Is protecting Marriage important to Christianity? Should we Defend It?

 

 

Is protecting Marriage important to Christianity?  Should we Defend It?

Marriage Definition –

A.     Webster’s Definition –

1.      the state of being united as spouses in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law

2.      the mutual relation of married persons – Wedlock – the state of being married

3.      the institution whereby individuals are joined in a marriage

a.      Institution - a significant practice, relationship, or organization in a society or culture

4.      an act of marrying or the rite by which the married status is effected – to cause something to be put into being, or power to bring about a result

5.      an intimate or close union

B.     Marriage as defined by the Common Law – Legally speaking, marriage is a contract made in conjunction with the law, where a free man and a free woman reciprocally engage to live with each other during their joint lives, in the union which ought to exist between husband and wife.  By the terms, freeman and freewoman in this definition are meant, not only that they are free and not slaves, but also that they are clear of all bars to a lawful marriage.

1.      Bars to Lawful Marriage

a.       Consent – a mutual acceptance of the terms of the marriage contract, Force

b.      Capacity to consent

                                                                          i.      Age – Males > 14 Females > 12 or with parental consent

                                                                        ii.      Mental – inability to understand or perform the terms of the contract

                                                                      iii.      Mistake -

                                                                       iv.      Trick - Fraud

c.       Exception to consent

                                                                          i.      Previous Marriage – Polygamy

                                                                       ii.      Consanguinity – no closely related family members

                                                                     iii.      Impotency – must have existed at time of marriage and remain incurable (goes to purpose of marriage)

                                                                      iv.      Adultery – once convicted of adultery, no longer marry  

C.     Common Law Marriage – no particular ceremony to validate a celebration of marriage. The consent of the parties is all that is necessary because marriage is a contract and is all that is needful by natural or public law.

1.      Clergyman not required to be present to give validity to marriage

2.      Declaration of Consent – magistrate, witnesses

3.      Inference of Consent – consent thru customs and actions

D.    Biblical Definition of Marriage –

1.      Genesis 1:26-28 & Genesis 2:18 – Purpose of Marriage

2.      Genesis 2:21-24 – Meaning of Marriage

Purpose of Marriage –

                Genesis 1:26-28 –

26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. 

Genesis 2:18 – And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

Note:  

Above, we find that God refers to himself in both the singular (him & he) and the plural (us & our).  Since we know that God is all knowing, and the Creator of all things, including language, we can assume that there is no mistake in the translation.  Additionally, there exists no difference between the Catholic and Protestant Bibles pertaining to these scriptures.  Therefore, we find evidence that God exists in the singular form and the plural, this is evidence for the notion of the Trinity, separate but equal entities who are indivisible. 

We find that God is the actual Creator of all.  This idea of Creator infers to God ownership and authority over that which He has created.  As the Creator, God has a unique perspective, understanding and appreciation (love) over all that He creates.

Man is also defined in the singular (him) and plural (them), this agrees with the statement that we were created in the image of God, to exist as both singular and plural.  This union made “Man” unique over all the creatures, for it created equality between man and woman, and inferred a dominion for them over all earthly creation.  Later sin would change the status that God intended for them.

Therefore, we can see that the purpose of this union, between man and woman, was companionship, procreation, dominion, and to portray the image of God (Trinity).  Replenish – to fill with persons or stock.

            Definition of Marriage –

            Genesis 2:21-24 –

21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.  

Note:

Here we find that God created woman, Eve, from the rib of man, Adam.  It is not clear why God chose the rib, perhaps it is the function of the rib, to protect or keep the heart. 

Adam recognizes that Eve is of himself, and this influences the name bestowed upon her, woman (of man).  It is this same knowledge as parents, first seeing their children, which causes a special attraction to them.  It instills in the parents a need to keep these children, and to love them.  The children are the image of the parents, and this creates a special bond between them.  Just as “Man” is the image of God, and this creates a special bond for the Almighty toward his children.  We see ourselves in our children.   Therefore, procreation leads to the formation of an image, and this creates a unique bond.

