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Defining Marriage
What is marriage? When and how did it originate? Does it really matter?
by David Treybig
My wife and I recently celebrated
our silver wedding anniversary. We've been blessed with two wonderful children, now
grown, and 25 years of marital happiness in what
is popularly known as a "nuclear family."
Looking at the world around us, we find ourselves in the minority. Traditional families
like ours have diminished over recent decades as single-
parent households have steadily increased.
During the social upheavals of the 1960s, some observers predicted that marriage
itself would soon become obsolete. Recent evidence, however, indicates that the number
of married couples compared to singles has stabilized.
But a new debate has arisen: What constitutes a marriage? Courts and legislatures
wrestle with the issue. Some believe marriages between two consenting adults should
be allowed regardless of their sex. Traditionalists view marriage as being, by definition,
strictly limited to the union of a man and woman.
The Importance of the Bible
What is marriage, and is there a tangible benefit to keeping it intact as an institution?
Does marriage really matter?
Our earliest instructions on the fundamentals of the marriage relationship are found
in Genesis, the first book of the Bible. In the New Testament, in rehearsing the
intent and purpose of marriage, Jesus Christ referred to an early chapter in Genesis
(Mark 10:6-12; Genesis 1).
Though the earliest passages of this instruction book for mankind were recorded several
thousand years ago, the Bible has repeatedly proven its relevance and validity on
important issues facing us. (Be sure to request our free booklet Is the Bible True?)
Accompanied by proof, backed up by real evidence, we can have confidence that God's
instructions to mankind regarding marriage and other basic tenets of a godly life
remain our wisest course of action and the best way to pattern our lives. This is
the supreme value of the Bible.
Related Information on UCG Sites:
Table of Contents that includes "Today's Family: Defining Marriage"
Other Articles by David Treybig
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