The Real Definition of “Marriage”

The Supreme Court justices are meeting to decide on the definition of marriage.  They are ruling specifically if two homosexual people can legally marry in the state of California.  However, the impact of this decision could ripple far wider than California.  If the justices choose to do so, they could eliminate every law and restriction on gay marriage throughout our nation (FoxNews.com).

Maybe this is pessimistic, but if the Supreme Court does not change the definition to legalize gay marriage this time around, it will only be a matter of time before homosexuals can marry in every state in America.  The reason this is the case is simply because the push for homosexual marriage is worldwide, not just in the United States.  Eleven countries have already legalized same sex marriage (Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, and Sweden).  Laws allowing gay marriage have been proposed, are pending, or have already passed in at least one legislative house in Andorra, Columbia, Finland, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Nepal, New Zealand, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and Uruguay.  In the United States, nine states have already legalized gay marriage (Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, Maine, Maryland, and Washington).  For these reasons, the United States and many other countries will likely change the definition of marriage and legalize same-sex matrimony in the near future.

Even though this may be eminent, there is one extremely important point to remember and it is this: It doesn’t matter what any man, any judge, any state, and any country says about the definition of marriage, God has already given the real definition of marriage and it will not change.  The real definition God gives for marriage is this, “a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5; Ephesians 5:31).  In other words, God designed marriage to be exclusively for a man and a woman.  But if this isn’t clear enough, then let’s consider some other biblical proofs:

• God gave Adam a woman (Eve) to be “a helper suitable for him,” because clearly no other creature, even another man, was fitting for this role (Genesis 2:18, 21-24).  Verse 24 tells us the role God was referring to was marriage.
• The only marriages found in Scripture were between men and women (Genesis 7:7; 11:29; 24:67; 29:28; Exodus 4:20; 1 Corinthians 7:2; and many, many other examples). 
• The only marriage advice given in the Bible is for the relationship between husbands and wives (Proverbs 12:4; 18:22; 31:10-31; Ephesians 5:22-33; Colossians 3:18-19; 1 Peter 3:1; etc).
• The only instruction on divorce is for husbands and wives (Matthew 5:31-32; 19:3-9; 1 Corinthians 7:10-11; etc).
• Not even one approved homosexual relationship, or even one piece of advice specifically for homosexuals, can be found in Scripture.  In fact, the Bible clearly and adamantly condemns homosexuality (Genesis 19; Leviticus 18:22, 29; 20:13; Romans 1:26-28; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 Timothy 1:9-10; 2 Peter 2:6-8; Jude 5-7; etc).
• The human body is only physically compatible with the opposite gender, making homosexuality abnormal.  Scripture also identifies homosexuality as unnatural (Romans 1:26-27).  Homosexual relationships cannot produce children and have been proven to shorten the lifespan and spread certain diseases (LifeSiteNews.com; Time).
• Scripture even reveals that people are not born as homosexuals and can change if they choose (1 Corinthians 10:13; 6:9-11, “such were some of you”).

Our culture is changing.  Nevertheless, even if the United States and every country in the world legalize gay marriage, it will not change the actual definition of marriage.  The Lord God is specific and clear that the only approved marriage is between a man and a woman.

Conditional Love

She still loves us anyway!

Neal Pollard

In every area of life I can think of, conditions are necessary.  Contracts almost always contain clauses, caveats, and quid pro quos.  Jesus even provided conditions for the marriage "contract," allowing one whose mate commits fornication to divorce and remarry an eligible person (Mat. 19:9) or one whose mate dies to marry an eligible person (Rom. 7:1-4).  Though making no allowance for remarriage, as some say, Paul does add that one does not have choose marital obligations to a mate over Christ (1 Cor. 7:15).  Further, one is not required to remain in a situation where abuse and physical danger is a viable threat either to that one or whatever children are involved, even if such reprehensible conduct does not allow the victim the right of remarriage (cf. Mat. 5:32; 19:9).  Love does not act unbecomingly (1 Cor. 13:5), and those who are lazy, lustful, selfish, demeaning, wrathful, and the like may bear the fruit of disdain and distance from a fed-up or heart-broken spouse.

That said, there is an alarming amount of "conditional love" that defies sympathy.  Through the years, I have known those before and after marriage who made the physical weight and appearance of their loved one a condition of their love.  For others, it was money or salary.  For others still, it was social status and social-climbing.  Perhaps, with some brainstorming, we could grow this list of "provisos" much longer.  This approach to "love" that says "I will love you if…," "I will love you when…," "I will love you unless…," or "I will love you until" runs contrary to the spirit of Christ.  He is the standard of love.  Husbands are to love their wives like Christ loved the church (Eph. 5:25).  Wives are to be taught to demonstrate selfless love to their husbands, too (Ti. 2:4). 

Consider Christ's love.  He loved us when we were helpless, sinful enemies (Rom. 5:6-10).  He loved us before we loved Him (1 Jn. 4:19).  He continues to love us, though we fall short (Rom. 3:23; 8:38-39).  That does not mean that He will unconditionally save us, but the Bible's clear indication is that He will continue to love us no matter what.  Certainly, that will revolutionize our thinking as a Christian, but we should allow it to revolutionize our earthly relationships.  As John says, "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another" (1 Jn. 4:11).

In every area of life I can think of, conditions are necessary.  Contracts almost always contain clauses, caveats, and quid pro quos.  Jesus even provided conditions for the marriage "contract," allowing one whose mate commits fornication to divorce and remarry an eligible person (Mat. 19:9) or one whose mate dies to marry an eligible person (Rom. 7:1-4).  Though making no allowance for remarriage, as some say, Paul does add that one does not have choose marital obligations to a mate over Christ (1 Cor. 7:15).  Further, one is not required to remain in a situation where abuse and physical danger is a viable threat either to that one or whatever children are involved, even if such reprehensible conduct does not allow the victim the right of remarriage (cf. Mat. 5:32; 19:9).  Love does not act unbecomingly (1 Cor. 13:5), and those who are lazy, lustful, selfish, demeaning, wrathful, and the like may bear the fruit of disdain and distance from a fed-up or heart-broken spouse.

That said, there is an alarming amount of "conditional love" that defies sympathy.  Through the years, I have known those before and after marriage who made the physical weight and appearance of their loved one a condition of their love.  For others, it was money or salary.  For others still, it was social status and social-climbing.  Perhaps, with some brainstorming, we could grow this list of "provisos" much longer.  This approach to "love" that says "I will love you if…," "I will love you when…," "I will love you unless…," or "I will love you until" runs contrary to the spirit of Christ.  He is the standard of love.  Husbands are to love their wives like Christ loved the church (Eph. 5:25).  Wives are to be taught to demonstrate selfless love to their husbands, too (Ti. 2:4). 

Consider Christ's love.  He loved us when we were helpless, sinful enemies (Rom. 5:6-10).  He loved us before we loved Him (1 Jn. 4:19).  He continues to love us, though we fall short (Rom. 3:23; 8:38-39).  That does not mean that He will unconditionally save us, but the Bible's clear indication is that He will continue to love us no matter what.  Certainly, that will revolutionize our thinking as a Christian, but we should allow it to revolutionize our earthly relationships.  As John says, "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another" (1 Jn. 4:11).