The Salvation Army's Position on Sexual Permissiveness
The Salvation Army, as a Christian movement, believes that human sexuality is a gift of God, and that the Bible presents sex and its proper use as a privilege, created, ordained, and blessed by God.*
The Salvation Army is, however, keenly aware that a sexual revolution is taking place in today's society which has brought about, to an unprecedented degree, a lowering of social mores, a decline in family stability, and an increase in sexual promiscuity among both youth and adults. To counter the disastrous effects of this situation, The Salvation Army strongly affirms that the complex physical, psychological and social dimensions of human sexuality must be governed by spiritual and moral considerations derived from our Judeo-Christian heritage.
The Salvation Army recognizes that the battle between flesh and spirit is never easy, but believes that the sex drive is designed by God to lead to the highest expression of human love only within the holy estate of matrimony, and that when it is expressed outside of that relationship, it will inevitably lead to misery of self and others.
Therefore, The Salvation Army reaffirms that the Bible gives the clearest teaching to guide human behavior and reveals that it is God who gives man the capacity for responsible sexual expression. The Army deeply deplores the practice of indiscriminate sexual activity under any circumstances, and wholeheartedly subscribes to the high moral standards exemplified and taught by Jesus Christ, the son of God.
*Matthew 19:5,6 (NEB)
"For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be made one with his wife; and the two shall become one flesh. It follows that they are no longer two individuals: they are one flesh."
Hebrews 13:4 (NEB)
"Marriage is honorable; let us all keep it so, and the marriage bond inviolate; for God's judgement will fall on fornicators and adulterers."
Approved by the Commissioners' Conference November 1971.