The Phom Baptist Christian Association (PBCA) has declared its opposition to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community. Expressing shock at the recent LGBTQ conclave held in Dimapur, PBCA executive secretary N Tialemba Phom said this was alien and strange to tribal Christians who were unique in their church ordinances, adding that this uniqueness was bestowed by the creator.
Asserting that churches did not encourage LGBTQ community, he pointed out that Nagas were tribal Christians, and in a tribal society even members of the same clan were not allowed to get married. And if someone married undermining tribal customary laws and practices, they were excommunicated and ostracised from their villages, he said.
Hence, asking how could tribal churches propagate for LGBTQ community, he said it could not be given the status in Phom tribal churches, adding that the could not express full human complementarity. According to him, the church was a divine institution established by God, son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit who guarded and lived in the c
hurch. He said Christ was the head of the church and the church was His body, adding that the body and head could not be separated.
He maintained that the church could not divert the teachings and instructions of Lord Jesus, which was the Bible. Phom said the Bible clearly defined that God created man in His own image. He created male and female (Gen. 1:27). God created one original pair, the male and female. The church taught and preached on one original pair. He said PBCA strongly affirmed this textual teaching. He explained, “When opposite sex male and female come together, seeking the prior permission of the Church for marriage, if their life-testimony is acceptable, then Church allows them for holy marriages because this is biblically mandated, sanctified and consecrated first marriage instituted in the creation account.”
He mentioned that the marriage between one man and woman was God’s design that could not be defiled by any community. He said the LGBTQ was a community outside the Bible and it was against the tribal customary laws and practices.