The Wake-Up Herald

And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof. Romans 13:11-14

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Robert McCurry, Editor & Publisher

August 25, 2010

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Who Redefined Marriage?

By Robert McCurry

Part Two

Marriage is not man’s creation. Marriage is God’s creation. Marriage is an institution that predates governments and marriage licenses. Marriage began in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve; God officiated at their marriage. Interestingly, the words ‘marry.’ ‘marriage,’ or ‘married’ are not used to describe this event. However, all of the biblical components of ‘marriage’ are clearly seen in this marriage. God said that it was not good that Adam should be alone so He created Eve and brought her to Adam and ‘joined them together and they became one flesh.’ Having been joined together in marriage, Adam became a ‘husband’ and Eve became a ‘wife.’

Jesus affirms this marriage in Matthew 19:4: “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”

Joined together = to yoke together; to unite, join firmly; to glue or cement together; to stick to.

Cleave = to join fast together, to glue, to cement, to stick, to adhere firmly and closely or loyally and unwaveringly; permanence.

Asunder = all to pieces, one part from the other, to shred. To put asunder is to tear. The same Greek word for asunder is used in Acts 1:18,: “Now this man [Judas] purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.”

It is God that joins a man and a woman together in marriage. The two are one flesh. It is impossible to divide one flesh. But it is possible for one flesh to be torn, cut and, broken asunder by divorce. It is God that commands that marriage not be put asunder--torn, cut, or broken apart.

Fast forward to Webster’s 1828 Dictionary

MAR'RIAGE, n. [L.mas, maris.] “The act of uniting a man and woman for life; wedlock; the legal union of a man and woman for life. Marriage is a contract both civil and religious, by which the parties engage to live together in mutual affection and fidelity, till death shall separate them. Marriage was instituted by God himself for the purpose of preventing the promiscuous intercourse of the sexes, for promoting domestic felicity, and for securing the maintenance and education of children.”

 

Interestingly, this definition included a reference to the King James Version of Hebrews 13.4 which says, “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” They also cited Matthew 22 2, “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king, who made a marriage for his son.” Also included: “In a scriptural sense, the union between Christ and his church by the covenant of grace. Rev.19.”

 

Fast forward to Webster’s 1913 Dictionary

MAR'RIAGE, n. “The act of marrying, or the state of being married; legal union of a man and a woman for life, as husband and wife; wedlock; matrimony.”

 

Interestingly, this early edition also included a reference to the King James Version of Hebrews 13:4 which says, “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” They also cited Matthew 22:2, “The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son.”

 

Fast forward to Merriam-Webster’s 2009 Dictionary

MAR'RIAGE, n. “(1) the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law (2) the state of being united to a person of the same sex in a relationship like that of a traditional marriage <same-sex marriage>”  No biblical references cited.

Obviously, man has rejected and departed from God’s ordained biblical model of marriage. The historical evidence of this tragedy is too voluminous to record here. But it is clear that Judge Walter R. Walker’s recent favorable ‘gay marriage’ ruling that says although a union between a man and woman has been the biblical and common-law definition of marriage from colonial times to the present, this traditional legal definition is now "irrational" is evidence that the tragedy is ongoing. 

The judge added in the conclusion of his 136-page opinion: "Proposition 8 fails to advance any rational basis in singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license."

 

Why ‘gays’ demand a ‘marriage license’

A ‘Marriage License’ is of recent origin. In biblical times, permission for a couple to marry was determined by the father. In colonial days, permission to marry was also determined by the father. God intended for children to have their father’s blessing regarding whom they married. Daughters were to be given in marriage by their fathers (Deut 22:16; Ex 22:17; I Cor 7:38). An abbreviated form of this continues to be used in Christian weddings today when the father stands between his daughter and her prospective husband during the ceremony until the minister asks, “Who gives this woman to be married to this man?” The father answers, “I do” and then places her hand in the hand of the groom as he steps back and is seated.

‘Marriage banns’, also called ‘banns of marriage,’ was a common practice in colonial days. A couple could publish “banns,”—an announcement—at their local church or meeting house for three consecutive weeks of their intent to be married. If there were no biblical or legal objection to the marriage, the minister would marry the couple. This “marriage by banns” required no reporting to civil authorities; therefore it was recorded only in the church records and perhaps the family Bible.

An abbreviated form of ‘marriage banns’ is still practiced today in most public Christian weddings by the minister saying to the attendees, “If anyone can show a biblical or lawful cause why this couple should not be joined in marriage, let him now speak or forever hereafter hold his peace.”   

The ‘Marriage License’ was introduced in America in the mid-1800s; according to the 1933 3^rd edition of Black’s Law Dictionary, its purpose was to grant state permission to intermarry.

Marriage License = “A license or permission granted by public authority to persons who intend to intermarry, usually addressed to the minister or magistrate who is to perform the ceremony, or, in general terms, to any one authorized to solemnize marriages. By statute in most jurisdictions, it is made an essential prerequisite to the lawful solemnization of the marriage.”

 

License = “In Constitutional Law, and in the Law of Contracts. A permission, accorded by a competent authority, conferring the right to do some act which without such authorization would be illegal, or would be a trespass or a tort.”

It is obvious why ‘gays’ demand a marriage license. The authority to license implies the power to prohibit. A license by definition "confers a privilege" to do something. By allowing the state to exercise control over marriage, it is implied that no one has a right to marry; marriage is a state granted privilege. This is correct regarding a so-called ‘gay marriage,’ but it is biblically and historically incorrect regarding God-ordained biblical marriage.

God’s ordained biblical marriage is not a ‘state granted privilege’ that requires a state issued ‘marriage license.’ Marriage, according to God’s original ideal model of marriage, is a God-ordained right. Sadly and unfortunately, the majority of Americans—including pastors and Christians—are not only ignorant of this truth, they are also ignorant of the truth that a state licensed marriage is a three-way business contract between the man, woman, and the state; this grants the state ownership rights and control of children born to this union.

Unfortunately and sadly, postmodern ‘Christianity’ and America have redefined marriage; God’s ideal has become obsolete and is rejected by the nation at large and by an ever increasing number of professing Christians.

Proverbs 14:34: “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”

Jeremiah 6:15-16: “Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD. Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.”

Psalm 9:17: “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”

Wake-up, Pastors! Wake-up, Christians!

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The Wake-Up Herald is published by Robert McCurry. The publication is designed to exalt the true God of the Bible, the Lord Jesus Christ, and inform, inspire, and challenge its readers regarding biblical truth and real-life issues. The contents are the sole responsibility of Robert McCurry and do not represent or speak for or on behalf of any other person or group. There is no subscription charge. The publication is a ministry of faith dependent on the contributions of its readers. Contributions are not tax-deductible. Send all correspondence to: Robert McCurry, 605 Moore Rd, Newnan, GA 30263 or herbap@aol.com Remove? Send reply with “remove” in Subject line.