Arming Yourself - Marriage/family Battle

[JerryNumbers]

As usual this turns into a debate between personalities, Why?

The scripture is the key. There are arguments here which don't address the the OP. YOU (ME) Christians should know the scriptures which apply to what we base our stand for this sin on. If they are truly for tolerance then we must demand, in love, our equal time. I don't believe they are for real tolerance but, I intend to request it anyway. If the opportunity is offered I better be able to say more than God said it that settles it.
Back to center...

Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

The answer if questioned as to why(?) in the above scripture is, “I can’t mirror God’s image in a marriage between same sexes.”

I’ll add to the OP scriptures…

Genesis 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

What is the answer in the scripture above, “I can’t be the complete person God intends in a marriage between same sexes.”

These are superficial, at a glance discussion answers. Someone on this board knows more about this discussion. They understand more about this topic and I pray they will share and help us to prepare. Because the battle isn't far off, it's in our face NOW.

Plus, if there was no marriages between man & woman, there would be no children & this could never come true.

Ge 22:17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

Nor could we populate this earth as God told us to.

And of course, the only marriage ordained by God is between man & woman.

[John81]

Strong Support for Gay Marriage Now Exceeds Strong Opposition
By Damla Ergun | ABC OTUS News – 7 hrs ago


Strong public support for same-sex marriage exceeds strong opposition by a significant margin for the first time in ABC News/Washington Post polls, and African-Americans have moved more in favor, perhaps taking their lead from Barack Obama on the issue.
Overall, 53 percent of Americans say gay marriage should be legal, steady the past year but up from 36 percent in just 2006. Thirty-nine percent "strongly" support it, while 32 percent are strongly opposed - the first time strong sentiment has tilted positive. Six years ago, by contrast, strong views on the issue were negative by a broad 27-point margin.
See PDF with full results here.
Further, this poll, produced for ABC by Langer Research Associates, finds that support for gay marriage has reached a new high among African-Americans in ABC/Post polls, up from four in 10 in recent surveys to 59 percent now.
Another result shows increasing exposure: Seventy-one percent of Americans now say they have a friend, family member or acquaintance who's gay, up from 59 percent in 1998. People who know someone who's gay are 20 points more likely than others to support gay marriage.

Rest of article at:
http://news.yahoo.com/strong-support-gay-marriage-now-exceeds-strong-opposition-040227742--abc-news-politics.html

[Guest]

Plus, if there was no marriages between man & woman, there would be no children & this could never come true.

Ge 22:17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

Nor could we populate this earth as God told us to.

And of course, the only marriage ordained by God is between man & woman.

Yes, this is an example of another scripture we might use in a discussion and what the outcome of failure to follow this scripture will cause.

[John81]

Yes, this is an example of another scripture we might use in a discussion and what the outcome of failure to follow this scripture will cause.

Who is your target audience?

[282Mikado]

Okay, this is a LOOOOONG post, but I think it is a good biblical defense for the institution of marriage.

The whole marriage process of the Old Testament Jew is a picture of the marriage between Christ and His Church of the New Testament. It is said that In the Old Testament Christ is concealed, in the New Testament Christ is revealed. These words grow truer the more I read the Bible.

On Marriage:

Deuteronomy 7:3 Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.

Romans 7:2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

1Corinthians 7:39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

On Divorce (For why should a divorce be necessary? If all we are doing is living together, breaking a contract should not be necessary.):

Matthew 5:31-32
31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

Mark 10:2-9
2 And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.
3 And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?
4 And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.
5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.
6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.
7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;
8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.
9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

From these last verses we can see that God officiated the first wedding between Adam and Eve. As with the sacrificial system nothing was put into writing, but the structure was there. Once the Jews left Egypt and were preparing to enter into the Promised Land (at Mt. Sinai), the written law was given to Moses for the governance of so large a population.