Comparison of Marriage Definitions:

1.      Webster’s Definition

a.       State of being that is recognized by law, with consent and willingness to be bound, able to enter into marriage, capacity.  This requires an authority figure to recognize the marriage, and a means to enforce it.

                                                              i.      Deity – God is the authority and enforcement

                                                            ii.      Mankind – as authority and enforcement

1.      Church

2.      Civil

b.      A relationship between people who are already married – already have consent, willingness to be bound, and capacity.

c.       Practice, relationship, customs that determine the means of consent, acceptance and capacity.  “Common Law Marriage” not Marriage as defined in the Common Law.

                                                              i.      Varies based on the authority that dictates it, and the means of enforcement.

d.      The act of marriage, based upon the right to do so,

                                                              i.      Right is based upon the authority and enforcement (established principals)  

1.      Deity

2.      Mankind

a.       Church

b.      Civil

e.       Union that is intimate or close relationship

                                                              i.      Requires no authority

                                                            ii.      Vague definition of enforcement

Who or What establishes marriage? 

Note:  As we have established, the definition of marriage is dependent upon who or what decides the parameters of marriage, and how such established principals are enforced.  As bible-based Christians (Protestants) we only recognize God as both the Authority behind marriage, and the Enforcer to protect it.  Mark 10:6-9 - ⁶ But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. ⁷ For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; ⁸ And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. ⁹ What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.  Here only God establishes who (one man with one woman) can be married, and the means to create and maintain marriage (love).  As the Creator of both mankind and marriage itself, the Creator holds the only authority to dictate who and how marriage may actually occur.  Here he clearly states that marriage is between one man and one woman, and he establishes in His bible the manner that those united in marriage must act, and the only manner of dissolution.  Mathew 19:7-9 - ⁷ They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? ⁸ He (Jesus) saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. ⁹ And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.   Under God’s precepts, marriage was eternal, special, and existed only between husband and wife.  It was the evil in man’s heart, sin, that caused the changes to marriage.

Why is marriage no longer as it was established?  What are the consequences of changing the doctrines of marriage?  When was the last time in history when marriage reflected what the world recognizes marriage to be today?

Marriage Law – Genesis 3:16 -  Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.     

Note:  Before sin, marriage existed as husband and wife living as equals.  Because of sin, so that humanity would remember the costs of sin (separation), God placed the woman under the man.  In doing so, Christ created distinct responsibilities of the man to his family.  Over the years, great abuse, that God never intended was created by false interpretation of this law.  As a consequence, this Marriage Law has been under attack from its inception.  In America, we saw suppression of women, by men without scruples, even to the extent of the Salem Witch Trials.  As a result of this abuse, women became disenfranchised with marriage, and began movements against the traditional views and marriage itself.  Marriage was under attack by the women’s movement.

When humankind establishes the its authority and its enforcement of marriage, marriage becomes as variable as the number of stars in the heavens.  There can even exist a state where no authority and no means of enforcement, negating the marriage itself.  No longer must it be one man married to one woman, it can be essentially anything:

1.      Polygamy – multiple partners

2.      Homosexuality – partners of the same sex (Paganism)

3.      Bestiality – marriage to animal, assumes that humans are also animals, Animalism.

4.      Married to Objects or Nature (Paganism)

5.      Direct marriage to a deity – Human married to a Deity yielding a demi-god (Paganism)

6.      No marriage at all – Hedonism

It becomes apparent that the authority behind the law, and manner of enforcement to maintain the principals of marriage are paramount in preserving its manner and function.  With marriage is inferred the right of sex.  As mankind’s hearts become evil continually, his search for self-pleasure grows.  He begins to dismantle any barriers, regardless of cost to self of others, that keep him from reaching his desired goal.  Genesis 6:5-6 - ⁵ And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.  ⁶ And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.   Mathew 24:37-39 - ³⁷ But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  ³⁸ For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, ³⁹ And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.   Marriage is under attack by society or humanism.  The act of changing the God’s Marriage Law, either in practice or principal is to create one’s own laws.  These laws are never consistent, never fair, and they cause confusion and insecurity.

