BELIEFS ABOUT MARRIAGE
We believe marriage is designed by God and is a life-long, covenantal relationship between one man and one woman, and is intended to give a picture of Christ's loving relationship with His bride, the church. (Genesis 2:24-25; Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:31-32)
Marriage is a consensual, exclusive and lifelong commitment between one man and one woman, expressed in a physical union uniquely designed to produce and nurture children.
The universal recognition of conjugal marriage by virtually every civilization throughout history, arrived at from both secular and theistic perspectives, testifies to the natural evidence for marriage, its objective structure and its significant contribution to human flourishing and societal stability.
Marriage is a virtually universal institution, part of God’s original design for humankind:
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God created each living being ‘after its kind’ (Gen. 1:21-25);
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God created humankind ‘in His own image’; ‘male and female He created them’ (Gen. 1:27);
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God said it was not good for man to be alone (Gen. 2:18);
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God ordained the unique male-female relationship (Gen. 2:23-24).
Based on scripture, we believe that Christian marriage is:
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a relationship of one man and one woman, joined together as one flesh (Gen. 2:24);
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an exclusive covenant, ordained and sealed by God (Mark 10:6-9);
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preceded by a public leaving of parents (Gen. 2:24);
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a lifelong, mutually supportive, loving and sacrificial partnership (I Cor. 11:11; I Peter 3:1-8); often crowned by the gift of children (Psalm 127:3-5).
In addition,
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Jesus affirmed (Matt. 19:4-6) and blessed (John 2:1-11) marriage;
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Marriage is illustrative of Christ’s own self-giving abandonment to His bride, the church (Eph. 5:21-33);
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Marriage is seen as holy and sacred and is used as a symbol of our union with Christ at the advent of the New Heaven and New Earth (Rev. 19:7-8; 21:9-10).
We rejoice that marriage is given by God, blessed by our Lord Jesus Christ, and sustained by the Holy Spirit.
Resources used: Christian Medical and Dental Associations policy statements