With the upcoming oral arguments before the Supreme Court concerning the definition of marriage, I have received a number of emails from concerned parties. I have, therefore, decided to post the following thoughts on biblical, or traditional, marriage for the members of our congregation.

We are living in a world where language and societal norms are being redefined and challenged at an alarming rate. Substance abuse is being more and more accepted as states debate the merits (or demerits) of the legalization of marijuana. The right to murder children from their mother’s womb has become an entrenched dogma in our land. And the promotion of homosexuality has morphed from a live and let live mentality, to a protected status under the law, to a “sacred” institution as it is increasingly redefined in marital terms.

This latter departure from the natural order of human sexuality is having its effect on the church and on the right of Christians to speak openly about the biblical norm for marriage. Mainline denominations are moving further towards the ordination of practicing homosexuals and the acceptance of homosexual marriage. The biblical position of heterosexual marriage, as the only union acceptable to God, is being overthrown as churches cower to the secular view that this historic position belongs in the same outdated category as slavery.

But such a scenario is nothing new. The prophets in the Old Testament dealt with similar issues when God’s chosen people wanted to be like all the nations around them (1Sam.8:5). When Israel went after other gods and imitated the behavior of the heathen nations God consistently reminded His people to turn back to the old paths that He had declared in Scripture (Jer.6:16).

Today the Church of Jesus Christ must remember those same admonitions. While we can, and should, pray for the repentance of our nation, it is imperative that we first practice what we preach. All of us, from the pastor to the congregant, must seriously consider our own lives. We must ask ourselves whether or not we take the biblical definition of marriage and our marriage vows seriously.

Husbands must love their wives as Christ loves His Church and wives must respect and submit to their husbands. Those who are married must truly adhere to their vows of fidelity. While seeking holiness in marriage, divorce should be untenable for Christians. Those who are single should practice purity as it is understood in God’s word. We all should question our own habits of what we view on TV, the Internet, and in the movies. Where we fall short, as Christians will, we must repent of our sins and walk the old paths that God has shown us in His word. Only then can we be a legitimate voice in our society and seek the mercies of God for our nation.

As we contemplate and debate the true meaning of marriage, we must allow the word of God and the doctrines of our church to guide our thinking, rather than the opinions of the world around us. Standing on the Scripture as its only foundation, the Westminster Confession of Faith clearly states that “Marriage is to be between one man and one woman” (Gen.2:24; Mt.19:5-6; WCF XXIV:1). On this, we as Christians must stand firm. Whether it is a question of homosexual union, polygamy, rampant divorce, secret infidelities, or sex outside of marriage God’s word is clear that all these violate traditional/biblical marriage.

It does us no good to single out one of these sins while acquiescing in silence or secretly practicing the others. Let us all therefore, seek God’s highest in our lives and pray for repentance in the Church as well as in our nation. In this way, may we glorify God and honor Jesus our Savior.