‘An excellent thing’
Apologetics Conference speaker unpacks
theological model for Biblical marriage
By Jason P. Reagan, The Layman, April 18, 2011
“Married life is therefore no jest or presumption; but it is an excellent thing and a matter of divine seriousness.”
These words of Protestant reformer Martin Luther set the tone for a lecture titled “The Biblical Model of Marriage” during the April 8 session of the second annual 2011 Online Apologetics Conference.
Using a combination of Lutheran, scholarly and ultimately Scriptural resources, Dr. Ryan MacPherson of Bethany Lutheran College, as well as president of the Hausvater Project, presented what he called the “Natural Law Model of Marriage” based upon Scriptural concepts.
Defining marriage, MacPherson stated: “Marriage is a divinely created, lifelong union that celebrates sexual complementarity, children and chastity.”
Calling marriage “pre-political,” MacPherson said the institution originated from God in the Scriptures and could not be changed by civil authority.
“The key is to recognize that marriage pre-exists society, and through its procreative fruit, marriage establishes society,” he said.
“Society does not create marriage. Society cannot rightfully redefine marriage,” he added.
Addressing the issue of same-sex marriage, MacPherson drew upon his written work, The Natural Law of the Family: “Unlike [so-called] same-sex marriage, [genuine, natural] marriage is a distinctive, pre-political form of social order that is first and foremost about duty, especially to offspring, while it also promotes the mutual support and sustenance of the husbands and wives.”
MacPherson added that marriage is not justified on the “equality of all adults, regardless of sexual orientation.”
“We find the homosexual sexual lifestyle is actually a death style,” he added, pointing to a Centers for Disease Control study that, according to MacPherson, stated “The life expectancy of homosexuals is much shorter than those who abstain from homosexual acts.”
Adding that the state should not interfere in a man-woman marriage, MacPherson pointed out the many benefits of marriage including the following statements:
- “Marriage safeguards sexual union and children;
- “Harmonizes the inequalities in human nature,
- “Fosters an optimal balance between liberty and law enforcement;
- “Stabilizes the social order, and;
- Provides the proper origin and authentic purpose for all social institutions.”
Drawing upon other scholarly works, MacPherson quoted a text: “Sadly, our culture has become thoroughly confused on these points. The assumption that equality requires sameness prevents us from appreciating the distinct and complementary roles of men and women in marriage and beyond.”
“Marriage models the Trinity’s unity amid diversity, as well as the self-sacrificial love of Christ for the Church,” Macpherson concluded.
“Moreover, marital procreation among Christians is quintessentially evangelistic,” he added.
MacPherson called upon the Church to “lead by example, promote sexual complementary, provide chastity education, celebrate children as gifts from God.”
“Marriage models the self-sacrificial love epitomized by Christ’s redemptive work,” he said.
Presented by Athanatos Christian Ministries, the 2011 Online Apologetics Conference took place April 7-9 and focused “around the idea that the days of counting on a Christian culture to transform the people around us is over,” Athanatos executive director Anthony Horvath said. He added that the conference presented two timely topics: the visual arts (film and video) from a Christian perspective along with what was described as “real points of friction in our culture as far as Christianity goes: marriage, the family and human life.”