MARRIAGE, RELATIONSHIPS, POLYGAMY, COHABITATION, CELIBACY, HOMOSEXUALITY, SINGLENESS

My brother Eliab Mayengo asked me to do something about Marriage and I have written massively (to my capacity) about it. I have come up with those seven topics and I will from time to time deal with one by one here for now let me start with:

1. MARRIAGE

Marriage is an official agreement between two people that is authenticated by three stakeholders: 1-the government, 2-the church and 3-the Parents.

Marriage has little, (if any in some cases) to do with how you feel about each other…whether you are in love or not you can still get married and live together….and this is run through three stages known as the 3Cs: 1-CONTRACT=paperwork, dowry payment ( Gen 24:33, Gen 24:51-53, Gen 24:57-58)….

2. CELEBRATION=wedding parties, after parties( Gen 29:27-28, John 2:1-11) ,…3-CONSUMMATION=Bedroom, etc ( Gen 29:21-26)…that is what typically marriage is.
Some people consider it to be marriage only and only if you have a government or a church/mosque certificate… And once you have that it is both symbolic and evidence enough to prove that your marriage is God-ordained…that is what I call the: CIVIL SPHERE

others on the other hand confirm it to be marriage or an official male and female familial relationship if each individual couple member has consented and there is a mutual understanding to have and to hold…(what some “name” cohabitation). Some go and visit the parents (or any other stakeholder) and even pay dowry but end it at that and live together for the rest of their lives. These people also believe their relationships are God-ordained just like those with papers..this is what I call the: CULTURAL SPHERE.

Of the two spheres however we must find out how God’s ordination features into them.

As a biblical theologian am biased to what the apparent revelation of God and his will is. If you choose to consider female and male familial relationship (read marriage) to be authentic under the terms of your government or church certification, then, the requirements must be reasonable (logically sensible) and not against the Bible.

First, a couple should seek whatever formal governmental or church recognition is available and it should be coherent and corresponding to the will of God.

Secondly, a couple should follow whatever cultural and familial practices are typically employed to recognize a couple as “officially married and these cultural and familial practices must be in line with the word of God…anything less or beyond the word of God should be considered as not divinely ordained.

Lastly, a couple should consummate the marriage sexually, fulfilling the physical aspect of the “one flesh” principle…though physically sex is allowed by God (even cohabitants,rapists and prostitutes get erections, experience orgasms and conceive) sex must be psychologically and spiritually authorised by God himself in all relationships…this is an intrinsic matter to each of us and all conscience convictions of right and wrong should be attended to without denial or self-defense.

What if one or more of these principles are not fulfilled? Is such a couple still considered married in God’s eyes? Ultimately, that is between the couple and God. God knows our hearts (1 John 3:20). God knows the difference between a true marriage covenant and an attempt to justify sexual immorality….

God bless..
I T WHITE
iTiS Well of Worship Ministries (John 4:24)