Marriage and Matrimony

Recent and ongoing activities within various traditional denominations within the United States and elsewhere, but particularly here in the US, have continued to seek ways to legitimatize the issue of homosexuality and attendant same sex unions that they are want to term as marriage.

However, as you can see from the rather abbreviated synopsis below, the subject is quite widely addressed within traditional Christian bodies that use the Holy Scriptures as the standard; the formula is still the joining of one man to one woman.

Now comes the part where you can read as much or as little of the following as you like.

At the end, I will provide my summary and what I view as a fairly simple way to deal with the issue.

Definitions found in the Online Dictionary.

Marriage–noun:
1. the social institution under which a man and woman establish their decision to live as husband and wife by legal commitments, religious ceremonies, etc.
2. the state, condition, or relationship of being married; wedlock: a happy marriage.
3. the legal or religious ceremony that formalizes the decision of a man and woman to live as husband and wife, including the accompanying social festivities: to officiate at a marriage.
4. a relationship in which two people have pledged themselves to each other in the manner of a husband and wife, without legal sanction: trial marriage; homosexual marriage.

Matrimony–noun:
1. the state of being married; marriage.
2. the rite, ceremony, or sacrament of marriage.

Christian views of marriage

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Christian view of marriage, until recently, according to a nearly universal consensus, has regarded marriage as ordained by God for the lifelong union of one man and one woman. But, since the rise of the sexual revolution, such views have lost ground among those who fancy themselves Christians. Marriage between two persons of the same gender, or divorce through mutual consent are both new views thought to be normal and acceptable. These views, though now popular in the modern day, conflict with and are contradicting to orthodox beliefs.

1. View of Roman Catholic Christians
In Roman Catholicism, marriage is one of the seven sacraments. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition, Paragraph 1623, "the spouses as ministers of Christ's grace mutually confer upon each other the sacrament of Matrimony by expressing their consent before the Church." An argument for the institution of the sacrament of Matrimony by Christ himself, and its occasion, is advanced by Bernard Orchard in his article The Betrothal and Marriage of Mary to Joseph. In the Eastern Catholic Churches (i.e. non-Latin rite churches in full communion with Rome), "the priests (bishops or presbyters) are witnesses to the mutual consent given by the spouses, but for the validity of the sacrament their blessing is also necessary."

Marriage forms the foundation of the family, and the fundamental unit of the referring community (ordinarily the parish). The ideal references are found in the Holy Family (Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Saint Joseph, his father, protector). See related articles of Canon law: (Latin).

The primary purpose of marriage is to fulfill a vocation in the nature of man and woman, for the procreation and education of children, and to stand as a symbol of the mystical union between Christ and his Church. The secondary aim is mutual reciprocal help, and it is also a "remedy to concupiscence." Fecundity, the ability to reproduce, is good, a gift, and an end of marriage. By giving life, spouses participate in God's fatherhood. Carnal union is morally legitimate only when a definitive community of life between a man and woman has been established. Human love does not tolerate "trial marriages." It demands a total and definitive gift of persons to one another.
If the couple cohabit, the marriage is presumed consummatum, unless a proof of the contrary is produced.

2. View of Orthodox Christians
In Eastern Orthodoxy, marriage is also treated as a sacrament, and as an ordination, and (like all ordinations) like a martyrdom, as each spouse learns to die to himself or herself for the sake of the other. Like all ordinations, it is viewed as revealing and sealing the relationship that has formed between the couple. In addition, marriage is an icon or image of the relationship between Jesus and the Church. This is somewhat akin to the Old Testament prophets' use of marriage as an analogy to describe the relationship between God and Israel. Divorce is discouraged, but allowed, in some cases to acknowledge that the relationship no longer exists. A lay member may obtain permission to remarry under the counsel of a priest, but the ceremony and prayers would be different, less joyful and more sober and somber.

A married man may be ordained as a priest or deacon. However, a priest or deacon is not permitted to enter into matrimony after ordination, whether he has become divorced or widowed, or even if he had not been married at the time of ordination. Bishops are always celibate.

Overall, there is a far less legislative approach regarding married life than in Roman Catholicism.

3. View of Protestant Christians
Protestant denominations tend to have their own individually applicable doctrines, which represent only the churches in communion with one another. However, some beliefs are typical of almost all Protestants. And, there are intra-denominational and cross-denominational movements, within which the beliefs and practices of adherents are more narrowly defined.

