MARRIAGE

“Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” Hebrews 13:4

THE BIBLE SAYS…

GENESIS 2:15-25

“And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.”

THEREFORE…

WE BELIEVE MARRIAGE IS A COVENANT BETWEEN ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN FOR LIFE: This marriage covenant, like any other formal agreement, is a single contract mutually forged by two people who have come to a common understanding.

“And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” Genesis 2:18

WE UNDERSTAND THAT IN MARRIAGE THE TWO LEAVE BEHIND ALL PREVIOUS FAMILY DEPENDENCIES AND BECOME ONE: Marriages only happen when two people agree to make a bond for life.

“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” Genesis 2:24

WE AFFIRM THAT BECOMING MARRIED IS A ONE-TIME ACT: Marriage happens at a specific moment in time; when both the man and the woman say, “Yes, I agree to be bound by this marriage covenant starting now.” Most often this occurs during a wedding ceremony. Even if the couple changes their minds as they walk down the steps to leave the church building, that doesn’t matter in God’s eyes. To Him they are married for life.

“And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Genesis 2:23

WE KNOW THAT SEX DOES NOT CREATE A MARRIAGE: Only the marriage agreement accomplishes this at the moment it is formally made.

“Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.” Matthew 1:24-25

WE ACCEPT THAT MARRIAGE FORMED OUTSIDE OF THE CHURCH IS VALID: Marriages are considered valid by God whether the two believe in Him or not.

“If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.”  Numbers 30:2

WE BELIEVE THAT HOMOSEXUAL AND BLOOD RELATION UNIONS ARE NOT MARRIAGES: God defines marriage as being between one man and one woman for life. Additionally, some specific blood relation unions are not valid marriages in God’s sight.

“Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.” Leviticus 18:22 

“None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the LORD.” Leviticus 18:6