What exactly is a Bible based marriage?
 

From the Advocate News:

June 11, 2009

God "Dropped a Boulder" on Marriage

By Amita Parashar

"Since God created marriage, only he has the authority to change it," the Reverend Duane Motley told marriage-equality opponents at a rally on Tuesday in Albany, N.Y.

Motley, state senator Ruben Diaz Sr., and Maggie Gallagher of the National Organization for Marriage joined supporters in a rally to protect "traditional marriage" outside the capitol building as the New York state senate considers a marriage-equality bill.

Read the rest of the article here----->http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid89664.asp




So what does the Bible (God's written word) say about marriage? Here's Mrs. Betty Bowers, the world's greatest Christian, explaining exactly what scripture says about marriage:





Rick

Well, biblically speaking, a traditional marriage is polygamous. Remember that dude Solomon? Yeah, he had lotsa womens! In a biblical marriage, the woman is the husband's property. If she doesn't submit to his every whim, doesn't have dinner on the table at 6:00 sharp, and isn't ready to pleasure him at a minute's notice, she can expect to be slapped around, dragged through the streets by the hair, and humiliated in front of the community as the men grunt, beat their chests, and wave their clubs in triumph... Marriage just the way God designed it!

Well, what exactly is required for a marriage, you know, biblically speaking? What about those repeated covenants made between David and Jonathan?

Reminds me of the phrase You can't Box with God.

It's annoying when conservatives pull out this tactic. And it is a tactic. Never mind that not everyone believes in the bible or is a Christianity, and that our nation has civil marriage and separation between church and state.

(thank you Zeus!)

I guess this means- according to Rev Motely's twisted logic- that atheist's, since they don't believe in God, have no business marrying.

You are is so much trouble Rick! ;)

HOWEVER, as a resident of NYC, I can tell you that the coup that recently took place in the State Senate here in NY has everyone wondering what is going to happen with the gay marriage bill currently in play. My sense? It's a matter of when, not if. NY is going to have gay marriage. In my lifetime. And the Rev. Motely's of the world are simply going to have to face to deal with that.

Minds are changing. Here is one worth reading.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/13/op...ozzi.html?_r=1

I guess this means- according to Rev Motely's twisted logic- that atheist's, since they don't believe in God, have no business marrying.

You know, this is a question I have asked many, many conservatives in my life. No one has ever actually answered me. It usually comes with a few obscure Bible verses and one of those 'we shouldn't question God' remarks. You know, kind of like the adult version of reciting a silly nursery rhyme and patting me on the head. But I kinda feel like it's a very valid question. If marriage is only God ordained for heterosexual Christians then they have a really big problem. Forget gay marriage . . . what about Muslims, Hindus, Wiccans? The list goes on.

And while I'm on this, and please forgive me for being so wordy, what liberty are these zealots losing if gay couples are given the rights they deserve? And what's eroding? Please don't tell me anyone out there is still silly enough to believe that same sex marriage is a danger to opposite sex marriage. What's left to "destroy"? Heterosexuals marry and divorce like it's some sort Olympic event, spousal abuse, adultery, child abuse, the oh so wonderful tradition of using children like pawns when they do divorce . . . so, clearly, they've done a fine job mocking it all on their own. If all the insanity they've brought to marriage isn't eroding or harming their religion then someone really should tell them to shut up and sit down.

I agree!

In fact, one Sunday morning I stood from the pew and screamed those exact words. That choir really sucked.

Rick

Hahaha, I'm sorry! I'm so wordy. I just get so frustrated. The last right winger I got into a discussion with was completely homophobic and he hated bully breeds. That conversation was loads of fun.

My $0.02 Worth
 

I agree with everything you just said so much! I have already told my family and friends that I won't be getting married until my state (TN) recognizes all couples. Oh, and that procreation excuse annoys me so much. Ok, so all childless couples, no matter why they're childless, should be banned from marriage? Do they even think these things through before they say them? Discrimination is discrimination. Period. Wrap it with the Bible, whatever. It is what it is. I've dealt with my share of stupid people. I am devoted to equality and pit bulls. If someone can't find a reason to hate me for one, they sure can find a reason for the other.

And you're right . . . they have such an issue with gay couples adopting. Because, you know, it's clearly better to let a child be tossed around the foster system instead of giving that child a stable home with loving parents. I really sometimes wonder if the folks making these laws actually have brains in their head.

I truly agree about David and Jonathan. That was kinda what I was wondering with my first question. All the repeated covenants they made to one another . . . would that be something similar to what we call marriage? It wasn't in public, but it was in the eyes of God. To me, that's more important than man-made laws. The story of David and Jonathan is the most beautiful love story in the Bible to me.

I know there are some churches out there that do not allow women to speak, some don't even allow them to work. Women aren't allowed to wear pants, they're expected to be completely submissive. Of course these are usually the same people who think mental illness is demon possession, satan planted the dinosaur fossils to trick us . . . you know, things like that. And those kind of congregations think any sort of feminism is pure evil. I've met these people.

Quick funny story. I rescued a little chihuahua last June and she was so timid and fearful . . . now she lifts her leg when she piddles. The entire family LOVES that. My brother tells everyone that her mommy (me) taught her anything the boy dogs could do she could do better.

