We're told we've just witnessed a historic moment.
A sitting United States President, with evolving views, has finally endorsed the providing of gay adults to be married in same-gender unions. His daughters have friends with wonderful gay "parents." How can he not be supportive of these loving, family relationships, regardless of sexual orientation or practice?
Nancy Pelosi praises our President for advancing Civil Rights. One in six financial supporters of the Obama Reelection Campaign is gay (according to MSNBC). Vice-President Joe Biden declares his "absolute comfort" with this on Sunday, and our President believes it the right time for him to express his support, even as the state of North Carolina joins 30 others in disagreement.
Your thoughts? Are your views evolving? What does the President's support actually mean, if anything?
What is Marriage?
Let's realize that as "beauty is in the eye of the beholder," marriage's definition is in the hands of the definer.
Culturally and anthropologically, "marriage" for centuries has been a recognized (by a group as concerning individuals in the group) agreement between human beings of opposite gender (if "monogamy," then between one woman and one man, or if "polygamy," between multiple partners, usually one male with a # of females). The recognized agreement is to be uniquely committed to one another for the purposes of producing offspring and sharing a special level of relationship. Historically, virtually every culture and/or society had norms (or accepted and promoted practices) which identified when people were in a "marriage" relationship.
Marriage would come to be codified by governing authorities. Thus legally, "marriage" is a contract of an exclusive condition or relationship containing promises to live together and mutually provide the benefits of which a husband and wife are capable. This contract is defined by civil law, and when executed, is recognized and certified by counties within the jurisdiction of a State (e.g., Colorado, Florida, etc.). Typically, it is binding until it is dissolved through the granting of a legally recognized divorce. A marriage contract often also provides for a couple certain benefits, rights, and protections as prescribed by, for example, employment benefit packages, insurers, or by the United States government.
Still, a strong argument could be made that the above definitions of "marriage" are secondary to the original, a definition from the heart of the Creator of humanity. If what the Bible teaches concerning origins is correct, marriage is what a Creator-God fashioned it to be. Namely, what Genesis 2 says it is. "For this reason (Adam's declaration that God made woman of his own flesh and bone), a man (male) shall (from this time forward) leave his father and mother, and cling to his wife (female), and the two shall be come one flesh."
The Bible simply teaches that marriage is a one-flesh covenant relationship between a male and a female, recognized by others, experienced by two. Marriage involves a recognized leaving (of a family of origin), and a cleaving (creating a new family of origin).
Implications
Quite frankly, cultures and societies and governments can define "marriage" any way they want. And, they usually do.
If a culture or society or government wants to define "marriage" the way that the Creator of humanity defines it, then that definition will be what the Creator's Word says it is.
Our President's evolving viewpoint has reached the stage where he has decided to lead this country away from a Biblical, Creator-of-humanity definition of marriage. Congratulations, Mr. President. It is odd to hear you affirm what the Bible teaches about Jesus being your savior, but rejecting what your savior Jesus said about marriage (i.e., Jesus endorsed the Genesis 2 definition in the midst of his shifting-morals culture).
It is indeed an historic week for our country. And, a very sad one.
