Matthew 19, and same-sex wedding
In the Gospel in chapterMatthew chapter 19 , Jesus Christ stated in clear language, that marriage between a man and a woman was integral to the creation. On this occasion, Christ was discussing divorce with the Pharisees. In answer to the question. Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any ? Jesus answered:
Have you not read that who created them from the beginning made them male and female, .....‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and to his wife, and they shall become one flesh?’ (v.5-6)
This is a clearly a reference to Genesis 2, and it covers both Gentiles and Jews…. Jesus implies that this arrangement was difficult to carry on wives ‘Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.... And I say to you who ever divorces his wife , except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commit adultery’(v.9).
But, he said to them, there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there eunuchs who have been eunuchs by men made eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs, who have made eunuchs, for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. (v. 12) It appears that these cases put in peril Christ’s teaching the difference between men and women in marriage. (Matthew 19.12 -22.)
Jesus did not only teach parables to his hearers, but engaged his opponents in other theological and moral matters. In Matthew 22, Jesus was answering the questions of the Sadducees who say ‘that there is no resurrection , and they asked him a question’ to which Christ gave them a full response. (Matt. 22-33.)
Here in, many years later, the state of two Christian groups in England: the Church of England, the group who are a state Christian denomination, and the Baptists. These are the historic congregations, yet there are other, more conservative Baptistic groups.. Each of these are under the shadow or jeopardy due to the same-sex couples allowable according to the Act of 2013.
The Church of England observes, that The Episcopal Church in the U.S. has allowed same-sex marriage since 2015, and the Scottish Episcopal Church has allowed same-sex marriage since 2017. But, until the present, the Church of England continues the historic position, Jesus’ position.and to oppose same-sex.
More of Baptist and Church of England journalism
Consider some Top stories in this situation – ‘Justin Welby forced to allow Anglican bishops to reject statement on sexuality’. And, ‘there are motions to oppose same-sex marriage forces rethink of Anglican summit’. This is the problem the church finds itself currently.
What of Baptists and same-sex marriage? because of the independence of their congregations, one could envisage, different positions without splitting the Denomination.
The Baptists During their Assembly to 2013 (following the legal change), have launched a series of conversations that have since taken place throughout our union, in churches, associations and colleges on the issues around the registration of Baptist church buildings for the purpose of holding same sex marriage services. .
The issues have also been considered in meetings of their Council (in November 2013, `November 2013 and March 2014, and March 2016. and at many meetings of Team Leaders and the Baptist Steering Group.’
At Assembly 2014 an update of our process was shared and the following was offered on behalf of the Baptist Steering Group to express where we were up to on the journey. [To make room for Act 2013] This served as a backdrop to the continuing conversations and the way we sought to behave as Baptists Together.
During Assembly 2013 we launched a series of conversations that have since taken place throughout our union, in churches, associations and colleges on the issues around the registration of Baptist church buildings for the purpose of holding same sex marriage services. There is a breadth of opinion in our union on these issues, as can be seen in the responses received
They stated then: ‘As a union of churches in covenant together we will respect the differences on this issue which both enrich us and potentially could divide as we seek to live in fellowship under the direction of our Declaration of Principle ‘That our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh, is the sole and absolute authority in all matters pertaining to faith and practice, as revealed in the Holy Scriptures, and that each church has liberty, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to interpret and administer His Laws’ Upholding the liberty of a local church to determine its own mind on this matter, in accordance with our Declaration of Principle, we also recognise the freedom of a minister to respond to the wishes of their church, where their conscience permits, without breach of disciplinary guidelines.
We affirm the traditionally accepted Biblical understanding of Christian marriage, as a union between a man and a woman, as the continuing foundation of belief in our Baptist Churches a Baptist minister is required to live and work within the guidelines adopted by the Baptist Union of Great Britain regarding sexuality and the ministry that include ‘a sexual relationship outside of Christian marriage (as defined between a man and a woman) is deemed conduct unbecoming for a minister’. And in 2014 it was asserted, ‘A Baptist minister is required to live and work within the guidelines adopted by the Baptist Union of Great Britain regarding sexuality and the ministry that include ‘a sexual relationship outside of Christian marriage (as defined between a man and a woman) is deemed conduct unbecoming for a minister’.
From this it seems that the future sees each Baptist independent congregation might to decide itself whether to uphold same sex marriage, or not.
