On Marriage
Or, “Who is Jesus?”
The Church rightly has a voice in the public square (Acts 25; Rom 13; Acts 5:17-42; 1 Tim 2:1-7; Mk 16:15-16). She ought not remain idle nor silent. She has a holy obligation and public duty to live in faith toward God and in love toward her neighbor. Each Christian is called to do likewise. At times these dual mandates seem to collide with one another. It is actually an intersection. The vertical responsibility of living in faith toward God intersects the horizontal vocation of living in love toward one’s neighbor. This is when and where the Christian (and the Church) bears the cross of speaking the truth in love (Eph 4:15). This is not an easy task. At times the Church (and the Christian) is compelled (by faith toward God and love for the neighbor) to speak the truth in the public arena.
Let’s get political. Earlier this year an Indiana House Subcommittee heard testimony on both sides regarding a constitutional amendment restricting legal marriage in the state of Indiana to the public union of one man and one woman. The initial resolution, known as HJR-3 read:
“Shall the Constitution of the State of Indiana be amended by adding the following language to Article 1:
“Section 38. Only marriage between one (1) man and one (1) woman shall be valid of recognized as a marriage in Indiana.
A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized.”
With the removal of the final sentence, the resolution passed the Senate Subcommittee. On Monday, February 10th, the Senate Rules Committee with hear testimony on HRJ-3.
Among those present speaking in favor of the amendment were several LC-MS pastors from Fort Wayne, IN. Perhaps to the surprise of some, their positions were not only religious, but also based on sound reason and concern for the state (i.e. love for one’s neighbor). Marriage is a divine institution, but it does not belong solely to the Church. It is for the public good. Marriage belongs to the “daily bread” which God gives not only to Christians, but “even to evil people.” God would have us recognize His provisions and to “receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.” This includes protecting natural, which is also Biblical, marriage.
The essential public purpose of marriage is to attach mothers and fathers to their children and to one another. (In this way the debate concerning marriage also concerns life issues.) The Christian who seeks to love her neighbor may understand her neighbor in this case as the child(ren). The Christian understands that children of any age (or gestational development) are human beings with intrinsic value who require protection and care. The State recognizes the same; at least as it pertains to children (if not the unborn). Thus the State’s investment in protecting natural marriage is for the betterment of children.
Proponents of same-sex marriage argue that two adults of the same gender may provide a “substantially similar” environment for childcare as biological, married parents. This argument fails to take into account the child. He is entitled to a relationship with both of his biological parents. He is entitled to know and be known by both parents. No child can possibly protect these entitlements on his own. Adult’s must advocate for them.
Additionally, the fundamental argument is horribly flawed. Christians recognize men and women as equal (Gen 2; Gal 3:28), but not interchangeable. Equality does not mean interchangeability. Men cannot be mothers. Women cannot be fathers. Inherent in each of these vocations is the essential character of masculinity and femininity. Love for one’s neighbor speaks concerning this biological and physiological truth.
Moreover, the Christian is compelled out of faith toward God and love for one’s neighbor to speak this truth, in love, even when it is done at great personal risk or detriment. Fundamentally love for one’s neighbor emanates from faith toward God the Father in Christ Jesus, who loved us and gave Himself up for us (Eph 5:2). In this way Christ loved us: as man loves a woman, as husband loves his wife. Marriage is an icon of the relationship between Christ, our heavenly Bridegroom, and the Church, His Bride.
This is fundamental to the Gospel, this is the question Jesus asked His disciples, Who do you say that I am? (Mt 16:15). This question is one the Church is continually asking, in every age. The world will always have its ow notions of love, marriage, and sexuality; and so also its own opinions about Jesus. The two are always related. The Church (and the Christian) must always answer with St Peter: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God (Mt 16:17).
Jesus is the revelation of the Father’s Truth in the flesh. He became a Man to reveal that the Father’s act of creation is good (and so is marriage) and to atone for the sins of all the descendants of that first man. Adam could only plant the seed of death. But Jesus, the Second Adam, is the Promised Seed who was first planted in Mary’s womb by the Spirit and is now planted in the Womb of our Mother the Church, bringing forth new life, new children who have God as their Father and the Church as their mother. The Church is drawn from the side of Christ as His blood and water spill forth for the purification of all and the forgiveness of sins.
From the side of Christ we are born from above through Holy Baptism. From the side of Christ we are strengthened in the Lord’s Supper in faith toward God and in love toward our neighbor. We receive a cross in the Holy Communion. It is the cross of Christ placed upon His Church to be salt and light. It is also placed upon each Christian who lives in the intersection of faith toward God and in love for one’s neighbor.
To direct and defend our president and all in authority; to bless and protect our magistrates and all our people . . . We implore You to hear us, good Lord.
Your unworthy servant,
Pastor Mierow
Wednesday after the Purification of Mary and the Presentation of our Lord
For more information on:
HJR-3 go to http://iga.in.gov
Biblical marriage: http://www.lcms.org/search?q=human%20sexuality
Non-religious reasons for natural marriage: http://ruthinstitute.org/77Reasons/index.shtml
Or, “Who is Jesus?”
