Is the gay marriage decision a wake-up call?

 

Is the gay marriage decision a wake-up call?
You better believe it.
The proponents are awake and know full well what they accomplished.

If you’re a devout true believer of any of the religions of Abraham – Judaism, Christianity or Islam (in order of  historical appearance) – then this question is for you.  
Do you realize what was accomplished?  And how will you respond?

Yes – I am asking this question of believers of all three religions.  
And yes – I mean true believers.
Not those who have compromised their beliefs and think that God approves.  Because the Holy Books of all three religions are very clear about this –  He does not approve.  He’s also very clear about how we should respond.  Unfortunately, too many who claim to be true believers listen to that first statement on whether He approves – but not the second statement on how we should respond.

What is the real issue?

Early on, we read in Genesis 2:24 – a book read by all three Abrahamic religions –

Ge 2:24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

This is where we get our current definition of marriage.

However – let’s look at something else.  Let’s look at the first time the word marriage is used in Genesis.  Using the NIV, we find it on Genesis 29:26.  BTW – this means we’re still on common ground for all three religions.  In Ge 29:26, we read – in English –

Ge 29:26 Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one.

So that sounds like the word marriage is actually used in the Bible, and therefore in the Torah.  But that’s not true.  If we go back to the original Hebrew, and look at the translation into English, we instead see –

Do you see that?  The dots in the translation?

For one thing, there are three dots underneath “daughter in marriage“.  There are no corresponding Hebrew words in the original text.  These three English words were added for purposes of making the translation understandable.  There’s also the dot between the words “not” and “our“.  The Hebrew there translates as something along the lines of “to do”, “to make”, “to bring about”.  So the more proper translation would be something like 

it is not our custom to bring about the younger before the older.

Which begs the question – to bring about what?

The answer – in their times – would not be the word marriage, but would be to become one flesh.

To bear that out, let’s look at the translation from Young’s Literal Translation of that same verse.  It reads –

Ge 26 And Laban saith, ‘It is not done so in our place, to give the younger before the first-born

And so we see all the concern over the word marriage is very possibly – I’d maintain, likely – not truly Biblical.  It is, after all, just a word.

It’s the concept of what’s going on between the two people that’s the issue – not the word used to describe it.  It’s the two becoming one flesh – not the word marriage.  It’s the two becoming one flesh – whether they are “married” or not.

What about marriage?

I’ve heard some point to what Jesus said in Matthew 19.  I should say, here we lose most of the Jewish people.  Messianic Jews believe the Book of Matthew, but others are still waiting for their Messiah.  Muslims read this Book, however they do not believe Jesus to be the Son of God.  However, they do believe Jesus to be a great prophet, so what He says here is important to them.  

So – what Jesus says on the topic is –

Divorce

Mt 19:1 When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan. 2 Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.
Mt 19:3 Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”
Mt 19:4 “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’ ? 6 So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”
Mt 19:7 “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”
Mt 19:8 Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. 9 I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
Mt 19:10 The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.”
Mt 19:11 Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. 12 For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”

Let’s look at 19:4 first –

Mt 19:4 “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’ ? 6 So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”

Again, we see that Jesus does not use the word marriage.  He uses the word united and the phrase the two will become one flesh.  So again we see the concept in Genesis – the act of two becoming one. 

The other thing to note here – premarital sex at that time wasn’t approved.  Today – all sorts of people have come to accept it – including those who claim to be devout followers of their respective Abrahamic religions.  Not that it actually says that – it can’t – since the word marriage isn’t literally used.  But remember – that act of two becoming one is what we now consider marriage.  At least in terms of this argument going on right now.

Now – notice that this dialogue comes under the heading of divorce.  

That act of two becoming one was supposed to be something that God has joined together.  Now we’re back to our marriage concept again.  God did not and would not put together our current concept of premarital sex.  It just plain doesn’t fit into the meaning / intent of the words used.  In order to argue that premarital sex is OK – one would have to claim that God was the one joining two people together for a one time (or at least temporary) encounter to become one – and then that He also separated them – since it also says – Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”

I bring this up to point out something related – but something which too many also want to ignore – God is clearly against premarital sex and divorce.  But we don’t treat people who engage in those activities the same way too many people treat the LGBT community.  That sounds like a problem.  After all, did Jesus also not say –

Mt 7:3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Conclusion

So why is it that different people – going different acts – none of which God approves – are treated differently?

Do not all three religions – Judaism, Christianity, and Islam – teach us of a loving, merciful and forgiving God?  Again – some will argue that point and claim that God is one who wants revenge / teaches Hell-fire and damnation / calls for us to avenge Him – I say that this is wrong.  Why does an all powerful God need us lowly people to get justice for Him?  

All three religions believe in some concept of an end time.  A time when God will exact His revenge.  A time when He will forgive some – and punish others.

All three religions believe that they should convert people to their faith.  I’m not going to get into a discussion here of who’s right and who isn’t.  I’m not going to try to convince anyone – in this article – of why they should convert to Christianity.  I am, however, going to call each of you to look at your own religion – and see what your merciful, forgiving God asks you to do with non-believers.  

The phrase “love is love” was thrown around a lot yesterday.

That may be true.

But it’s just as true that “Love is God”.

Love is not the same as love.

“love” is a human emotion.

“Love” is God.  Our human “love” is but a pale shadow of His “Love”.
Our “love” isn’t always right.  We sometimes get it wrong.  
Two people who “love” each other may not be two people that God joined together.  But they are still two people that God “Loves”.  And to the extent that we can – God calls on us to “Love” them – just as He “Loves” us.  He doesn’t say “Love” some people, but not others.  He says to “Love” everyone.

Let’s return one last time to a quote from Jesus in Matthew –

Mt 5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

So don’t hate them to death.  Love them to Life.

 

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image from chpcc.org;