Redefining the institution of Christian marriage
It was a bright Saturday. Whether I knew the celebrant or not, I had no idea. But all I could remember was that I fell into a reverie. Possibly, and more accurately, it was an unperceived consternation. The syncopated sound of the trumpet saturated the atmosphere and captivated my heart. The blissful melodic resonances suddenly took me away, and strangely, I set my eyes on two men: one dressed in a stunning black suit, while the other man was decorated in a red shining gown. Making a 45 degree turn to my younger brother, I could read the heavy lines around his eyes. We were both shocked by what we were seeing. A man marrying a man was the weirdest thing we have ever experienced. Thankfully, we were watching the wedding on the television, and it only cost me to press a button on the remote to save our eyes from the strange thing we saw.
According to Merriam Webster’s student Dictionary, marriage is the legal relationship which a man and a woman enter for the purpose of making a home and often for raising a family. Usually, marriage can be described as an obligation between a man and a woman, stalwartly reinforced with love, support, care, togetherness, tolerance, and coherence. A family birthed from marriage represents a colossal of fused idiosyncrasies enduring the storms of life to create a better tomorrow for the coming generations. All of the highlighted explanations were all missing in the strange wedding we found ourselves watching on a Saturday morning.
“… what you think is right isn’t the same as knowing what is right.”― E.A. Bucchianeri
“Act11:26 – And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught many people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch”
Undoubtedly, there are countless numbers of faith-based organizations in the world, and the religious disparity boils down to various individual beliefs that extensively have some attachments to the supernatural being which they put their faith in. However, Christianity as it is widely well-known due to its origin can be traced back to Jesus Christ – a unique paranormal being that came to the world for the redemption of sin. No doubt, Christianity is a respected religion that is soaked in the reality of Almighty God, who tremendously manifests as an omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient creature.
Being a young boy who grew up in a Christian home, homosexuality is one of the most prohibited acts widely talked about. Shockingly, Pope Francis’s endorsement for same-sex civil unions, which was first revealed from an interview in 2019, and was premiered in a broadcast on October 21st, 2020, has stolen the subject of discussion. The news came all of a sudden, graduated from a shock to a decision that seems to have come to stay. No one expected that such pronouncement will come from a reputable pope so much that the entire world, especially the Christian faith was thrown into discombobulation.
Exasperatingly, Pope Francis who is vehemently aware of what is right decided to fall victim of beating around what he contemplates to be right due to pressure from the LGBTQ group. This has, however, questioned the much respect many people have for the Christian community. The decision to legalize same-sex civil union has harvested extensive media attention and robust antiphons if truly the legacy Jesus laid-down for the Christians has faded, or gradually overthrown by the pressure from some set of wealthy individuals.
While some people have reiterated their outright rejection of the Pope’s decision, some still erroneously think the announcement vibrated profoundly the beginning of a mutually inclusive worship atmosphere for all. So sad that the world of the Christian faith seems to be tearing away from the intended purpose it was created. At the point, we need to understand that standing by what we truly know to be right should be undiluted!
“Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority share in it.”― Leo Tolstoy
“2 Timothy 3:16-17 – “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
It is quite disheartening and paradoxical that Christianity has been immensely abused by the influx of corrupt minds using the religion as a means to fuel their selfish interest rather than upholding the truth embedded in the Holy Bible.
Fundamentally, there are three key conceptions about marriage which include: procreation (having children), problem-solving, and purposeful unification. Yet, some set of people want these basic concepts about marriage to be defiled by endorsing the idea of same-sex civil union. This is not just abuse of the serenity of the Christian faith, but also, an obstruction to the strong possibilities of the expansion of human beings on the face of the earth. Can the union between the same gender lead to childbirth? Definitely, No!
Within the perimeter of the church, Pope Francis has activated cruel reactions from the Catholics who are afraid that his steps might divide the church or even fragment it. After meticulously pillaging my environment, I found out that we have entered an era where ample numbers of people find pleasure in things that seem to be culturally erroneous. For the preservation of the future, we need to make it sink into our mind that “Wrong does not cease to be wrong because of the majority share in it.”
“Right is right even if no one is doing it; wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it.”
― Saint Augustine
“Gen2:23-24 – And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
Francis, who happens to be a pope with a chameleonic personality, has shattered the catholic marriage institution. He is a pope whose actions have been suspicious since he responded with “who am I to judge” when asked about the LGBTQ group. Someone of his caliber should not disguise when faced with such a question as the whole catholic leadership rests on his shoulder.
Let us take note of one of the primary assignments of Christians which can be found in the book of Genesis 9:7
“Gen 9:7 – And you, be fruitful and multiply; bring forth abundantly on the earth, and multiply on it.”
But with the Pope’s endorsement of same-sex marriage, how can a union between a man and a man be fruitful? How can the coming together of a woman and a woman bring multiplicity when procreation is impossible? What is wrong will continue to be wrong even if everyone is doing it. Beyond just been attracted by emotions to do what is morally repulsive, as humans, we need to lend ourselves knowledge and not behave as a barbaric set of species trying to put an end to the divine orchestration the Almighty God has laid down.
Strangely, the decision of Pope Francis to join the host of mediocre pursing what is an objection to the divine relationship of believers and Christ is a sign that the church is falling. Since the Pope has decided to isolate the doctrine and norms of the Christian community, the followers at this point, need also to isolate themselves from his irksome decision to certify the union between the same genders. It is a bitter truth that the pronouncement of the pope is about to shatter the institution of Christian marriage, nevertheless, the followers of Christ should not deviate from the knowledge of standing by what is right. In all, our lives and my marriages should look less like the world and more like Christ as Christians.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1 The Holy Bible
3 https://www.quotery.com/quotes/right-right-even-no-one
4 Isabella Burton, “The conservative cause against Pope Francis and why it matters”
5 Lena Krikorian, “The church of contradictions: a review of Pope Francis Tenure.”
Folarin Oluwatimilehin wrote in from Abeokuta via oluwatimilehinfolarin@gmail.com
