Marriage, a constitutional right?

Published Saturday, August 07, 2010 6:26 PM
Really, help me out. Does the constitution say anything about marriage as a basic right? If not, does the US government have any jurisdiction over marriage? I mean, if a state wants to let humans marry pine trees, what business is it of the US government? Furthermore, does the Bible give any authority to the civil magistrate (at any level) to define or endorse marriage? For example, are state-supplied marriage licenses a Biblical idea? Just wondering what you guys think about this? Seems to me the marriage covenant is between the husband, wife and their families, with the Christian covenant community present as a witness to the event, all attesting together that this marriage is according to God's Law. The state would only get involved in cases of violations of God's Law, and thus the families and church would be needed to attest to the reality of the marriage covenant, as witnesses to the state.
by Bahnsen8
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# Matthew Holbrook said on Sunday, October 24, 2010 9:54 PM

For a lively discussion, as you know my views:

1.  Does a theocracy presume state involvement if the Church is given authority in this matter?

2.  Does the marriage rite (performed by Church or state) merely "find" or "declare" that God has brought two people together in biblical union or does the ceremony/earthly authority "wed" the two?

3.  If the Church is granted authority to declare marriage, what should faithful Christians do if an heretical particular church declares holy an unbiblical union between two (or more)?

B8: A deep artery here.  Few in visible Christendom consider this topic as part of their faith.  

Inspired.  Inerrant.  Our only Rule in Faith and Practice.