The National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) respectfully requests President Clinton to withdraw his initiative to lift the current ban on homosexuals in the armed forces and we urge Congress to confirm by law the current ban. We further urge our members to contact the President and their Senators and Representatives to express firm opposition to this threatened change in military policy.

In 1985 NAE affirmed that “the sexual relationship between man and woman within the bounds of marriage is viewed as something natural and beautiful. Homosexual activity, like adulterous relationships, is clearly condemned In the Scriptures.” (Genesis 2:24; Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:26-32; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8). In addition, the Bible records God’s historic Judgment on societies characterized by this deviant behavior (Gen. 18:16-19:29; 2 Peter 2:6; Jude 7).

Because of our strong commitment to biblical truth, we state our unequivocal opposition to lifting the current ban. We believe that such presidential action would defy the moral law of God and the standard of natural law, subvert military law, and also undermine the integrity of the armed forces of the United States of America. The following are compelling concerns:

Military Law- The Constitution grants to Congress the power to make laws for military personnel. Article 125 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice outlaws sodomy. Barring homosexuals from military service thus becomes a means of excluding individuals disposed to deviant criminal behavior.

Military Discipline- With the Joint Chiefs of Staff, we regard this policy as essentia1 to maintain “discipline, good order, and morale,” to foster “trust and confidence among service members,” and to maintain “public acceptability of military service.” To admit persons who avowedly engage in a practice which violates the law and is biblically abhorrent may preclude many young adults from volunteering for military service.

Military Mission- The military services have been created to serve a vital military mission for the good of the nation, with personnel chosen to meet highly selective criteria. The courts have confirmed that there is no inherent right to serve in the armed services. The armed services may subordinate some rights to the primacy of the mission. However, this does not mean that members of the service forfeit any constitutional rights, such as the right to vote or the right to free exercise of religion.

Moral Standards- Admission of homosexuals to the military would place a governmental imprimatur on their sexual behavior. Homosexual activists could quickly use this action to press their claim that our society views homosexuality and heterosexuality as morally equivalent. That would add pressure on lawmakers to pass special “gay rights” legislation which would trample under foot the religious convictions and freedoms of individuals, churches and other institutions.

Medical Costs- The incidence and effects of homosexual promiscuity have been documented. The exponentially exploding medical dangers and financial costs of such activity are of grave concern, not only to those in the military, but also to a government struggling to reduce the federal deficit.

Neither our resolute opposition to this potential change in national military policy nor our continued belief in the sinfulness of homosexual practice should be construed to deny our historic evangelical beliefs about God’s love for the sinner while hating the sin. God is full of grace, as well as truth. We thus reaffirm that homosexuals, like the rest of humanity, are fully the objects of God’s redemptive love. By faith and repentance, all may obtain full forgiveness through Jesus Christ our Lord and may experience divine transformation through the renewing of their minds (Ephesians 4:22-24). We further welcome homosexuals who receive forgiveness and wholeness in Jesus Christ as fellow believers in the Body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).