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Rev. Calvin Robinson speech at Oxford Union
Currently, Church of England members of the clergy are not permitted to carry out same-sex marriages, whilst homosexual Anglicans are required to remain celibate. In recent years, however, the Church of Wales, the Scottish Episcopal Church, and, most recently, the Methodist Church, have all embraced marriage equality. In February 2023, the General Synod met to discuss the issue, raising the question across the Anglican Communion and Christendom: should Christianity extend the sacraments to same same-sex marriages?
In Christianity, marriage is regarded as a sacred covenant established by God. According to biblical teachings, marriage is a divine institution with the following key aspects:
1. Divinely Instituted Union:
- Marriage is considered a holy covenant initiated by God. In the Book of Genesis, God creates man and woman and ordains the union of Adam and Eve, establishing the foundation for marriage (Genesis 2:18-24).
2. One Flesh Relationship:
- The concept of "one flesh" signifies the deep, intimate, and enduring bond between a husband and wife. This unity is emphasized in Genesis 2:24, which states, "Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh."
3. Complementary Partnership:
- Marriage is seen as a partnership where husband and wife complement each other. Both are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and are meant to support and help one another, reflecting mutual love and respect.
4. Exclusive and Faithful:
- Marriage is intended to be an exclusive relationship marked by fidelity. Adultery and infidelity are condemned, and spouses are called to remain faithful to one another (Exodus 20:14; Matthew 19:6).
5. Reflecting Christ and the Church:
- In the New Testament, marriage is likened to the relationship between Christ and the Church. Ephesians 5:22-33 describes how husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the Church, and wives are to respect their husbands, symbolizing a sacrificial and loving relationship.
6. Procreative Purpose:
- Marriage is also seen as the appropriate context for procreation and raising children. Genesis 1:28 emphasizes the blessing to "be fruitful and multiply," highlighting the role of marriage in family life.
7. Sanctity and Permanence:
- Marriage is regarded as a lifelong commitment. Jesus reinforces the permanence of marriage, stating that what God has joined together, no one should separate (Matthew 19:6).
8. Mutual Support and Love:
- Spouses are called to love and support each other selflessly. 1 Corinthians 13 outlines the qualities of love, emphasizing patience, kindness, and enduring commitment within marriage.
In summary, according to Christian teachings, marriage is a sacred, lifelong union between a man and a woman, instituted by God, characterized by mutual love, respect, faithfulness, and intended for companionship, procreation, and reflecting the divine relationship between Christ and the Church.
The view that marriage is solely between a man and a woman is based on several key biblical passages and traditional interpretations within Christianity. Here are some of the main reasons often cited by those who oppose same-sex marriage from a biblical perspective:
1. Creation Order:
- The foundational texts in Genesis describe marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Genesis 2:24 states, "Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." This passage is often interpreted as establishing the original design for marriage.
2. Complementary Nature of Genders:
- The creation narrative emphasizes the complementary nature of male and female. In Genesis 1:27, it is written, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." This complementarity is seen as essential for the marital relationship.
3. Biblical Condemnation of Homosexual Behavior:
- Several passages in the Bible are often cited as condemning homosexual behavior. Leviticus 18:22 and Leviticus 20:13 in the Old Testament describe same-sex relations as detestable. In the New Testament, Romans 1:26-27 and 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 also reference homosexual behavior in a negative light.
4. Jesus’ Affirmation of Traditional Marriage:
- Jesus references the Genesis account when discussing marriage, reinforcing the traditional view. In Matthew 19:4-6, Jesus says, "Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."