Marriage (From Easton’s Bible Dictionary)

1. Was instituted in Paradise when man was in innocence #Ge 2:18-24 Here we have its original charter, which was confirmed by our Lord, as the basis on which all regulations are to be framed #Mt 19:4,5 It is evident that monogamy was the original law of marriage #Mt 19:5 #1Co 6:16 This law was violated in after times, when corrupt usages began to be introduced #Ge 4:19 6:2
2. The marriage relation is used to represent the union between God and his people #Isa 54:5 Jer 3:1-14 Ho 2:9,20 In the New Testament the same figure is employed in representing the love of Christ to his saints #Eph 5:25-27 The Church of the redeemed is the "Bride, the Lamb’s wife" #Re 19:7-9
   

In the Old Testament we also see the term “concubine” (from Easton’s Bible Dictionary):

“In the Bible denotes a female conjugally united to a man, but in a relation inferior to that of a wife.”

In today’s vernacular a concubine would be that person you are “living with”.

Biblical Marriage
This is an excerpt from a Bible Study I found in a Messianic Jewish website. I include it because it shows God’s true design behind the principle of marriage. Marriage is not only to bring a man and a woman together, it is:

1. A picture of man’s relationship with God.
2. A picture of everything Christ did for His Bride, the Church, outlined nearly 2000 years before Christ was on earth in the flesh.
   

This is what makes God so awesome and His Word (the Bible) so fresh! Every time you look into His word you find something new and often glorious that you can take away and apply to your life.

The Study
When studying the Scriptures it becomes evident that intimacy between Jesus and His Church is no better illustrated than in the ancient Jewish wedding customs. The Lord gave us these things so that we could and would understand His attributes. This is His propose for every Believer. Jesus, Himself, made several references to the Church being like a Bride waiting for her Bridegroom as will be seen.

The marriage consists of two parts.
1^st: The betrothal - Erusin or Kidushin.
2^nd: About one to two years later is the wedding ceremony called, Nisuin or Huppah.

The betrothal is a parallel to the engagement in most ways except that in the ancient Jewish custom, it was binding! It was so binding that it could not be broken without an orthodox divorce. You were considered bound together from the period you entered the betrothal contract until the wedding day. When Joseph discovered that his betrothed wife Mary was with child he had real grounds to obtain an orthodox divorce and would have if the angel had not appeared unto him and explained what was going on. From that point on Joseph knew it was the hand of God that was upon her. He had no more reason to put her away. The whole marriage rite is laid out in a series of twelve steps:

1. The Bridegroom's Father chooses the Bride; the Groom in most cases does not. He sends a friend or a trusted servant to come to terms with the parents of the prospective Bride, and makes all the arrangements. The Bride may not have any idea of what this person looks like or even know his age. All she knows is she will spend her whole life with him if she says yes to this marriage!
   

This representative can be seen as a portrait of the Fathers Holy Spirit in the Scriptures. It is He who nudges our hearts, and calls us to enter into this union with our Bridegroom Messiah.

John 6:43-44
43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.
44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

1 Peter 1:8
8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

1. The price was secured for the Bride, and was usually something of great value: Lands, livestock, silver or gold. In the Believers instance the supreme price was paid, the precious Blood of Jesus. Jesus left His Home and the Glory of Heaven to come to earth to pay the ultimate price for a Bride. This was so He might return once again to prepare a place for us, a Home with Him in the Glory of Heaven.
   

I Peter 1:18-19
18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Philippians 2:5-7
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

1. The Betrothal ritual is like an engagement party. The promise was made and it was binding. The man and wife do not live together or have sexual intercourse at this time. A cup of wine is lifted up and drunk by the Bride to seal the Betrothal. More on the cup in the 6^th step, but it is interesting to note that the cup is lifted in the right hand. The right hand is a place of power Biblically speaking.
   

Matthew 26:27-29
27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.

Jesus, when lifting the cup at the Passover understood that in just a short time from that moment, He would also be lifted up on the cross. It would be for His Bride that He would suffer and do this! Over and over again we will see that He alone cuts this Covenant, we have no part, other then to accept what He has done for us.

