobody is
perfect. Everyone makes
mistakes. This is why we need
Jesus. With God there is abundance of forgiveness. (Psalm 130:7)
Abortion
JHM expresses our commitment to support the
God-given right of each child to live out his or her full life from
conception to natural death. We believe that abortion on demand is a moral
and spiritual evil which tears at the fabric of family, society, decency,
human responsibility and Godliness.
However, if the mother’s life is truly at stake, we believe abortion
becomes a matter for the mother’s conscience. (Romans 14:23b; 1Corinthians 10:29; 2Corinthians 1:2; 1Timothy 1:19, 3:9)
We express strong conviction against so-called
"partial birth abortion" which is a brutal, horrendous crime
against the child and its family.
We are committed to ministering hope to all who have
been impacted by the events surrounding an abortion and who have found
themselves damaged by such destructive circumstances.
We encourage adoption and making crisis pregnancy intervention
available to those seeking God’s help.
We also believe it is our constitutional right to
peacefully protest the immorality of abortion according to our Biblical
convictions. As with all things, we
trust our Creator, committing ourselves to reverence, responsible living
and to faithful participation in the process of government.
Embryonic
Stem Cell Research
Stem cell research should be called by its truthful
name – Embryonic Stem Cell Research.
Embryonic stem cells are cells derived from the inner cell mass of
an early stage living human embryo when they are approximately four to five
days old in the human womb or in a laboratory Petri dish.
Embryonic stem cells can grow and reproduce
themselves into any of the more than 200 cell types of the adult human body
when properly encouraged to do so.
Because of this amazingly unique and unlimited ability embryonic
stem cells are viewed as a “potential” source for regenerative medicine and
tissue replacement after injury or disease.
However, to date no approved medical treatments have been derived
from embryonic stem cell research.
Scientists simply “think” these embryonic stem cells “might” produce
cures for even the most severe human illnesses. Unfortunately, harvesting embryonic stem
cells from a human womb or from a laboratory Petri dish kills the living
human embryo.
JHM believes that all human life is sacred
and begins in the mind of God, even before human conception. (Psalm
139) Therefore, JHM believes that
human embryos must not be killed as a means to even the most humanitarian
end.
Birth Control (Conception Prevention) or
Sterilization
This decision is left to the married individuals
concerned. Again, because there is
no Scripture for or against birth control, this becomes a matter of
conscience. (Romans 14:23b; 1Corinthians 10:29; 2Corinthians 1:2; 1Timothy 1:19, 3:9)
However, following conception, unintentional or otherwise, JHM is
opposed to the use of abortifacients.
Women in Church Leadership
JHM believes God calls both men and women into the Gospel ministry. (Galatians
3:28) There are multiple examples of
women Prophets, Teachers and Evangelists in Scripture. Some of the greatest, confirmed Ministers
in the history of Christianity were and are women. Women, as well as men,
should be recognized according to their God given Gifts, not according to
gender.
Healing the Sick, Medication, Vaccines,
Blood Transfusions, Etc.
JHM believes in Divine Healing through the
providence of God in response to prayer and encourages all people to
believe the Lord for their healing.
However, many individuals are not firmly established in the Doctrine
of Divine Healing and do not have sufficient faith to receive proficiently.
(Romans 10:17) Therefore, we also
recognize the medical profession as an instrument in God's hands. Because all good comes from God,
medicine, medical technology and medical wisdom come from God in His great
mercy. (John 10:10; James 1:17)
Therefore, JHM encourages the use of doctors and medicine by those
who are not yet able to believe for their healing. However, the
availability of doctors, nurses and medicine are no excuse for Believers to
not bother developing their faith for Divine Healing. (Hebrews 11:6) JHM
believes that the natural and the supernatural combined often make an
explosive force for the Most High God.
JHM opposes the use of narcotics unless it is done under strict
medical supervision.
Operations, Organ Transplants,
Dissection,
Autopsies & Organ Donations
JHM believes these issues
are also matters of conscience. These are
considered to be a personal choice for the individuals concerned. (Romans
14:23b; 1Corinthians 10:29; 2Corinthians
1:2; 1Timothy 1:19, 3:9)
Prolongation of Life & "Right
to Die" (Removal of Life Support)
Although JHM believes that death is the last enemy
to be put under foot and never to be embraced, these are matters of
conscience as well. (Romans 14:23b;
1Corinthians 10:29; 2Corinthians
1:2; 1Timothy 1:19, 3:9) It is not a difficult thing for the
Believer to seek the will of God in these matters and to receive His “Yes”
or “No” through the Inner Witness of the Holy
Spirit. (See Colossians 3:15 in the
Amplified Bible.)
Cremation of Fetus or Any Human Body
Here again we have another
situation where there is no chapter and verse that specifically states what
is right and what is wrong. However,
throughout Scripture when a Believer in the Most High God “gave up the
ghost,” their bodies were always buried in the
earth. From Able to Jesus, when a
Believer in the Most High God died they were placed back into the earth for
safekeeping until the Return of the Promised Messiah. (John 5:28,29) There
are close to 100 references to this in the Bible. The only time bodies were burned in the
Bible is when someone was under a curse or involved in occult practices. A thorough reading of the Old and New
Testaments, looking for examples, makes this exceptionally clear.
JHM personally opposes
cremation of the Temple of the Holy
Spirit. (1Corinthians 6:19,20) However, we encourage each individual to
follow their own conscience and the leading of the Holy Spirit. (1Corinthians 10:29; 2Corinthians 1:2; 1Timothy 1:19, 3:9)
Many have cooperated with the cremation of loved ones only to
realize that it would have been best not to have done so. Keep in mind, cremation is not the
unforgivable sin. Ask Him to forgive
you if you believe you have gone against Scriptural precedent and all good
conscience. He’ll do exactly that.