My feeling is that is said by people that don't notice what's in front of their faces. There are many children of same sex parents in my neighborhood. Many of the parents are more than happy to tell their stories. Some were not conceived the old fashioned way and some were.

Another thing to consider is that many of us have fathered/mothered children before we accept ourselves as we are. We love our children no less than anyone.

FWIW GA passed it's own Defense of Marriage Ammendment in 2006. It includes not recognizing same sex marriages from anywhere else.

Ben N. Moore

How can anyone hate bully breeds? They are wonderful dogs. Very affectionate. By the way, you can get t-shirts with that quote about making it to the fence and the shirt also has a picture of the dog on it. There are also pit t-shirts with a picture of 2 dogs and the 16 Tons song quote "One made of iron, the other of steel. If the right one don't get you then the left one will." You can get these shirts from Dixie Outfitters, probably from other places too. Dixie Outfitters has a big selection of pitbull stuff.

I'm not sure but I don't think so. It was held up in court for a while over language. I think the not recognizing same sex marriages from other states clause would include GA natives going elsewhere to marry.

It doesn't stop same sex couples from getting married. It's just not licensed. Any of the ministers at our center would be more than happy to officiate at any sort of wedding/commitment ceremony/union of two people, etc.

If you, your friends and family, and God (however you define it in your life) consider yourselves married then you are.

All the rest of it is civil or man's law. I know I'm tired of waiting but Women's Suffrage and the Civil Rights Movement didn't happen overnight. There was a Marcus Garvey before there was a Dr. King.

Keep the faith.

Ben N. Moore

I truly do not understand it, but considering his views on everything else, I wasn't surprised. I volunteer with rescues and I can honestly say that I have NEVER met a mean bully. No matter what mix, AmStaff, Staffie, Am Bulldog, APBT, and all the others. They've been beaten, fought, abused, neglected and I've never seen one try to bite. Now, I love chihuahuas, but, as far as aggressive, snarling, biting dogs in my rescue experience? Chihuahuas have been some of the worst. Though I'm convinced that it's because of their size. They're so tiny so abuse affects them in different ways.

It seems to me that the Bible is pretty much silent on the issue of relationships. Friendship is hardly mentioned. There are regulations for how parents and children should act towards each other, but not much about loving relationships. Marriage is mentioned but hardly anything of a romantic nature is expressed. (Except in the Song of Solomon, which seems to embarass most Christians and is usually ignored.)

Many people think that when something is mentioned in the Bible, it is because God approves of it. Very often, however, the Bible portrays its main characters as greatly flawed. The Bible is a collection of writings that are very much culturally based in the time they were written. The workings of the ancient Hebrew culture or the New Testament Greco-Roman culture are much in evidence in the Bible. If the Bible would have been written in our 21st century western culture, it would have a much different flavor altogether.

I think the principles brought forth in the Bible are of importance. To me the key principal is that God loves us and for some strange reason wants to be close to us. Flowing from that love is our love for each other. To me the best summation of marriage in the Bible is the statement, "Submit to one another".

My opinion is that the Bible is fairly silent on relationship issues not because they are unimportant, but because each person and each culture has a different way of looking at relationships. God has given us a picture of love and how it works in our lives. God has given us freedom to make our own choices. I think God loves the diversity he/she sees in humanity. What the relationships are is not so important; how we love others and what our motivations are is important.

So are same-sex relationships a part of God's plan? If they are based on a love for each other with selfishness cast aside, I am sure that God is overjoyed.

Thank you for this post, Pablo, it is very thoughtful and I agree with you 100%. Another essential principle or theme of the scripture is "Covenant". The Hebrew word is "Chesed" which is often translated as "Steadfast love" God is portrayed throughout both the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures as a covenant making and covenant keeping God. God is portrayed as one who keeps up his end of the deal even when his partners (human beings) fail to.

When Jesus celebrates his last Passover with his disciples the night before his death he says "This cup is the new covenant, sealed in my blood". In ancient times, solemn covenants were often sealed by sprinkling the blood of sacrificial animals onto an altar.

So what does this have to do with a Biblical model for marriage? Seems clear to me that relationships that are pleasing to God are characterized by "Chesed" or covenant making and keeping -- steadfast love -- rather than by the presence or absence of a particular number of penises.

In other words, to answer Rick's original question, a marriage between a man and a woman, between two men, or between two women is Biblical if it is covenantal.

There's only One kind of Marriage.......
 

Just like there's only One kind of Snowflake. We all know just how far that kind of thinking will get you.

And all it takes to make a baby, is a little alcohol, two strangers, and about five minutes. But it takes twenty years of dedicated effort to raise an adult.

And hey, I LIKED what this Reverend Betty had to say, right up until her last line. Now where can I get me 700 engagement rings, and enough Virgins to wear them? (And God's OWN Supply of Viagra?) I want a Biblical Marriage, Too!

Peace and Love, Bruce Chris

Reminds me of the phrase "You can't Box with God", says Daniel
 

But if your name is Jacob, you can wrestle with Him.
(Or maybe Snuka.....

Peace and Love, Bruce Chris