The last time in recorded history, where marriage was defined in such loose terms as today, was not Sodom and Gomorrah, it was the days of Noah.  Therefore, Mathew 24 is telling us that we are in the last days of this Earth.

Is protecting Marriage important to Christianity?

As children of God, we are called upon to be a peculiar people.  We are not to be followers of humanity, but followers of Christ.  Christ, on many occasions taught that true love of God is reflected in our willingness to be obedient to Him.  Anyone who attempts to change God’s word, even by a microscopic deviation, is no longer a follower, but a creator of something new.  As a creator, he or she becomes their own god.  Revelations warn of the consequences of placing oneself in this position.  Revelation 22:18-19 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: ¹⁹ And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

As stated above, with marriage is inferred the right of natural sex.  As defined by God, Natural Sex is sex between a married husband (male) and wife (female).  Any form outside these established parameters are defined as unnatural sex, or an Abomination.  Unnatural sex is an abomination because it does not fulfill the reasons why God created marriage, union between a man and a woman, companionship, procreation, dominion, and to portray the image of God.

1.      Unmarried man or woman unnatural sex– although this relationship may create companionship, and may lead to procreation, it definitely does not create a union between a specific man and a specific woman, it does not portray the image of God (it is against His Sex Laws), and therefore it does not create the God given dominion.  Read Leviticus 20

2.      Homosexuality unnatural sex – although this relationship may create companionship, it can never lead to procreation, it cannot create a union between a specific man and a specific woman, it does not portray the image of God (it is against His Sex Laws), it cannot create dominion.

Additionally, the modern view of evolution, does not support the notion of Homosexuality, since it does not add to the variety of the gene pool.  Homosexuality serves no function in the realm of God, nor nature.   Leviticus 20:13 - If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

3.      Bestiality unnatural sex - this relationship can never create human companionship, it can never lead to procreation, it can never create a union between a specific man and a specific woman, it can never portray the image of God (it is against His Sex Laws), humans were intended to have dominion over animal.  Leviticus 18:23 - Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion.

4.      Married to objects or Nature – this relationship cannot create any form of companionship, it will never lead to procreation, it cannot create a union between one specific man and one specific woman, it will never portray the image of God,

5.      Married to an idol of gods – God states that idols and false gods are incapable of relationships of any type.  Deuteronomy 4:28 - And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.   

It was the wickedness of man’s hearts that lead to the attack of God’s Marriage Law, in the time of Moses, that created the institution of divorce.  It was the wickedness of man’s and woman’s hearts that lead to the Feminist movement and attack of God’s Marriage Law.  It was the hedonistic search for pleasure that lead mankind to search for unnatural sex, and attack God’s Marriage Law.  It is all this that has lead us to a line in the sand, who will you follow?  Joshua 24:14-15 - Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.  ¹⁵ And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.    

We have seen the consequences to marriage and society when mankind becomes the authority and enforcer.  As a result, most marriages end in dissolution, 40 to 50 % of all first marriages, and the percentage increases as people remarry.  Today there are no restraints upon who should be married, as a result, the purpose for marriage has been disregarded.  Since sex is no longer limited to a husband and wife, we have seen an increase in teen pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, over population, degradation of the family by single parenting, and an overall decay of society. 

Therefore, as Christians and as His watchman, it is our duty, not only to keep his Marriage Law Principles ourselves, it is our duty to share them and preserve them.  When one of our brother and sister decide to unite in the covenant of matrimony, it is our duty to help prepare them.  It is our duty to make sure that their marriage will be embedded in God’s word, with Christ at the center of their home.  We must make sure that both parties have capacity to be married.  2 Corinthians 6:14 - Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?  When trials and tribulations cause turmoil to the marriage, it is our job as members of God’s church, to aide our brother and sister in their time of need. 

As Protestant Christians, let us follow all the precepts of Christ.  Let us love one another as Christ has loved us.  Let us watch out for each other to diminish the attacks of Satan.  Let us all rely on the Rock of our Salvation.  Amen.