1. The written marriage contract is drawn up and in it the Bride is promised that she will be provided and cared for in every way. It states that all of her needs will be fulfilled by the Bridegroom. The Hebrew term for Bridegroom is "Hatan" meaning: "one who enters Covenant." This contract is always signed before two witnesses, then given to the Bride and her Father. The Holy Scriptures are our Wedding document. It tells us all that our Bridegroom has done for us and will do for us - and so much more!
   

Matthew 6:28-30
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Phil. 4:19

1. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
   

Hebrews 12:2
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

These are just some of the promises. He will provide all things for His Bride.

1. As I said before, the Bride had to be in agreement with this marriage, and so it is with us. By our free will do we enter into this contract. Even the Saints of old were looking ahead to this wonderful place and event. The writer of Hebrews tells us:
   

Hebrews 11:8-10
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed;
and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the
heirs with him of the same promise:
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Today to enter into this Covenant I must accept Jesus, and confess Him with my mouth to be LORD of my life. When the Messiah is revealed to us it is through the Holy Spirit. We must say "I do" in Hebrew it is the word ‘daat,’ or I could say, "I do not" which is not a good answer to give Him. However, making this decision is our choice.

Making this selection is really our first act of intimacy. Exclusively ours because, God has given to us free will to choose our Bridegroom. However, He knew from the beginning what our answer would be! This act of choosing our Bridegroom reveals to our Lord how intimate we want Him to be with us, and this revealing works both ways. It is a form of worship.

1. At this point the cup was drunk from. This cup is also called the shared cup of the Brit, i.e. Covenant. The two are now really married. The betrothed secured, i.e. sealed. Gifts are now given to the Bride and her family from the Bridegroom or His Servant, as in the case of Abraham sending his servant, Eliezer. Eliezer came with 10 camels filled with gifts to secure a Bride for Isaac. Eliezer means: comforter, helper, and is a picture of the Holy Spirit of God.
   

Every time we share in the cup of Communion we are re-affirming our marriage Covenant with our Bridegroom Jesus. We should always remember what it was that Jesus our Bridegroom achieved for us personally, with the Covenant of Communion in His Blood.

Jeremiah 31:31-34
31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Jesus also gave us many gifts. The blessed Holy Spirit with all of His gifts: Prophecy, Peace, Joy, Knowledge, Eternal Life, His Righteousness which is our Cover, and best of all His Love Everlasting. The shared cup of Communion secured by the nails of the Covenant of the Cross makes us partakers with Him in everything, and it's all His doing!

1. In Hebrew the word for the Jewish Bride is the word "Kallah," meaning: "complete”, or as some teach: "enclosed one." This brings to my mind a Scripture from Song Of Songs:
   

Song of Solomon 4:12
12 A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.

The Bride went through a ritual immersion, i.e. washing, to symbolize her turning aside from all the former things and starting a new life with her Beloved. We are given water baptism for the purification of our old ways and to make us ready for our Heavenly home. When the Hebrews came out from Egypt and prepared to enter into the Covenant with Elohim, the whole Congregation had to be cleansed with water. She was to be set apart, enclosed before they could come close to the LORD God. We must also do the same? And sometimes for some of us, more then once. They had to do it before meeting God, we now do it after we receive His Son.

Romans 6:3-6
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Mikvah: ritual immersion, i.e. baptism is a symbolic weapon of separation.

When we obey the Lord and follow His example of immersion, we are embarking on our new life by departing and saying, farewell to the old ways. This is a cutting off or a putting off of the old and this pleases both the Father, and the Bridegroom. Really it is a signpost for ourselves to remind us we are dead to trespasses, and alive unto God.

Acts 19:2-6
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

There is water immersion, and there is an immersion of the Holy Spirit, and they are for whosoever will.

