There is a lot of discussion happening in homes and on the internet regarding marriage right now. I think this is potentially a great thing. So what is the big deal?

Before I jump into the hot topic of this week (The Marriage Amendment in NC), let me start off by asking: What is the big deal about marriage anyway?

Let me start off by saying what marriage is not?

• Marriage is not merely a legal contract.
• Marriage is not something done for tax or insurance benefits.
• Marriage is not simply two people in love, living in the same place.
• Marriage is not an idea man made up.

So what is marriage?

Marriage was originally instituted by God in Gen 2:24 as a covenant relationship between one man and one woman. Gen 2:24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. Jesus quotes this verse in Matthew 19:4-5 “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’?

Marriage as designed by God is a picture of the gospel. It is a covenant relationship between one man and one woman to give their lives sacrificially fulfilling their God given roles for the sake of living out a picture of the good news of Jesus Christ. Husbands are to love their wives as Jesus Christ loved the church (Eph 5:25-33). Wives are to submit to their husbands as the Church submits to Jesus (Eph 5:22-24). In this harmony people who do not know Jesus are to see a picture of the gospel through the institution of marriage.

So it is:

• Designed and defined by God as a relationship between one man and one woman in covenant before Him.
• For the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Implication:

We don’t get to decide what is and is not a valid marriage. God has already done that when He instituted marriage.

Now the debate:

The debate raging amongst many Christ followers is not how to define marriage. The debate is whether or not to vote for an amendment that states:

“Sec. 6.  Marriage.

Marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State.  This section does not prohibit a private party from entering into contracts with another private party; nor does this section prohibit courts from adjudicating the rights of private parties pursuant to such contracts.” (Copy and pasted from: http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2011/Bills/Senate/HTML/S514v3.html).

Many fear that this law goes too far in defining marriage. We have seen a stir that many consider a scare tactic to confuse the issue. Many fear to take steps to make moral decisions. I remember learning from a mentor: It is never wrong to do what is right (See Daniel in Daniel 6 or Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in Daniel 3). The truth is we don’t get to redefine what God has already defined for us. Marriage is a covenanted relationship between one man and one woman.

Yesterday, at 10:10am I became a Daddy (for the fourth time), as Gracie Belle Lehr was born at: 6 pounds and 12 ounces. It was an exciting and overwhelming day. It was exciting to think about all of the potential that is there on the first day of her life. Anything could happen. She could do and become anything at this point. That is scary and exciting for a father. It is scary to think of all of the danger, all of the pain, all of the decisions that are out there. At the same time, all of those decisions bring with them great opportunity for her to be used by God. My prayer for her like each of my other three girls will be that, God will use them beyond what I could ask or imagine (Eph 3:20-21). I would hate to limit them with my dreams of what could be.

The role of a father is overwhelming too. Yesterday when Gracie’s three older sisters came up to visit I had a moment of great joy. Amidst the high pitched voices, the twirling hair and dresses, I was overwhelmed with how gracious God has been to entrust me with these little gifts. I am overwhelmed that God in His divine wisdom thought I would be the best possible father for these girls. A father accountable to point her to her Heavenly Father. To show her unconditional love. To teach and train her (Deut 6:4-9). A father with the role of showing her what faith looks like through my own life. It is all overwhelming, but its part of the God given gift of having the only role that shares a name with our Heavenly Father.

I just started reading through the Bible from the beginning. Usually, when I come to a genealogy I think, “OK hard name beget hard name, beget hard name etc.” However, tonight I was struck with the genesis and genius of the genealogies.

Think about the genius of genealogies. You can trace the story of humanity through the genealogies from Adam to your own. What is even more riveting about that is that within the story of humanity every human has a story. Every human from Adam to you and every hard name in between has a story. There is a story of birth. A story of childhood (good and bad). A story of growth and development, pain and past, dreams and future. Every person has a story. For Adam, he was married to Eve. I am sure they fought. I am sure they enjoyed one another. We don’t get all of the details of his life, but the guy lived a long time. I am sure there were a lot of details. Hence, he has a story, just like you.

So from the beginning of these sometimes seemingly boring genealogies there have been people created by God for His glory that each have a story. What is your role in the story?