(1John 1:9) He knows where your
loved one’s ashes are and He’s promised to raise them up on the Last Day.
(John 5:28,29) Nothing is impossible with Him. (Matthew 19:26)
Evolution
JHM opposes the deceptive theory of Evolution. Evolution denies Creation for the
following reasons. If there was no
Creation, there was no Adam and Eve.
If there was no Adam and Eve, there was no original sin. If there was no original sin, there is no
need for humanity to repent. If there is no need for
humanity to repent, then there never was and never will be the need for a Redeemer in Christ.
Evolution was conceived in
the mind of Satan for the
purpose of plundering Heaven to
populate Hell for one simple reason. Misery loves company!
Hypnosis
JHM is opposed to all occult practices, including
hypnosis. It is shocking how hypnosis
has found its way from dingy back alleys and carnival sideshows into the
offices of “professional” people worldwide.
It is wrong for anyone to stop exercising mastery over their free
will, giving themselves over to hypnotists who are clearly involved with demon powers. JHM
is opposed to all occult practices, including altered states of
consciousness and communication with spirits. To seek after supernatural help from
anyone but Holy God is to incur a curse.
(Leviticus 20:6) Jesus Christ is
mankind’s only God-appointed Deliverer from
habits, compulsive human behavior, etc.
Homosexuality
JHM is opposed to homosexuality. Based on the teaching of the Holy
Scripture, it is declared to be sin. (Romans 1:18-32) Because the Bible has eliminated the
homosexual/lesbian lifestyle as an alternate lifestyle, we, too, eliminate
it as an alternate lifestyle. We
encourage those engaged in homosexual activity to cease such acts, and to
seek forgiveness and deliverance through Jesus Christ.
The Scripture declares that God created mankind male
and female. The partner for man is woman, and the partner for woman is man.
Together they are to be one flesh. (Genesis 2:24) Furthermore, the Biblical
record shows that sexual union was established exclusively within the
context of a male-female relationship and formalized in the ordinance of
marriage. (Hebrews 13:4) In the New Testament, the oneness of male and
female in marriage pictures the relationship between Christ and His Church.
(Ephesians 5:21-33)
Everywhere in Scripture the
sexual relationship between man and woman within the bonds of marriage is
viewed as something natural and beautiful, from which children are born.
However, homosexual and lesbian activity, like bestiality, fornication,
adulterous relationships, etc., is clearly condemned in the Scriptures. God
declares the practice of homosexuality an abomination in His sight.
(Leviticus 18:22; 20:13)
The practice of homosexuality
involves a personal choice. No one
is born that way; otherwise, it would be unfair of Creator God to describe
it as a degrading and unnatural passion. The Scriptures identify the practice
of homosexuality as sin that if persisted in, brings grave consequences in
this life, even premature death, and excludes one from the Kingdom of God. (1Corinthians
6:9,10)
JHM believes, as Christ's Church,
ministers and congregations should compassionately proclaim the Good News
of Christ's forgiveness and encourage those involved in this sin to accept
His forgiveness, receive His supernatural deliverance and to cease those
practices. With God nothing is impossible. (Luke 1:37)
Further, upon confession of faith
in Jesus Christ and demonstration of a true and lasting repentance, as with
any other forgiven sinner, the hand of fellowship should be extended,
encouraging former homosexuals and lesbians in spiritual growth and
discipleship.
Premarital & Extra-Marital Sexual
Activity
As previously stated, the Holy Bible declares such
activities to be sin. We are opposed to all sex outside of marriage. We
encourage those engaged in these relationships to cease such acts, and to
seek forgiveness and deliverance through Jesus Christ. (1Corinthians 6:9,10; Hebrews 13:4) We believe it is wrong for unmarried
couples to abide together, particularly Believers. The Scripture emphatically states that
Christians are to avoid even situations that only appear to be evil.
(1Thessalonians 5:22)
Sex Education in Schools
JHM believes sex education
should be the primary responsibility of the parents with schools being
secondary. JHM objects to the
liberalities used in sex education in both public and private schools. We believe it is the responsibility of
the government to see only that a good general education is provided for
all, not sexual education.
Prayer in Public Schools
JHM not only favors prayer in public schools but the
use of the Holy Bible as well. We
also believe the Ten Commandments have a place in public places.
Divorce
JHM encourages strong marital relationships and
discourages divorce, except in extreme cases and then only as a last
resort. (Proverbs 27:12) We believe in healing for broken marriages. However, divorce is not the unforgivable
sin. Divorced and remarried
Believers are accepted in love and grace as brethren, provided they have
received Christ as their Savior and demonstrate the Christian life. Although
every case must be judged on its own merits, JHM does not believe that all
divorced or remarried individuals should be excluded from Ministry,
particularly once they have demonstrated their faithfulness. (Romans
11:29)
Dress & Conduct
JHM encourages modesty and moderation in all things
although we have no published regulations as such. Women in particular,
young and old alike, must exercise care to not wrongly communicate their
intentions through improper, immodest dressing habits. Men, as well, must demonstrate modesty in
dressing. No need for a lecture
here. Every adult knows what they
shouldn’t be showing or allowing their children to show. We are in the world but we are not of the
world.
Capital Punishment
The Bible authorizes capital punishment in certain
extreme cases, but also permits mercy in certain cases. No one is beyond the redemptive grace of
our Lord. (Genesis 9:6) However, no one is above the Written Word of our
Lord either.
Civil Disobedience
JHM believes the Scripture teaches we are to be good
citizens of our nation, living in obedience to all of its laws. (Romans 13:1-8) The only exception being in the laws
opposed to the Written Will of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Law of God supersedes the law of man.
JHM
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