1. At this point the Bridegroom would depart and go back to his Fathers house to prepare a place for the wedding and his new Bride. A pledge is made by the Bridegroom affirming to his Bride that he will indeed return for her. Jesus did the same! We read Jesus’ pledge in the Gospel of John:
   

John 14:1-3
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

These words above are the same words spoken in the ancient Jewish Wedding rite. Jesus speaks to His followers as a Bridegroom, affirming to them that He would come to take them to Himself.
This is when Messiah will come to sequester us in a chamber made ready for His Bride. A time of separation intimacy, and privacy with our Lord. Most believe it will be for 7 years (during the tribulation); one to match each day that the Bride and Bridegroom spend in the wedding chamber, alone and separated from the rest of the world.

Isaiah 26:20-21
20 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.
21 For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.

1. Now the time of waiting comes! The Bride would prepare herself making all the preparations to be the best Bride she could be. She waits with baited breath for the Bridegroom to come. I know how anxious she is! She doesn’t know the exact time when her Beloved will come for her, this time is "only" known by the Bridegroom's Father. When the Father sees that all of His Son's preparations for the wedding chambers (chadar) are ready, then He will allow His Son to transport His Bride to His home.
   

Matthew 25:1-5
1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

This parable is a teaching about "readiness," it is plain and it is simple.

At this point in the Bride's life she is surrounded by her family and friends who she will be leaving very soon. She is filled with emotions. She may be going on a long journey to the land of her husband; far from her family’s home.
She is occupied with feelings twisting inside of her. Maybe even doubt if her Bridegroom will come for her, cool feet so to speak! Filled with these emotions the serpent speaks to her mind:
"You are not a worthy bride, look at all of your flaws. Who would really want you with all your spots? You are full of wrinkles."
When the enemy of our well being speaks to us we usually listen to his lies. How foolish we are to listen to him. We are already married to the Bridegroom, and the Covenant is sealed!
Rebecca was a zealous Bride, enthusiastic to go meet her Beloved Isaac. She did not vacillate at all; she is the perfect picture of Messiah’s Bride.

He is coming for a Bride who is without spot or wrinkle.

2 Peter 3:13-14
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

Ephesians 5:25-27
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

It was said by the Jewish Sages of old, and even today’s Rabbis teach this truth. On the day of your wedding the Bride and Bridegroom stand before God without spot, and without blemish. It is only the devil, the enemy of the soul who tells us otherwise. We must remember the words of our Beloved Bridegroom, and resist the lies of the devil and his fallen angels.

Isaiah 61:10
10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

It is Jesus who makes her that way, not herself. He gives us our robe, and crowns.

1. When the Bridegroom comes to get His Bride it is more of a willing kidnapping. It could be called a snatching in the middle of the night. The Bridegroom and His friends would sneak up on the Bride suddenly. However, not without a shout first! Then there was a blast of the shofar sounding out, she must be ready to run to her Beloved, to flee with him with no hesitation or procrastination. I can’t wait till I hear His shout, and the sound of His shofar, how about you?
   

Matthew 25:6
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

It is interesting and certainly worth remembering that one of the names for the Feast of Trumpets according to Jewish literature, is "The wedding day of Messiah." This whole marriage feast is a picture of the LORD coming for His Bride before Yom Kippur, the Day of Judgment. Maybe even this year!

Messiah has a "deed" for you, its the Ketubah - the Betrothal Covenant. He is now our Master and our Husband. He has the rights to come to take us to His home because He paid the "Mohar" - the Bridal Price. When He comes He will come from the place of Power, i.e. the Father's right hand. This is the perfect picture of the Yod!

1. The Bridegroom with His strong open hand takes His Bride away to the place that he has prepared, and the marriage is now consummated. The Tallit (the Jewish prayer Shawl) serves many times today as the Huppah. Made of silk or fine wool it is raised over the couple. It can also be held up by poles or trees that may have been planted at the birth of the Bride or Bridegroom. If he’s a rich Bridegroom he may give her all of her wedding garments before hand, which she gladly receives as part of his price. Messiah has given use all of our garments as well!
   

Blessings are said over the couple, this is call the Birkot Nisuin, the 7 blessings. The second cup of wine is now drunk, and this sets the second seal to the marriage Covenant. We are waiting to drink this cup with our Bridegroom Jesus.

