Defending The Biblical View Of Marriage

Defending the Biblical View of Marriage

Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6

October 8, 2006

Introduction

Today we’re going to look at the first of two very controversial topics – same-sex marriage and abortion. It’s also possible that we might look at the issue of video lottery, but I’m not sure about that yet.

I would just as soon avoid these topics. But as much as I try to run away from them, I simply cannot.

I end up reading something or hearing someone or coming across something that God uses to push me to talk this stuff.

And I’m serious when I say I don’t want to talk about these things. But it’s one of those things where I can’t avoid it.

Every time I talk about these things, I run the risk of offending someone here, and maybe they’ll leave.

But I also find myself facing the fact that I will face God one day to give an account for my time here.

And I can’t imagine standing before him and saying that I was more concerned with keeping people in the seats than about talking about moral issues that happen to be played out in the political arena.

And I’m willing to risk people being mad at me if it causes anyone to think about the implications of these issues we’re facing today.

These issues are off-the-wall important. So let’s look at a very important question before we dive into the issue of marriage.

Shouldn’t the church stay out of political issues?

That depends!

If we’re talking about funds for the highway or whether or not to require city leaders to wear beards during the city’s quasquicentennial celebration, then I guess it’s probably not worth getting all uptight about.

But when it comes to issues like this one and abortion, you have to understand something, and if you don’t get this, then nothing else I or anybody else will say will go far with you.

Here’s what you need to understand: these are not political issues – they are moral and biblical issues. And the church absolutely has to stand up for them.

Here’s the first blank: When moral and biblical issues are on the line, the people of God must get involved.

“You can’t legislate morality.”

All legislation is legislated morality. Do you know that almost no one understands this?

For instance, why do we have speed limits? Because it’s wrong to endanger the lives of others simply because you’re in a hurry.

Why do we have laws against theft and murder? Because these things are wrong.

I’m holding out hope that someday there’ll be a law against late-night infomercials, especially for things like “The Thighmaster"...

The concept of what’s wrong needs a concept of what’s right. And both of these are moral concepts embodied in our laws.

What we’re really being asked to do in defeating this marriage amendment is to legislate immorality.

Ever thought of it that way? I hadn’t either until a couple years ago. What we’re saying if we let this amendment die is that it’s okay and legal to live an immoral and dangerous lifestyle.

And I’m not ready to do that.

So let’s look at the first section of our outline…

The Main issues:

1. God invented marriage.

Genesis 2:22-24 –

22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

23 The man said,

"This is now bone of my bones

and flesh of my flesh;

she shall be called ’woman, ’

for she was taken out of man."

24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

Who’s idea was marriage in the first place? God’s!

I love doing weddings. I’ve done 2 weddings in the last 3 weeks. One was a pretty traditional wedding, and the other was probably one the most untraditional weddings I’ll ever be a part of.

But when someone comes to me asking if I’ll do their wedding, I usually say yes, because it gives me the opportunity to talk with them about their relationships with Christ and about God’s view of marriage.

We review the vows, and I give very little leeway regarding the vows.

Outside of the vows, I’m pretty open. As long as they don’t ask for something totally off the wall like asking me to wear lederhosen or something goofy like that.

Because let me tell you folks, my legs are not pretty. Don’t make me prove it…

But one of the things I cover when I’m in pre-marital counseling is the fact that marriage was God’s idea in the first place. He invented it, and He knows what’s best.

Now I’ve been known to be arrogant from time to time, though I think God’s been helping me in that area.