VI. RELATIONSHIPS We encourage men and women to form healthy relationships. The Bible Institute desires to teach and model an approach to moral purity in relationships that reflects biblical values. We believe that sexual intercourse and many of the acts leading up to it are reserved exclusively for the context of a biblically defined marriage (Genesis 2:22-25; Matthew 19:4- 6). Outside this context, sexual activities such as sexual intercourse, oral sex, forms of intimate touching and homosexual behavior violate clear biblical teaching (Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-20; Galatians 5:19; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8) and are prohibited even when consensual. God’s design at creation for both sexual desire and orientation is within the context of the marriage union between a man and a woman. Therefore, gender identity is a feature of God’s original creative design (Genesis 1:26-28). Word of Life believes that the term “marriage” has only one legitimate meaning, which is how marriage is defined, described, and illustrated in the Bible: the joining of one man and one woman as their genders were determined at birth, into a single, covenantal union. Whenever there is a conflict between Word of Life’s position and any new legal standard for marriage, the ministry’s Statement of Faith, doctrines, and biblical positions will govern (Genesis 2:24; Ephesians 5:22-23; Mark 10:6-9; 1 Corinthians 7:1-9). Word of Life requires its students to obey the Bible’s teaching that no sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage as defined above. Word of Life believes that any other type of sexual activity, identity, or expression that lies outside of this definition of marriage, including those that are becoming more accepted in the culture and the courts, are contradictory to the Bible’s design and purpose for sexual activity (Genesis 2:24, 19:5; Leviticus 18:1-30; Romans 1:26-29; 1 Corinthians 5:1, 6:9-10; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4). Students who are involved in or are pursuing a “dating” relationship are to be guided by biblical principles. Scripture gives us helpful insight on how members of the opposite sex should interact with one another. “Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity” (1 Timothy 5:1-2). In marriage, a husband and wife become one flesh (Genesis 2:24). In a dating relationship, however, a man and woman remain brothers and sisters in Christ. Scripture calls us to treat one another as brothers and sisters, “in all purity.” It is our desire to help students who face all kinds of sexual temptations. A. Dating, Engagements, and Marriages 1. Marriage plans made prior to attendance should be communicated to the Student Life Department upon enrollment. Marriages are not allowed during the school year without prior permission from the Deans. 2. The Student Life Department should be consulted prior to any engagement between two current students during the school year and that parental/guardian permission be given prior to the engagement. 3. Divorced or separated students are not allowed to date while enrolled at the Bible Institute. B. Physical Contact 1. For the sake of building healthy relationships, and being above reproach, public displays of affection (PDA) should be limited to brief hugs. Holding hands (except for engaged couples), kissing, or any other physical contact is not allowed on or off campus. 2. Physical contact between members of the same sex must be within the bounds of biblically acceptable behavior. C. Third-party Rule 1. Two students of the opposite sex must have a third party with them at all times except while in the central area of the campus. This area extends from the Jack Wyrtzen Conference Center to the Dining Hall and does not include any wooded areas of campus, nor does it include the RV Park. 2. When students in mixed company visit, use, or are invited to a home, the owner (or renter) must be present. V. OFFICIAL SCHOOL BREAKS A. While Biblical Mandates apply at all times, students are not held to the Institutional Policies of Word of Life during school breaks unless they are on the Bible Institute campus or on a Word of Life ministry trip, in which case they are. B. During official school breaks (not regular weekends), the campus and dormitories close. Students are expected to arrange their own housing and transportation during those weeks. C. Students are typically not permitted to leave or return early or late for official school breaks. In the case of extenuating circumstances, special permission is required from the Bible Institute Deans. Failure to obtain this may result in a zero grade for missed course work.
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Revised August 2024
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