Now the new couple will spend 7 days together in the wedding room, the "Huppah." This starts the honeymoon cycle, this is where the Bridegroom will cover her with Himself. This is also called the "Nisuin" or the "hometaking." Jewish Bridegrooms do this part today at the wedding by placing their Tallit over their Brides so all can witness it.

The new couple will now become one flesh - Echad. This is also called "Kidushin" meaning: sanctification or ratification. They will get to know each other like never before, this is more than a face to face encounter. This also has an ancient name, "Yihud" or the "Knowing." The act of sexual intimacy takes place between the Bride and the Bridegroom. The bed sheets with her blood on it were given to the Brides family. This was so they could never say she was not pure before the wedding day. It was in a sense, her insurance policy. I believe it will be Messiah’s bloody garments that will be our insurance policy. It is His covering that dresses me, not my own. His hand is open to me!

I Cor. 13:12
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

1. And now it is time for the wedding feast to begin! Our Wedding Feast will be in the place that Jesus has prepared.
   

Immediately after the 7 days of the Huppah, the couple come out of the room and join their guests. These guests have a special name; they are called the B’nai Huppah, "children of the Bridal Chamber." They will join the Bride and Bridegroom to a very festive marriage feast. This is the meal that the couple share with their guests after the 7 days of being alone is over. This meal is called Seudat Mitzyah, a festive meal! Also at the end of the 7 days Jesus will be crowned King, and we shall be His Queen. We will rule and reign with our Beloved forever. This is for Israel and all who are grafted into her.

Messiah has now been given a Staff ("The Rod of God”) to rule with just like all the past kings of Israel. The one thousand years begin; this is the millennial reign of Messiah on earth. This is the time of peace we read about in the book Isaiah. This is when the Bridegroom will rejoice over His Bride.

Isaiah 62:5
5 For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.

Revelation 19:7-9
7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

We will dance and play our tambourine like Miriam did, and maybe even with Miriam! We will hear our Bridegroom rejoicing over us, what a day this will be! A Feast like no other we have ever seen or heard about, phenomenal to say the least! The proposal is made and we have accepted. Now the invitations are being sent out to all Believers who are part of His Bride. Are you ready and waiting for your Beloved Bridegroom? I am.

[Guest]

Thanks 282Mikado...I'll read it all later a have a long one coming myself.

But first I need to answer John on the audience...

The audience to prepare is, you, me, we, us (Christians), then the audience to receive is they, them (deceived by Satan and his minions).
Long post coming...next one.

[Guest]

According to the press and the polls, the enemy is larger than the army of God.

“Strong Support for Gay Marriage Now Exceeds Strong Opposition
By Damla Ergun | ABC OTUS News
Overall, 53 percent of Americans say gay marriage should be legal, steady the past year but up from 36 percent in just 2006. Thirty-nine percent "strongly" support it, while 32 percent are strongly opposed - the first time strong sentiment has tilted positive. Six years ago, by contrast, strong views on the issue were negative by a broad 27-point margin.”

The battle isn’t ours to win or loose. God instituted marriage and set up the similitude between the church and Jesus Christ. It is he who will win the battle against it. However there are some things we can see from the scripture below…

2 Chronicles 20:15-17, 22-23
15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.
16 To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel.
17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.

1. “Hearken ye…Thus saith the LORD.”
How do we listen to God today? We talk (pray) and listen (read).
Jehoshaphat and ALL God’s people prepared 2 Chronicles 20:3-15.
2. Don’t be “afraid” or “dismayed…of this great multitude;”
Where do we receive courage today? God’s word, Spirit, and the church.
3. “Go ye down against them.”
How can we go today? Trust fully in God’s power to deliver.
4. Be “set, stand, see.”
How do we prepare? Ephesians 6:10-20.
5. “fear not, nor be dismayed”
1 Peter 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
6. “Go out against them.”
You can’t do this from the computer. This will take action. I believe God wants to see His people taking physical steps.
7. “the LORD will be with you.”
Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

How did God win the battle for them?

