Marriage: A Rose by Any Ather Name...

What was Shakespeare thinking when he wrote Juliette's line?:

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

In short it doesn't matter what we call something, that "thing" is still what it was. Take the debate over Same Sex Marriage. Calling two men or two women married doesn't change the fact that they cannot actually be married in the sight of God. Scripture says:

Genesis 2:23-24
New International Version (NIV)

23 The man said,


“This is now bone of my bones
    and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called ‘woman,’
    for she was taken out of man. ”


24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.

"One Flesh." How can two men or two women become one? They can't. You can call them married all you want, pass all kinds of laws to make it true, but it will never be true. Although Christians should be concerned about this issue we must understand it is in mans nature to sin. Yes we should voice our opinion, point to scripture and then move along without accepting it from a spiritual perspective. The world will continue to sin and pull away from God. This is our struggle. We can only educate people and let them choose to sin or not to sin.

Both Matthew and Mark tell the same story where Jesus confirms what Moses wrote in Genesis.

Mark 10:6-8
New International Version (NIV)
6 “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’ 7 ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, 8 and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh.

Matthew 19:4-6
New International Version (NIV)

4 “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

Non-Christians always try and point out that we are trying to show our moral superiority or belittle them in some way. While that may be true for some Christians not all of us feel that way. We understand that sin is sin and that all fall short of the Glory of God. The Law condemns us. All of us. But the Grace of Christ Jesus saves all who flock to Him.

All Christians are sinners. The Pope all the Cardinals and Priests. All Clergy in any denomination. Name one who is not a sinner? Just as God took care of Sodom and Gomorrah He will take care of all those who are against Him. Our fight is not a physical one but a spiritual one.

According to a recent poll 52% of Catholics (as a whole) in the United States are favorable to same sex marriage (http://www.pewforum.org/Gay-Marriage-and-Homosexuality/Religion-and-Attitudes-Toward-Same-Sex-Marriage.aspx)

I think they need to re-read scripture.