The Church’s Attitude Toward Homosexual Marriage Essay

Introduction

In the contemporary world, the issue of homosexual marriage from a religious point of view is a widely discussed topic. It is possible to state that the modern perspective tends to challenge the traditional perspective toward this issue. It is necessary to reveal how Jesus approaches homosexual marriage, to clearly define the Church’s attitude toward it, as they should coincide. This work will examine the evidence of one or the other treatment regarding homosexual marriage in religion.

How the Church Approaches Homosexual Marriage

The attitude toward marriage is clearly but not comprehensively defined, which leaves the possibility for further discussion to arise, especially in the view of the human beings’ tendency to liberation considering. However, it is necessary to define what is “normal” and solely appropriate marriage, is homosexual marriage included in this definition, and if not, can it be assumed to be the immoral one.

Erickson Millard claims that Jesus’s teaching about the permanence of marriage is based on the fact that:

God made humanity as male and female and pronounced them to be one.¹

Simultaneously, Schreiner and Wright add to the definition by providing the analogy of marriage, which involves:

a number of components that are intimately interrelated and belong together. These usually include: the saying of vows; the giving and receiving of rings; the pronouncement of marriage by the minister; the signing of the marriage license by the minister and witnesses; and the sexual consummation.²

From the mentioned evidence, it is visible that religion provides a sequence of rituals, which can be implemented by a homosexual couple as well. However, Jesus’s teaching about the permanence of marriage claims that only female and male individuals together can be the one. Therefore, it enables to state that from this perspective, homosexual marriage cannot be conducted according to religious traditions, as despite the physical opportunity to fulfill all the necessary components, the unity of two males cannot be proclaimed.

On the other hand, the moral side of the issue should be examined, as Jesus, the Messiah, clearly defined what is included and not included in the endorsed category.

Michael Brown states that Jesus teaches human that:

All sexual acts outside of marriage made us unclean.³

In addition, Michael Brown adds that:

heterosexual fornication, homosexual acts, bestiality, incestuous acts—all of these are included by Jesus under the category of “sexual immoralities,” and all of them defile us and make us unclean.⁴

Therefore, based on mentioned evidence, it is possible to conclude that there is a certain dependency, which makes homosexual marriage impossible from the traditional religious point of view. Although a couple of males can conduct the ritual, they will not be approved to be an appropriate couple, as it is claimed that only males and females can become the one. It implies that homosexual marriage cannot be a correct marriage. Thus, as it is not an approved union, it should be in the category of “sexual immoralities,” as it cannot be done in the endorsed marriage. It is possible to claim that the Church cannot approve of homosexual marriage as they are prohibited by Jesus initially by the definition of the marriage itself.

References

Brown, Michael L. Can You Be Gay and Christian? Responding with Love and Truth to Questions about Homosexuality. Lake Mary: Charisma Publishing, 2014. Web.

Erickson, Millard J. Christian Theology. 3rd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2013. Web.

Schreiner, Thomas R., and Shawn D. Wright, eds. Believer’s Baptism: Sign of the New Covenant in Christ. Nashville: B & H Academic, 2006. Web.

Footnotes

1. Erickson, Millard J. Christian Theology. 3rd ed. (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2013), 106.
2. Schreiner, Thomas R., and Shawn D. Wright, eds. Believer’s Baptism: Sign of the New Covenant in Christ. (Nashville: B & H Academic, 2006), 103.
3. Brown, Michael L. Can You Be Gay and Christian? Responding with Love and Truth to Questions about Homosexuality. (Lake Mary: Charisma Publishing, 2014), 132.
4. Brown, 132.