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.