DEFINING MARRIAGE

1
DEFINING MARRIAGE
2
Is it Necessary to Define Marriage?

• Shall Article I (the Bill of Rights) of the
  Constitution of Virginia be amended to state
  That only a union between one man and one woman
  may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this
  Commonwealth and its political subdivisions.
  This Commonwealth and
  its political subdivisions shall not create or
  recognize a legal status for relationships of
  unmarried individuals that intends to approximate
  the design, qualities, significance, or effects
  of marriage. Nor shall this Commonwealth or its
  political subdivisions create or recognize
  another union, partnership, or other legal status
  to which is assigned the rights, benefits,
  obligations, qualities, or effects of marriage.

3
Is it Necessary to Define Marriage?

• Some Say Unnecessary Unwarranted! Strictly a
  human or civil right, a social and private
  affair!
• Such an approach to marriage will lead to its
  destruction Marriage Is Anything you Want it
  to Be.
• Defining marriage is critical to preserving and
  protecting the institution of marriage.

4
Attempts by the World to Redefine Marriage

• Same-sex couples who love and commit to one
  another (homosexuality).
• A man and woman who live together in love and
  commitment (cohabitation).
• A man and / or woman who lives with, loves, and
  commits to several men / women (i.e., polygamy
  and/ or bisexuality).

5
Does the World Have a Right to Redefine Marriage?

• The Bible exhorts us to not conform to this
  world, which would include its standard of
  morality and practices.

6
Romans 122 (NASB)

• And do not be conformed to this world, but be
  transformed by the renewing of your mind, that
  you may prove what the will of God is, that which
  is good and acceptable and perfect.

7
Does the World Have a Right to Redefine Marriage?

• No matter how Man may define marriage, Gods
  definition will forever stand!
• No man-made law will ever change the unchangeable
  decree of God!

8
1 Peter 124-25 (NASB)

• 24 For, "All flesh is like grass, And all its
  glory like the flower of grass. The grass
  withers, And the flower falls off, 25 But the
  word of the Lord abides forever. "

9
Hebrews 412 (NASB)

• For the word of God is living and active and
  sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as
  far as the division of soul and spirit, of both
  joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts
  and intentions of the heart.

10
Gods Definition of Marriage.

• Marriage is the union of one male and one female.

11
Matthew 194-6 (NASB)

• 4 And He answered and said, "Have you not read,
  that He who created them from the beginning made
  them male and female, 5 and said,' For this
  cause a man shall leave his father and mother,
  and shall cleave to his wife and the two shall
  become one flesh'? 6 "Consequently they are no
  longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has
  joined together, let no man separate."

12
Gods Definition of Marriage.

• There is no mistaking Gods original definition
  of marriage, given from the beginning.
• Marriage is a monogamous relationship.
• Only two persons, one male and one female.

13
Gods Definition of Marriage.

• Marriage is a heterosexual, not homosexual
  relationship.
• At the beginning made them male and female, not
  male and male or female and female (Mat. 194
  cf. Gen. 126-27 222).
• Marriage involves the union of the only type of
  couple, one male and one female, capable of
  natural reproduction of the human race (Gen.
  128).

14
Marriage is a heterosexual, not homosexual
relationship.

• When God said, It is not good that the man
  should be alone I will make him a help meet for
  him, (Gen. 218) God did not create another man!
  (Gen. 221-23).
• Another man would not have been a suitable
  partner for Adam any more than any one of the
  animals which God had created! (cf. Lev. 1823)

15
God condemns the fleshly union of males with
males and females with females in both the Old
Testament and New.

• God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for their
  desires toward homosexuality, calling it a very
  grievous sin- Gen. 1820 cf. Gen. 195).

16
Leviticus 1822 (NASB)

• You shall not lie with a male as one lies with
  a female it is an abomination. (i.e.,
  detestable, morally disgusting)
• Note The Law demanded that those who commit the
  abomination of the homosexual act be put to death
  (Lev. 2013).

17
God condemns the fleshly union of males with
males and females with females in both the Old
Testament and New.

• Jesus spoke against the behavior of Sodom (Mat.
  1123-24 Luke 1728-29).
• Jude specifically described the type of
  fornication Sodom desired as going after strange
  flesh or homosexual acts.

18
Jude 7 (KJV)

• Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about
  them in like manner, giving themselves over to
  fornication, and going after strange flesh, are
  set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance
  of eternal fire.

19
God condemns the fleshly union of males with
males and females with females in both the Old
Testament and New.

• Homosexuality is contrary to sound doctrine or
  healthy, wholesome teaching (1 Tim. 110) those
  who practice it do not inherit the kingdom of God
  (1 Cor. 69-10).
• Homosexuality is a vile passion that is
  against nature (Romans 126-27)

20
Romans 126-27 (NASB)

• 26 For this reason God gave them over to
  degrading passions for their women exchanged the
  natural function for that which is unnatural, 27
  and in the same way also the men abandoned the
  natural function of the woman and burned in their
  desire toward one another, men with men
  committing indecent acts and receiving in their
  own persons the due penalty of their error.

21
Gods Definition of Marriage.

• The honorable institution of marriage does not
  permit fornication or adultery.

22
Hebrews 134 (NASB)

• Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let
  the marriage bed be undefiled for fornicators
  and adulterers God will judge.

23
The honorable institution of marriage does not
permit fornication or adultery.

• Unmarried couples living together in love is
  not morally equal to marriage.
• Those who practice cohabitation or polygamous
  marriage will be held accountable.
• Toleration of same-sex marriage (form of
  fornication) belittles defiles marriage.
• Let us highly esteem Gods design of marriage by
  our pure conduct and defense of marriage.

24
Gods Definition of Marriage.

• Marriage is about companionship and commitment.
• By creating woman for man, the need for
  companionship was fulfilled in the first marriage
  (Gen. 218, 22).
• Marriage is also about devotion, commitment, and
  unity (Gen. 224).

25
Gods Definition of Marriage.

• Includes couples complying with civil law to
  ratify the marriage contract (Rom. 131-7 1 Pet.
  213-14).
• Rom 1217b says Take thought for things
  honorable in the sight of all men (ASV), thus
  marriage must be ratified in a way accepted by
  society.
• Civil procedures should be followed, provided
  they do not violate Gods law (Acts 529).

26
Standing Up for Gods Definition of Marriage is
not Discrimination!

• Gods definition of marriage is not
  discriminatory, but is open to all adults who
  meet his requirements (Mat. 194-9 cf. Gen.
  224).
• Ultimately, marriage is intended only for those
  who will respect His law, not for those who will
  reject it (e.g., Mat. 199-11).

27
Standing Up for Gods Definition of Marriage is
not Discrimination!

• Marriage has a specific meaning that should be
  upheld and respected by all (Gen. 224 Mat.
  194-11).
• Marriage specifically involves the union of the
  two sexes, one male and one female.
• To describe marriage in any other way is to no
  longer have marriage.

28

• Let Us Honor, Respect, and Defend Gods
  Definition of Marriage!