Marriage equality

[puddleglum]

There is a movement to establish “marriage equality� between gay and straight people by legalizing marriage between two people of the same sex. Is the restriction of marriage to a man and a woman just an arbitrary rule or is there some fundamental reason why two members of the same sex can’t marry each other?

Marriage has one purpose that is often overlooked.

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body.

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.� This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.
Ephesians 5:22-32 ESV

The church is a body made up of all whose sins have been forgiven because of their faith in Christ. The relationship between a husband and wife is intended to reflect the relationship between Christ and the church. The husband represents Christ and the wife represents the church. A union between two men or two women is not an accurate picture of the relationship.

The government can pass laws that call a relationship between two members of the same sex a marriage but it will not be a true marriage in God’s sight. But the Bible reveals a way in which some gays will experience marriage equality.

The Bible calls the church the bride of Christ. Whoever is saved by believing in Christ becomes part of the church. One day church will be complete and then what is now only a metaphor will become a reality.

Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,
“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure�—
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
Revelation 19:6-8 ESV

The ultimate destiny of all Christians is to experience the true Marriage of which marriages between a man and a woman are only a picture. Many of those who are part of this Marriage will have had a preview of it by being married in this life; many will not. The joy of being part of the real Marriage will be so great no one will care what their marital status was before. Gays who have put their faith in Christ will experience exactly the same thing that straights will.

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:27-28 ESV

And in Christ there is neither gay nor straight.

The way to achieve marriage equality for gays is not to change laws but to evangelize gays so they will be part of the real Marriage.

[Wootah]

Marriage is at the heart of Christianity and understanding our relationship with Jesus. By putting marriage in the hands of government I wonder if we handed it to the Devil.

I think the mission field is now at our door.

[Goat]

Marriage is at the heart of Christianity and understanding our relationship with Jesus. By putting marriage in the hands of government I wonder if we handed it to the Devil.

I think the mission field is now at our door.

So you think the Christian version of marriage is the only valid one? How about Jewish, or Hindu, or what ever?

[puddleglum]

[Replying to post 3 by Goat]

Jews and Hindus believe that marriage is between a man and a woman.

[Goat]

[Replying to post 3 by Goat]

Jews and Hindus believe that marriage is between a man and a woman.

Most Jews. However, there are still certain Jewish groups that have polygamy, even in this modern time.

And in the U.S, there are some Jewish congregations that have had gay marriages.

So, you are brushing with too broad a brush there.

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 1 by puddleglum]

I looked over the rules of this forum and it seems as its one for the discussion of the bible text so I don't think I'll be in violation to refer to Jesus' words at Matthew 19 which reads "'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'?"

[Yahu]

There is a movement to establish “marriage equality� between gay and straight people by legalizing marriage between two people of the same sex. Is the restriction of marriage to a man and a woman just an arbitrary rule or is there some fundamental reason why two members of the same sex can’t marry each other?

The biblical law doesn't limit marriage to a man and his wife. It limits it between a man, his wives and concubines. It was only those of the high priesthood that could only take one wife and that required her to be a virgin.

As I understand it, you could take any non-virgin as a concubine while it was sin to take the virginity of a girl without taking her as a wife. Also by Jewish law, adultery had to do with any man sleeping with a woman married (or betrothed) to another man. It had nothing to do with a married man taking a concubine or another wife. This is why Jacob and Abraham were not ever guilty of adultery.

[Wootah]

There is a movement to establish “marriage equality� between gay and straight people by legalizing marriage between two people of the same sex. Is the restriction of marriage to a man and a woman just an arbitrary rule or is there some fundamental reason why two members of the same sex can’t marry each other?

The biblical law doesn't limit marriage to a man and his wife. It limits it between a man, his wives and concubines. It was only those of the high priesthood that could only take one wife and that required her to be a virgin.

As I understand it, you could take any non-virgin as a concubine while it was sin to take the virginity of a girl without taking her as a wife. Also by Jewish law, adultery had to do with any man sleeping with a woman married (or betrothed) to another man. It had nothing to do with a married man taking a concubine or another wife. This is why Jacob and Abraham were not ever guilty of adultery.

Are we not a nation of high priests?
What Jewish laws did Abraham or Jacob know of?

[puddleglum]

[Replying to post 7 by Yahu]

The biblical law doesn't limit marriage to a man and his wife. It limits it between a man, his wives and concubines.

God allowed men to take extra wives and concubines but that wasn't part of his plan. And he never approved any kind of marital relationship between two people of the same sex.

[Yahu]

Are we not a nation of high priests?
What Jewish laws did Abraham or Jacob know of?

No we are not a nation of high priests. That law was specifically for those descent of Arron, that held a position in the high priesthood of Israel so that they be beyond reproach. The other Levites, the lower priesthood, weren't even held to that same law.

Yeshua is our High Priest under the order of Melchizedek, not of the priesthood of Arron. We may earn a position of 'priest' in the eternal kingdom but that is only for certain level of overcomers as presented in Rev 3. Not everyone is 'kings or priests' in the eternal kingdom. Only the greatest of the overcomers reach that position as a reward.

Not all scriptures and holy writings survived to be put into our current canon. Others that existed were also excluded. Now of course there were not 'Jewish' laws during the time of Abraham or Jacob, they were Hebrews, not Jews. Jews are those of the nation of Judah. Hebrews are descent of Eber/Heber. Jews are just a subset of Hebrews. Hebrew law would have been passed down from Eber who held the priestly position after Shem. Melchezedek was probably either Shem or Eber.

According to the book of Jasher, Abram lived with Noah (Shem and Eber) for many years of his early life. He had access to any writings in Noah's possession. For example, Enoch was a scribe that wrote many works pre-flood. Even according to the writings of Moses, Noah was given laws. For example, don't eat blood.