The Church rightly has a voice in the public square (Acts 25; Rom 13; Acts 5:17-42; 1 Tim 2:1-7; Mk 16:15-16). She ought not remain idle nor silent. She has a holy obligation and public duty to live in faith toward God and in love toward her neighbor. Each Christian is called to do likewise. At times these dual mandates seem to collide with one another. It is actually an intersection. The vertical responsibility of living in faith toward God intersects the horizontal vocation of living in love toward one’s neighbor. This is when and where the Christian (and the Church) bears the cross of speaking the truth in love (Eph 4:15). This is not an easy task. At times the Church (and the Christian) is compelled (by faith toward God and love for the neighbor) to speak the truth in the public arena.
Let’s get political. Earlier this year an Indiana House Subcommittee heard testimony on both sides regarding a constitutional amendment restricting legal marriage in the state of Indiana to the public union of one man and one woman. The initial resolution, known as HJR-3 read:
“Shall the Constitution of the State of Indiana be amended by adding the following language to Article 1:
“Section 38. Only marriage between one (1) man and one (1) woman shall be valid of recognized as a marriage in Indiana.
A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized.”
With the removal of the final sentence, the resolution passed the Senate Subcommittee. On Monday, February 10th, the Senate Rules Committee with hear testimony on HRJ-3.
Among those present speaking in favor of the amendment were several LC-MS pastors from Fort Wayne, IN. Perhaps to the surprise of some, their positions were not only religious, but also based on sound reason and concern for the state (i.e. love for one’s neighbor). Marriage is a divine institution, but it does not belong solely to the Church. It is for the public good. Marriage belongs to the “daily bread” which God gives not only to Christians, but “even to evil people.” God would have us recognize His provisions and to “receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.” This includes protecting natural, which is also Biblical, marriage.
The essential public purpose of marriage is to attach mothers and fathers to their children and to one another. (In this way the debate concerning marriage also concerns life issues.) The Christian who seeks to love her neighbor may understand her neighbor in this case as the child(ren). The Christian understands that children of any age (or gestational development) are human beings with intrinsic value who require protection and care. The State recognizes the same; at least as it pertains to children (if not the unborn). Thus the State’s investment in protecting natural marriage is for the betterment of children.
Proponents of same-sex marriage argue that two adults of the same gender may provide a “substantially similar” environment for childcare as biological, married parents. This argument fails to take into account the child. He is entitled to a relationship with both of his biological parents. He is entitled to know and be known by both parents. No child can possibly protect these entitlements on his own. Adult’s must advocate for them.
Additionally, the fundamental argument is horribly flawed. Christians recognize men and women as equal (Gen 2; Gal 3:28), but not interchangeable. Equality does not mean interchangeability. Men cannot be mothers. Women cannot be fathers. Inherent in each of these vocations is the essential character of masculinity and femininity. Love for one’s neighbor speaks concerning this biological and physiological truth.
Moreover, the Christian is compelled out of faith toward God and love for one’s neighbor to speak this truth, in love, even when it is done at great personal risk or detriment. Fundamentally love for one’s neighbor emanates from faith toward God the Father in Christ Jesus, who loved us and gave Himself up for us (Eph 5:2). In this way Christ loved us: as man loves a woman, as husband loves his wife. Marriage is an icon of the relationship between Christ, our heavenly Bridegroom, and the Church, His Bride.
This is fundamental to the Gospel, this is the question Jesus asked His disciples, Who do you say that I am? (Mt 16:15). This question is one the Church is continually asking, in every age. The world will always have its ow notions of love, marriage, and sexuality; and so also its own opinions about Jesus. The two are always related. The Church (and the Christian) must always answer with St Peter: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God (Mt 16:17).
Jesus is the revelation of the Father’s Truth in the flesh. He became a Man to reveal that the Father’s act of creation is good (and so is marriage) and to atone for the sins of all the descendants of that first man. Adam could only plant the seed of death. But Jesus, the Second Adam, is the Promised Seed who was first planted in Mary’s womb by the Spirit and is now planted in the Womb of our Mother the Church, bringing forth new life, new children who have God as their Father and the Church as their mother. The Church is drawn from the side of Christ as His blood and water spill forth for the purification of all and the forgiveness of sins.
From the side of Christ we are born from above through Holy Baptism. From the side of Christ we are strengthened in the Lord’s Supper in faith toward God and in love toward our neighbor. We receive a cross in the Holy Communion. It is the cross of Christ placed upon His Church to be salt and light. It is also placed upon each Christian who lives in the intersection of faith toward God and in love for one’s neighbor.
To direct and defend our president and all in authority; to bless and protect our magistrates and all our people . . . We implore You to hear us, good Lord.
Your unworthy servant,
Pastor Mierow
Wednesday after the Purification of Mary and the Presentation of our Lord
For more information on:
HJR-3 go to http://iga.in.gov
Biblical marriage: http://www.lcms.org/search?q=human%20sexuality
Non-religious reasons for natural marriage: http://ruthinstitute.org/77Reasons/index.shtml
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