Protestants typically acknowledge a difference between the sacraments of Baptism and Communion, and all other ordinances of God by which the favor of God is shown to men. Almost all Protestant denominations hold marriage to be ordained by God for the union between a man and a woman. Most of them also hold that the primary purpose of this union is to glorify God by demonstrating his love to the world; other purposes of marriage include the raising of children and bringing help to enable both husband and wife to fulfill their life callings. Most Protestants are less likely to hold a negative view of birth control and many see sexual pleasure within marriage as a gift of God.

4. Evangelical Protestant view
In addition to the limitations on who may marry (discussed above), evangelicals take a strict view of the nature of marriage. For evangelicals, marriage is the only appropriate channel for sexual expression and divorce is permissible, if at all, only in very specific circumstances such as infidelity. Marriage is seen as a solemn covenant between the couple and God. The man is seen as the head of the household and his wife is expected to submit to him.

5. Liberal Christian view
Liberal Christians, almost by definition, give a great deal of consideration to cultural norms. In the Western world, pre-marital sex, same-sex marriage (and to some extent homosexuality in general) and divorce are increasingly common and so liberal Christians have become increasingly tolerant of these practices. While liberals view divorce as regrettable, they generally do not label divorcees as "sinners." Likewise, pre-marital sex may be considered to be unwise, but since it is sufficiently widespread, it is sometimes considered to be tolerable. Ever since the rise of feminism, liberals also generally reject claims of males as the head of the family and tend to see the husband and wife as a partnership of equals.

Summary:
By simple definition, Marriage is the joining of a man and a woman together as partners under the law, to share their lives, to acquire mutually held property, and to parent children. Matrimony is the added additional feature of marriage that is provided by the Church which has the feature of a sacramental grace whereby Almighty God binds together this man and woman as one person who are to abandon all others in favor of their own relationship under God who then raise up their children in the way of faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

The liberal groups would want to do some word games here so that they could bypass the meaning of words by letting homosexual couples be legally married and then submit themselves to the Church for a Sacramental Blessing. I am blowing their cover. God cannot bless sinful behavior no matter how glib human beings think themselves to be.

Now I have done it. I have labeled homosexuality as a sin. Okay! The part that you have not heard is that just like any other sin, God can forgive and set people free from any kind of sin. Some sins are more difficult to heal than others; never the less, homosexuality and sexual sin of all kinds can be and has been healed by the loving power of God the Holy Spirit. Want to know more, check out the newly published book by Father Francis MacNutt entitled Can Homosexuality be Healed? Available by phone at (904) 765-3332 Ext. 219 or Online at http://www.christianhealingmin.org/

The Celtic Episcopal Church is clear about Marriage, but in a thumb nail—one man to one woman. See our web site: http://www.celticepiscopalchurch.com/

Regarding the subject of same sex unions and homosexuality, we see all people as loved equally by God who did what He did by His Incarnation, Passion, Resurrection, and Ascension for all who would respond to his love. Is there any sin beyond God’s desire for forgiveness? Only that sin for which there is no repentance. Is there anyone who was free of sin and the guilt of sin prior to conversion to Jesus Christ. No! Is there any sinner who is beyond God's plan for the salvation of humankind? Only that person who refuses to release themselves into a transforming and renewing relationship with Jesus Christ. If we are sincere about our desire to change, God will forgive and continually work with us to heal the reason for our sin and make us whole regardless of what it may be. If we become stubborn and seek to justify our sinful behavior, well so much for forgiveness; however, if we are honest with God, He will do all in His power to set us free, but we must want to be set free. The ball is in our court. The free gift of salvation is offered. Our job is to respond to it. We cannot keep on trying to justify our sinful behavior and think that we are going to convince God to modify His standards for human sexual behavior. Want to be free of the sin of Homosexuality? Get in touch with Father MacNutt's ministry. He will know what to do to help you. Read his book. Be encouraged! It is a tough battle, and it not an easy overnight resolution for something that seems to have been a part of one's life for as long as one can remember. But, Almighty God is greater than any of our circumstances. God cares about all of us.

I pray this article has given hope, understanding, and light in an otherwise confusing area being used by the enemy of our souls to destroy the Holy Church of Jesus Christ. May Almighty God bless you and give you His peace.