Check out this conversation on a recent Colbert Report.As a pastor I perform many ceremonies and sacraments in the eyes of God. Yet when a wedding takes place it is the only time which I operate as both a servant of God and a servant of the State ("by the power vested in me and by the state of Michigan...").
Perhaps this is worth noting in the current debate over gay marriage. Marriage is the creation of one flesh between two people through the love and communion of God (the Scriptures mention nothing about the State's role in performing a marriage). If marriage is instituted by God, then the State's only concern should be one of rights and privilege (shared assets, hospital visits, etc, shared property, etc.) not one based in religion.
Marriage (as understood by the Church) has nothing to do with legality of assets insofar as the State is concerned. For couples who want to join lives of commitment by way of assets, etc they should go to the state (civil ceremony). If couples would like a deeper spiritual commitment, marriage, they should not look to the State/government but rather their particular church/faith community.
So when asked the question: "Should the United States legalize gay marriage?" I would answer: "No, But, the State shouldn't have heterosexual marriage either."
What are your thoughts on the State's involvement in marriage?
2 comments:
I agree - marriage is a God thing and civilly recognized unions are a state thing. My gay friends do (generally) want to be married but when I ask them why, given that marriage is a God instituted union that comes with all sorts of God-inspired "baggage", they don't have a really good answer. Intellectually, this issue is generally one which isn't really well thought through be people on either side (my opinion). At the end of the day, the Church tends to get points taken away due to our inability to manage the "sanctity of marriage" in practical terms (given the number of Christians that divorce) but that doesn't change what I believe to be a God given directive on the subject.
Here's the thing-- The "State" and other organizations have established all sorts of rules and laws regarding taxes, insurance, inheritance, parenting, hospital visitation, etc. based on marital relationships. So marriage has become the ticket of admission to lots of other things. The signing and filing of a marriage license is a legal action that qualifies you for all the rest. The rules and laws say nothing about religious beliefs or practices. So the point is that same sex couples, whether devoutly religious or staunch atheist, are being blocked from many legal, financial, and civil rights that a married couple (regardless of religious belief) gets, without question. That's what all the controversy is about. And any member of the clergy who thinks performing a marriage and signing a marriage license is just a religious ritual just isn't paying attention.
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