2 Chronicles 20:22-23
22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.
23 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.

How could we proceed? Go carefully providing truth; knowing how to explain the truth when they question us. Take the time and the steps.

Matthew 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Acts 19:32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.

[John81]

Is your target audience, Christians, professing Christians, the lost or everybody?

It depends upon your audience as to how you tailor your message.

Most actual Christians will be receptive to the biblical defense of marriage, as well as the biblical view of homosexuality.

Most professing Christians will be somewhat open but will need to have the message given to them in easy to digest bites, given more slowly, possibly needing repetion. Then we would need to check their response before knowing how best to proceed.

For most of the lost, they will reject any biblical argument because they don't care what the Bible says, they will point to the fact America is a secular nation, they will harken to man-made views and overstretched concepts of personal freedom, equality, fairness and "civil rights". These people need to hear the Gospel. They are unprepared to hear or accept biblical arguments regarding marriage or homosexuality.

If you are wanting to take the message to everyone, then you need to formulate different approaches for each type of different audience. To be clear, the message itself remains biblical, it's the delivery, manner and style that changes.

[Guest]

Is your target audience, Christians, professing Christians, the lost or everybody?

It depends upon your audience as to how you tailor your message.

Most actual Christians will be receptive to the biblical defense of marriage, as well as the biblical view of homosexuality.

Most professing Christians will be somewhat open but will need to have the message given to them in easy to digest bites, given more slowly, possibly needing repetion. Then we would need to check their response before knowing how best to proceed.

For most of the lost, they will reject any biblical argument because they don't care what the Bible says, they will point to the fact America is a secular nation, they will harken to man-made views and overstretched concepts of personal freedom, equality, fairness and "civil rights". These people need to hear the Gospel. They are unprepared to hear or accept biblical arguments regarding marriage or homosexuality.

If you are wanting to take the message to everyone, then you need to formulate different approaches for each type of different audience. To be clear, the message itself remains biblical, it's the delivery, manner and style that changes.

I answered this in reply #21.

[John81]

I answered this in reply #21.

I read that but didn't understand what you were trying to say.

[Guest]

I read that but didn't understand what you were trying to say.

O.K.

[lettheredeemedsayso]

Anyone who gets married today is nuts. Unless you absolutely can't control yourself than avoid it. If you are thinking of becoming a pastor it may be beneficial to get married simply because people will respect you more as a pastor. But outside of that it's better to stay single IMO.

As far as the scripture you posted I'm not sure if the unsaved are considered to be in the image of God. How can they be in the image of God when the NT calls them the "children of the devil"? Seems mankind lost the image at the fall and are consider in the least "the image of Adam" (Gen. 5:3) and at the most the image of the devil. I really don't think God cares about marriage of the unsaved. Only his children. Does the marriage of the unsaved reflect the relationship of Christ and his church? If so then why won't most bible believing pastors marry unsaved couples?

Scripture teaches us that it is not good for man to be alone.

[Guest]

Scripture teaches us that it is not good for man to be alone.

Its not good for a man to be married to a man or a woman to be married to a woman either. Which is what this thread is about.

I suppose those who would do nothing can complain later if same sex marriage is approved.

[John81]

Its not good for a man to be married to a man or a woman to be married to a woman either. Which is what this thread is about.

I suppose those who would do nothing can complain later if same sex marriage is approved.

Is anyone here doing nothing?

The greatest of all things we can do is take the matter before the Lord continually. If we are really determined, then we will add regular fasting to our prayers. A move of the Lord necessary as we can do nothing on our own.

[JerryNumbers]

Its not good for a man to be married to a man or a woman to be married to a woman either. Which is what this thread is about.

I suppose those who would do nothing can complain later if same sex marriage is approved.

Mt 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Mt 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mt 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Sadly, many, make the claim, that God's children that are obeying God, following theses instructions, are doing nothing.