Bible’s Silence: Green Light For Gay Marriage?
Bible’s Silence: Green Light For Gay Marriage? You’re right, the Bible does not directly address the issue of same-sex marriages as they are understood today. Nevertheless, it would be quite a stretch to assume the Bible’s silence may be interpreted as approval. Here’s why:
The Bible consistently portrays marriage as a covenant between one man and one woman:
- Genesis 2:24 (ESV) states: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” This verse establishes God’s design for marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
- Jesus reaffirms this: Matthew 19:4-5 (NLT): “Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’” And He said, “‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’”
- The Apostle Paul further reinforces the biblical definition of marriage in Ephesians 5:31 (ESV): “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”
- Throughout Scripture, marriage is consistently described as a covenant relationship between a man and a woman. Same-sex relationships are condemned in passages such as Leviticus 18:22 and Romans 1:26-27.
Can we make the case that the Bible only mentions marriage between a man and a woman because only heterosexual marriages existed back then, and same-sex marriages perhaps did not? Again, clearly not. That would be akin to making an argument from silence. It would be quite a stretch to infer the Bible would approve of same-sex marriages, when none of the references to either homosexual acts or relationships in both the old and new testaments indicates “approval.” Sample these:
- Genesis 19:1-29: The story of Sodom and Gomorrah, which some interpret as a condemnation of homosexual behaviour.
- Leviticus 18:22: “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.”
- Leviticus 20:13: “If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death.”
- Romans 1:26-27: “For this reason, God gave them up to dishonourable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men, likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men, and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.”
- 1 Corinthians 6:9-10: Paul includes “men who practice homosexuality” in a list of those who will not inherit the kingdom of God.
While the Bible does call Christians to love all people, including those with same-sex attractions, it does not provide any affirmation or approval for homosexual marriages. From a biblical perspective, marriage is established as a union between one man and one woman according to God’s design.
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