Marriage is between a man and a woman.
Well, at least some Texas pastor who was just on the Early Show would have you believe. Jesus in fact did not say this, but he did preach, often, against false prophets.
This is the passage they'll use:
Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?"
"Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."
"Why then," they asked, "did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?"
Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery."
The disciples said to him, "If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry."
Jesus replied, "Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it."
Matthew 19: 2-12 (NIV)
1. For obvious reasons they were male and female in the beginning. Not so much of an issue right now.
2. Jesus never actually said "marriage is between a man and a woman"; it's just how it was; there was no need to distinguish. Marriage was primarily for producing children. I'd say most people today (except for Mike Huckabee) would argue that marriage is for a little more than that. So, not so much of an issue now.
3. I bet Rev. Texas is just fine with divorce, which is actually what Jesus was talking about here. We've rightly amended the "except fors" to allow women as well as men to leave an unhealthy marriage. I say it's time for the "eunuchs" who were so clearly born that way to receive the same compassion. Pick and choose and pick and choose. To quote Jack Black as Jesus, if we're going to pick and choose anyway, why can't we choose love?
4. Women's lib had not really happened at this point, so telling a man to stay with his wife was a really progressive social stance that protected women.
And no matter what they say, taking away the right of marriage is based on hate. They'll say it's based on the Bible, but you know better. Read about "traditional" marriage in the Old Testament and then laugh at the next person who says they want to protect traditional marriage based on the Bible. And make sure you aren't wearing two different fabrics.
And here, as you'd guess, is a video:
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