But that this would be a debate in churches that claim Christ as their head and the Holy Scriptures as their guide is much more remarkable (Psalm 119:105). Christians, by definition, are formed by revelation and not speculation. Few topics in the scriptures are more clearly and explicitly stated than God's definition of, and purpose for, marriage.

Marriage is the God-given union of a man and a woman (Genesis 2:18-24) ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of children (Genesis 1:27). This covenant, when between baptized persons, is raised by Christ to the dignity of a sacrament (Ephesians 5:31-32). In other words, in God's plan every Christian marriage has built into it a God-given agenda that we don't get to set!

Everyone considering marriage in the church must ask himself or herself: Do I buy into this agenda? As disciples we must seek his mind (Philippians 2:5) and embrace his teaching (Mark 8:38; Luke 9:26); rather then spend our energy trying to change both!

Jesus came to this earth with a specific mission: Establishing the Kingdom of his Father on earth. He founded a Church to continue this mission. All that we do must serve this end and purpose. When a marriage is consecrated at God's altar, it is no longer the "property" of the couples involved; it belongs to God and now exists to serve his agenda and not our own.