Issues: Marriage

Why get married?

Three reasons are given within the marriage ceremony in an Anglican Church for getting married. According to the marriage service, marriage is:

1. the place God intended for sexual intercourse to take place
2. for the procreation of children (children should be conceived and brought up within a marriage)
3. for the couple's mutual help and comfort

1. Many Christians believe that marriage is the place where God intended sexual relationships to occur. In the Bible, 1 Corinthians chapter 6 verse 12 - 18, sexual intercourse outside of marriage (what the New International version of the Bible describes as "sexual immorality") is described as sinful.

Christians believe that sexual intercourse actually does something - somehow it makes two people "one flesh" - that the two people having sexual intercourse are in some deep way joined. Therefore, many Christians believe the only place to have sex is within marriage.

2. If sexual intercourse only takes place in marriage, children would be conceived within marriage. Christians believe the ideal place for having children is in a stable family unit with a married mother and father.

3. In the book of Genesis, the Bible describes Adam, the first human being, as being lonely without a partner (The Bible, Genesis chapter 2 verse 18). The animals and beasts God had made were not suitable as a companion for Adam. God's solution was to make a woman - Eve.

In Genesis chapter 2 verse 24, it says, "This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one." (NLT)

Christians believe that God designed humans as male and female so they could be lifelong companions. They were designed as complimentary beings. Christians believe that when a man and woman marry, they become united, into one unit.