Same Sex Marriage

What is marriage?

According to the Merriam Webster’s dictionary, marriage is the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law.

There are three commonly held beliefs about what constitutes a marriage in the eyes of God:

1. The couple is married in the eyes of God when the physical union is consummated through sexual intercourse.

2. The couple is married in the eyes of God when the couple is legally married.

3. The couple is married in the eyes of God after they have participated in a formal religious wedding ceremony.

In Malachi 2:14 we see that marriage is a holy covenant before God. In the Jewish custom, God's people signed a written agreement at the time of the marriage to seal the covenant. The marriage ceremony, therefore, is meant to be a public demonstration of a couple's commitment to a covenant relationship. It's not the "ceremony" that's important in a marriage; it's the couple's covenant commitment before God and men.

The definition of marriage varies according to different cultures, but it is principally an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually sexual, are acknowledged. In some cultures, marriage is recommended or considered to be compulsory before pursuing any sexual activity. When defined broadly, marriage is considered a cultural universal.

What is same sex marriage?

According to USLegal, same-sex marriage is also known as gay marriage or a homosexual marriage. This kind of marriage is a ceremonial union of two people of the same sex; a marriage or marriage-like relationship between two women or two men. The United States government and most other American states do not recognize such marriages, even if legally contracted. Therefore, couples do not acquire the legal status of spouses, yet they have successfully challenged the laws against same-sex marriage.

History of marriage

Most ancient societies needed a secure...