As a union of churches in covenant together we will respect the differences on this issue which both enrich us and potentially could divide as we seek to live in fellowship under the direction of our Declaration of Principle ‘That our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh, is the sole and absolute authority in all matters pertaining to faith and practice, as revealed in the Holy Scriptures, and that each church has liberty, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to interpret and administer His Laws.
From this it seems that the future sees each Baptist independent congregation might to decide itself whether to uphold same sex marriage, or not.
As a union of churches in covenant together we will respect the differences on this issue which both enrich us and potentially could divide as we seek to live in fellowship under the direction of our Declaration of Principle ‘That our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh, is the sole and absolute authority in all matters pertaining to faith and practice, as revealed in the Holy Scriptures, and that each church has liberty, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to interpret and administer His Laws.’
Upholding the liberty of a local church to determine its own mind on this matter, in accordance with our Declaration of Principle, we also recognise the freedom of a minister to respond to the wishes of their church, where their conscience permits, without breach of disciplinary guidelines.
We affirm the traditionally accepted Biblical understanding of Christian marriage, as a union between a man and a woman, as the continuing foundation of belief in our Baptist Churches.
So A Baptist minister is required to live and work within the guidelines adopted by the Baptist Union of Great Britain regarding sexuality and the ministry that include ‘a sexual relationship outside of Christian marriage (as defined between a man and a woman) is deemed conduct unbecoming for a minister’.
And as a union of churches in covenant together we will respect the differences on this issue which both enrich us and potentially could divide as we seek to live in fellowship under the direction of our Declaration of Principle ‘That our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh, is the sole and absolute authority in all matters pertaining to faith and practice, as revealed in the Holy Scriptures, and that each church has liberty, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to interpret and administer His Laws.’
Upholding the liberty of a local church to determine its own mind on this matter, in accordance with our Declaration of Principle, we also recognise the freedom of a minister to respond to the wishes of their church, where their conscience permits, without breach of disciplinary guidelines.
[I am grateful from the journalism cited in Wikipedia as the two English denominations wrestle in the difficulty of a looming of same-sex marriage.]
Here are more headlines from the Baptist paper: ‘The Baptist Union to allow gay marriage ceremonies.’ ‘Baptist Union to allow gay marriage ceremonies’ .From these the Baptists making room for same sex activity, and perhaps marriage itself. From such headlines post-2013 against and pre-2013 provide a tendency to show that sex marriage in Baptism congregations is in the wind. There is evidence more recently that there is opposition of a group of Baptist ministers.
The Baptist Union of Great Britain is to reconsider its commitment to one man, one woman marriage for its ministers under pressure from LGBT activists.
In a letter to members of the Baptist Churches, the Union’s Core Leadership Team said it was “reflecting” on a request to allow ministers to marry someone of the same sex .Individual churches may choose to host same-sex weddings, but in rules for members of the Baptist ministry, same-sex marriage is deemed gross misconduct. General Secretary Lynn Green said the process had been triggered by “a letter signed by 70 people who are part of Baptists Together, the majority of whom are ministers”.According to the church’s Ministerial Recognition Rules, “sexual intercourse and other genital sexual activity outside of marriage (as defined exclusively as between a man and a woman)” is specifically forbidden.But signatories of the letter have demanded the phrase which defines marriage “exclusively as between a man and a woman” be dropped. Removing this phrase, Green explains, “would mean that a minister who is in a same-sex marriage would no longer be committing gross misconduct and lose their accreditation”. At the Baptist Council meeting in March, activists from pro-LGBT groups, including Affirm and Open Table, gave presentations to members promoting ‘equal marriage’ and ‘inclusivity’. The Core Leadership Team, Ministerial Recognition Committee and Trustees are currently deliberating on how to best respond to the request to abandon the biblical code of conduct for its ministers. A decision is not expected this year.
Conclusion
Matthew 19 has the words of the Saviour, that a natural wedding ‘at the beginning’ of the race, in the account of Genesis 1, 24, which relates the Sixth Day of the Creation to the pair. That was and is a wedding of a man and a woman. But features from the journalistic news that we have been to find of Christian Protestant churches, they are on a road that modifies and qualifies the view of our Lord in an endeavour to shape Christian Marriage in the interests of a ‘Woke Theology’.
