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<\/a><\/div>\nThis is the second post in a series arguing for the legitimacy of LGBTQ relationships from a Christian perspective. The previous post lays the foundation for having this conversation<\/a>. If you have not read it yet, please do so before reading this one.<\/i><\/p>\n In the second chapter of Genesis, God observes the first problem in his creation, \u201cIt is not good for the man to be alone;\u201d and he provides a solution, \u201cI shall make a partner suited to him\u201d (Genesis 2:18, REB).<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n The blessings of such a union are extolled throughout the scriptures. For example, a well-known proverb advises, \u201cTo find a wife is to find happiness, a favor granted by the LORD<\/span>\u201d (Proverbs 18:22, NABRE). And the whole Song of Songs is devoted to romantic love.<\/p>\n I want to be careful not to devalue singleness for those who are not seeking a relationship. Being single can be a wonderful gift of a different sort. But it\u2019s not for everyone. Most of us are hardwired to crave companionship with a partner.<\/p>\n In fact, right after Paul praises the gift of singleness, he says that \u201cif they do not have self-control, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with desire\u201d (1\u00a0Corinthians 7:9, HCSB).<\/p>\n So while some may choose a life of singleness, everyone should be allowed to pursue marriage if that is what they desire. We have no right to force celibacy on any who do not want it.<\/strong><\/p>\n But what exactly defines a marriage? Does a same-sex union qualify?<\/p>\n We hear a lot these days about a concept known as a \u201cbiblical marriage.\u201d Is this the model we should be following?<\/p>\n According to the Bible, the formula for marriage is one man plus one wife\u2026 or at least that\u2019s one option (Genesis 2:24\u201325).<\/p>\n But then again, it could also be one man plus one wife plus a slave (Genesis 16). Or one man plus two wives plus two slaves (Genesis 29\u201330). Or, in a more extreme case, one man plus seven hundred wives plus three hundred slaves (1 Kings 11:3)!<\/p>\n And take note of the fact that the man in this last example is the same guy whose marital advice fills Proverbs and the Song of Songs (at least according to traditional authorship claims).<\/p>\n Lest we be tempted to think that the Old Testament simply records examples of such marriages without endorsing them, let\u2019s not forget that in certain situations, taking multiples wives was a biblical command (Deuteronomy 25:5).<\/p>\n Additionally, one law specifies, \u201cIf a man takes a second wife, he must continue to give his first wife the same amount of food and clothing and the same rights that she had before\u201d (Exodus 21:10, GNB). Well, at least she won\u2019t starve.<\/p>\n Those last instructions were given in the context of explaining how to sell your daughter as a slave (Exodus 21:7\u20139)\u2014because women were considered the property of either their father or their husband. Speaking of slaves, it\u2019s also well within the biblical view of marriage to take foreign women captive and force them to become your wives (Deuteronomy 21:10\u201314).<\/p>\n What are we to make of all this? Do you still think a \u201cbiblical marriage\u201d is the way to go?<\/strong> I\u2019d suggest the following points, based on what we\u2019ve looked at so far:<\/p>\n Where does that leave us? Do we Christians have any standards we must follow within the realm of marriage?<\/p>\n Yes! The Christian marriage (as with every area of life) falls under the domain of Jesus\u2019 law of love. And it is to this law of love<\/a> that we will turn in the next post.<\/p>\n
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\nPosts in the Gay-Affirming Christian series:<\/h4>\n