Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Bible on Marriage

As part of the ongoing political debate regarding our nation's laws regarding homosexuality, numerous well-intentioned people have advocated a change in the church's stance on this subject.  It is unfortunate in my opinion that this particular sin gets so much attention as I believe there are those "trying it" due to public pressure.  Regardless, there are numerous misguided on this subject and the whole subject of the church condoning sin.  I'd like to study 5 reasons I've seen to change the church's stance: 1) Scripture doesn't prohibit gay marriage, 2) Homosexuality isn't a sin, 3) Jesus didn't mention homosexuality, therefore it's not really important, 4) The Biblical stance on homosexuality has changed (or isn't addressed in the New Testament, 5) The church must change it's stance on homosexuality because it will die if it doesn't and it accepts other sin. 
1) Scripture is consistent throughout as far as I can tell in always referring to marriage as a union between man and woman.  I note with interest that in Genesis Chapter 2 that when there was no suitable helper for Adam, God made Eve - a single, female mate.  God didn't make 49 Eve's and a Steve with a "try before you buy, you might be bi" clause.  Anyway, this is a subset of the multitude of scriptures I find on marriage, all consistently referring to a man and a woman.  Note that polygamy was popular in the early phases of the old testament, but was gone by Jesus' time.

Gen 2:24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.

Pro 12:4 An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, But she who shames him is like rottenness in his bones.

Pro 18:22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing And obtains favor from the LORD.

Deu 24:5 "When a man takes a new wife, he shall not go out with the army nor be charged with any duty; he shall be free at home one year and shall give happiness to his wife whom he has taken.

Malachi 2:14,15  But you say, “Why does he not?” Because the LORD was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.
Matt 19:4-6; Mark 10:6-9 4And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE, 5and said, ‘FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH’? 6“So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”

Eph 5:22-33

1 Cor 7:1-16

Col 3:18-19   18Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.

Heb 13:4 4Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

Ro 7:2-3
Additions?
 

1 comment:

Chris said...

Instead of a lengthy response, I posted as a response.