Petition against the registration of civil partnerships on religious premises - e-petitions
Martyred for the Gospel
The burning of Tharchbishop of Cant. D. Tho. Cranmer in the town dich at Oxford, with his hand first thrust into the fyre, wherwith he subscribed before. [Click on the picture to see Cranmer's last words.]
Friday, August 26, 2011
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6 comments:
If marriage is between one man and one woman, how was it that so many of the Biblical characters were polygamists, apparently with god's approval?
Apparently you don't read the Bible much. God created one man and one woman in the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 1:27; Genesis 2:7, 20-25; Matthew 19:5; Mark 10:7). The fact that God overlooked sins in the past does not mean that these were not grievous sins. (Acts 17:30-31). Jesus Himself said that divorce was permitted by Moses because of the hardness of the hearts of the people. (Matthew 19:7-10).
Also, the king of Israel is commanded not to have many wives. (Deuternomy 17:17; 1 Kings 11:3).
The qualifications for ministers, i.e. deacons and pastors/elders/bishops is to be the husband of one wife. That is, polygamy is forbidden to Christians which is why the qualification for ministers specifies this. (Ephesians 5:31, 33; 1 Timothy 3:2, 12; 1 Timothy 5:9; Titus 1:6).
This does not mean that divorce and remarriage is an unforgivable sin. Serial marriages are sinful and bring troubles and discipline from the Lord upon those who ignore the moral law. But it is not a matter that God's grace and mercy has not provided for when Christ died on the cross for His elect. (John 10:11, 15; Ephesians 1:3-4, 11).
If you will read the biblical accounts, those who had many wives paid the price. There was marital discord and the children of David even went so far as to commit incest and murder because of it. Absalom killed his brother, Amnon, because he raped Absalom's sister, Tamar and Amnon's own half sister. (1 Samuel 13:1 ff; 1 Samuel 13:32).
Scripture is brutally honest about the sinful acts of people in the Bible. Reporting evil acts is not an endorsement of those acts. In fact, the resulting suffering and punishment is meant for an example to us as to what we should not do:
Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. 12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:11-13 ESV)
I appreciate you having taken the time to respond.
You're welcome. I misspelled Deuteronomy in Deuteronomy 17:17. The link did not work...
Since a significant majority of the UK population is in favour of full gay marriage, let alone civil partnerships; and since the rights of religions to opt out of conducting civil partnership ceremonies are fully respected; could you kindly tell why you wish to deny religions such as liberal Judaism or the Quakers the right to conduct such ceremonies as their faith allows??
A full majority of the Nazis were in favor of the genocide of the Jews. The popularity of a position is no sign that the position taken is moral, desirable, or what is best for society. That being said, the general equity of God's moral law is still binding upon nations and individuals. (Romans 1:18-21).
I might add that being British you ought to be familiar with the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion. These are the official doctrine of the Church of England and should be understood as a Reformed standard for the Christian faith. Another term would be a "creed" or "confession" of the Christian and Reformed faith.
Article 7 states that all men are still bound to follow God's moral law:
VII. Of the Old Testament.
THE Old Testament is not contrary to the New; for both in the Old and New Testament everlasting life is offered to mankind by Christ, who is the only Mediator between God and man, being both God and man. Wherefore there are not to be heard which feign that the old fathers did look only for transitory promises. Although the law given from God by Moses, as touching ceremonies and rites, do not bind Christian men, nor the civil precepts thereof ought of necessity to be received in any commonwealth; yet, notwithstanding, no Christian man whatsoever is free from the obedience of the commandments which are called moral.
The Christian and the church is obligated to preach the Law of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the public arena and to stand against the immoralities propagated upon society by the godless and the heathen. When society becomes totally immoral or amoral then the civil peace is threatened and the moral fabric of society is torn asunder. The most basic institution of God's creation is the heterosexual marriage of one man and one woman. If others wish to recognize what God calls a perversion, then the Christian is to speak out against such perversion. (Romans 1:24-28; 1 Timothy 1:8-11; Acts 5:28-29).
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