When I was in college, theological discussions included debating the creation of Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve. Thirty years later, apparently men can give birth, you can self-identify as an animal or tree and everyday things that were once obvious have become clouded and confusing. According to Moses, God’s original intent for creating men and women was so that once you find a soul mate, you would leave your parents to start a new life with the love of your life.
Then Adam said, This [creature] is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of a man. 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall become united and cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not embarrassed or ashamed in each other’s presence, Genesis 2:23-25.
The words in the passage above were carefully chosen by Moses. When I reread this verse a week ago, I was reminded of the parallels made by the apostle Paul in Romans 10:9-11. Biblical marriage was designed as a unified relationship, where two adults become one body to produce offspring. Meanwhile, Paul writes about the relationship that Christians should have with Jesus. A personal relationship with God isn’t just a crutch like a get out of jail free card in Monopoly. Jesus should be Lord of your life.
He replied, Have you never read that He Who made them from the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be united firmly (joined inseparably) to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? 6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder (separate), Matthew 19:4-6.
One of the reasons Christian marriages continue to crumble is when one of the spouses seeks to take control by abandoning their vow to become one flesh. Like a creative student explaining why they couldn’t complete their homework on time, Christian adults have mastered rationalizing why divorce is the best option. As you read today’s passages, may you be moved to develop a will to love your significant other so that hardships and trials will not separate you from God’s original intent of marriage.
by Jay Mankus
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