What is Marriage - and Why is Marriage Important to Society?

Our culture has embarked on a social experiment that is largely unprecedented and California is leading the way. In our forum, Sunday night, we talked about marriage and its importance to the people who are married. We also talked a little about the importance of marriage for children. What is often left out of discussions and debates is the importance of marriage for the good of society as a whole. I received a good booklet and DVD in the mail, written from a sociological, legal and theological point of view. It is online at this address:

The Booklet, Marriage and the Public Good: Ten Principles: http://thetruthaboutmarriage.org/thebook

Video: http://thetruthaboutmarriage.org/video

Soon, on this Blog, you can read some of the notes of presenters, in case you missed our forum. Here's one set of notes...

Yes on Proposition 8, by Bill

BACKGROUND
Proposition 8 is in the context of a multi-year effort on the part of some groups and organizations to redefine marriage away from the traditional union of a man and a woman to being a formal cohabitation (and receive society's approval of any resulting sexual activity) between any two people, regardless of sex.
o In 2000, Proposition 22 was passed defining marriage as "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."
o In 2003 the California Domestic Partners Rights and Responsibilities Act established Domestic Unions as having the same legal/benefits status as traditional marriage.
o In 2004, Gavin Newsome, Mayor of San Francisco, unilaterally began "marrying" gay couples.
o In 2008, The California Supreme Court reversed an Appeal's court ruling that upheld, per Proposition 22, that marriage is between and man and a woman.

Since the Domestic Partner's Rights and Responsibilities Act, Domestic Partners and Marriage Partners have had equal rights under State law.

Therefore, the issue is not around rights and benefits as some would insist. At issue is the definition of marriage itself.

I believe that the multi-year effort is an attack on an institution that God established at creation when He established marriage; on the very fabric of God's moral law.

BIBLICAL BASIS FOR MARRIAGE

Here is a biblical basis for reaffirming that marriage is a union between a man and a woman.

When God created Man and Woman, He instituted marriage, a mystical union that joins a man and a woman as "one flesh".

(Gen 2:24) Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall become united and cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. [Matt. 19:5; I Cor. 6:16; Eph. 5:31-33.]

The act of combining two people into one flesh is the sex act. The combination is a sacred one and must not be abused. It is possible for people to distort the sexual combination leading to unintended consequences.

God has established the moral law, not arbitrarily, but for our protection. We are mostly ignorant of the larger spiritual context of our own lives and the consequences of our choices [and words]. Therefore, it is vital that we heed God's guidance and obey in faith. [Daniel 10]

Proverbs warns us. There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. [Prov 16:25 ]

Nevertheless, the Bible warns against the consequences of sexual perversion (including what we now call homosexuality) and the results that it brings.

o (Lev 18:22) You shall not lie with a man as with a woman; it is an abomination. [I Cor. 6:9, 10.]
o (Lev 18:28) [Do none of these things] lest the land spew you out when you defile it as it spewed out the nation that was before you.
o (Lev 20:13) If a man lies with a male as if he were a woman, both men have committed an offense (something perverse, unnatural, abhorrent, and detestable)
o (Lev 20:22) You shall therefore keep all My statutes and all My ordinances and do them, that the land where I am bringing you to dwell may not vomit you out [as it did those before you]. [Lev. 18:28.]

Some have claimed that the Levitical laws were rescinded at Jesus' resurrection and the institution of the New Covenant (or New Testament). This is certainly true for sacrifices for the remission of sins. However, Paul, in Chapter 1 of Romans, makes very plain that sexual perversion and homosexual behavior is evidence of willful disdain for God and carries severe consequences [Romans 1:19-32]

Others have the idea that we should not care about homosexuals who marry. After all, what is it to us? And they may be right; it may have no discernable impact on us, today. But, it will have an impact at some time. The land will spew us out, homosexuals and Christians alike. Remember Lot. Lot lost everything he had, escaping only with the clothes on his back and his two daughters when God's judgment fell on Sodom. [Genesis 19]
o Lot lost all when judgment fell even though he himself was not a homosexual.

Christians must resist the corruption of God's rules of living - what we call moral law. To do otherwise is to put our entire civilization in jeopardy. Not immediately, or even over the space of many years, but eventually for sure. Christians have a great responsibility. Not to judge others but to uphold God's laws and to influence the entire culture toward God.

The question remains, however, how are we to treat those around us who may be caught up in sexual immorality or other deadly and self-destructive behavior? The best example of how we are to treat the people around us in this condition comes from Jesus himself. We do not condemn. "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." [John 8:11]

If we really loved those around us who are caught up in sexual sin, we would do everything in our power to work for their salvation. Otherwise, they are condemned to be excluded from the kingdom of God by their own choice and behavior.

(1Co 6:9-10) Do you not know that the unrighteous and the wrongdoers will not inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived (misled): neither the impure and immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who participate in homosexuality, Nor cheats (swindlers and thieves), nor greedy graspers, nor drunkards, nor foulmouthed revilers and slanderers, nor extortioners and robbers will inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God.

Proposition 8 is a move to reaffirm, as originally ordained by God, that marriage is between a man and a woman.

-Bill