Marriage Gen.2:23-24 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO
Gen 2:23-24 shows you the Biblical foundation of marriage. Eph 5:22-25, 30-32 shows you that the marriage of Adam and Eve foreshadows the marriage of the Lord Jesus Christ and his bride, the church. And the relationship between the bride of Christ and Jesus Christ sets the proper Biblical pattern for marriage between a husband and wife.
It is clear that the whole concept and definition of marriage emanates from God and not from man. The Lord established marriage and defined its union as a man and a woman coming together as “one flesh.” Therefore, the Bible clearly prohibits adultery both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament [Lev 20:10; Matt 19:5-9] because it defiles this union [1 Cor 6:15-16].
The Bible is clear on the prohibitions of marriages between close relations [Lev 18:6-18; Lev 20:17, 19-21] and between persons of the same sex [Lev 18:22; Lev 20:13; Rom 1:26-28] and these are essentially the same as the prohibitions that you find in the Texas Family Code.
Sec. 2.001. MARRIAGE LICENSE. (a) A man and a woman desiring to enter into a ceremonial marriage must obtain a marriage license from the county clerk of any county of this state.
(b) A license may not be issued for the marriage of persons of the same sex.
Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 7, Sec. 1, eff. April 17, 1997.
Sec. 2.004 (6)… “The other applicant is not related to me as:
(A) an ancestor or descendant, by blood or adoption;
(B) a brother or sister, of the whole or half blood or by adoption;
(C) a parent’s brother or sister, of the whole or half blood or by adoption;
(D) a son or daughter of a brother or sister, of the whole or half blood or by adoption;
(E) a current or former stepchild or stepparent; or
(F) a son or daughter of a parent’s brother or sister,of the whole or half blood or by adoption.”;
Our Texas Family Code comes right out of the Bible. What is happening in the United States today is an attempt by Lesbians and Gays to claim discrimination against them because same-sex couples cannot legally obtain a license to marry in many states, as in the State of Texas. But then neither can close relations!! This isn’t discrimination; it is common sense. There are challenges to the constitutionality of such laws in the Supreme Courts of Texas and the United States, as well as other states. And there are many political, legal and special interest groups working hard to overturn those laws by any means.
Already in Indiana, the state’s recently signed Religious Freedom Restoration Act RFRA has come under fire as anti-gay and as a license to discriminate, being used by those who oppose laws against same-sex marriages as a platform for directing criticism at the Republican Governor. Same-sex marriages are already legally recognized in Indiana and have been since October 2014. Furthermore, Indiana is perhaps the 30th state to pass a RFRA since Bill Clinton signed the federal version of the RFRA in 1993. And yet corporations and politicians are condemning the signing of the RFRA in Indiana, which is an Act concerning religious freedom [see the 1st Amendment to the Constitution of the United States], not legalized discrimination. Oddly, many of the critics of Indiana’s RFRA are in states that already have a RFRA. They are simply political opportunists and hypocrites.
What you must recognize is that we are facing yet another attempt to legalize sin. Adultery is a sin but it is not illegal. Murder is a sin but it is not illegal when it is committed against a person who has not yet been born [you talk about defenseless]. Homosexuality is an abomination to God but it is not illegal. Marriage is a sacred union [Matt 19:6, what therefore God hath joined together] and it is now [in some states] recognized as a legal union between two people committing the abominable sin of homosexuality.
Thank God that in Alabama, the Supreme Court had the wisdom to decide to halt same-sex marriages. In its decision the court said, “As it has done for approximately two centuries, Alabama law allows for ‘marriage’ between only one man and one woman. Alabama probate judges have a ministerial duty not to issue any marriage license contrary to this law. Nothing in the United States Constitution alters or overrides this duty.”
Alabama’s Supreme Court had the courage to stand for what is right not what is demanded. You can be sure that there will be loud outcries and threats against anyone who stands for God and his definition of marriage. It is imperative that Texas and the United States stand with the Bible and against the demands of all special interest groups that desire to tear away this prohibition to the licensing of same-sex marriages. Like Peter said in Acts 5:29, “We ought to obey God rather than men.”
The Texas Supreme Court has yet to rule on the Texas Constitution Marriage Amendment and legislators are dealing with legislation right now in defense of Biblical marriage and the Texas Marriage Amendment. You must pray for them and you should let them know now where you stand on Biblical marriage. Do you have the courage to stand with God? Edmund Burke said, “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”