Christian views of marriage
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Alastair Haines
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/* The Complementarian view */ internal link
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[[Image:Domenico Beccafumi 038.jpg|thumb|''The Wedding of Mary and Joseph'', [[fresco]] by [[Domenico Beccafumi]], 1518, ([[Oratory]] of [[St. Benedict]], [[Siena]].)]]
Throughout history, [[Christian]]s have regarded [[marriage]] as ordained by [[God in Christianity|God]] for the lifelong union of a [[man]] and a [[woman]]. Most Christian [[wedding]] ceremonies take place in [[church]]es, but nowadays it is easily possible for a couple to choose quaint or nostalgic secular locations in which to be married by clergy.
[[Divorce]] is seen from a Christian perspective generally as less than ideal. Some see divorce as an unavoidable, but regrettable, part of life; others believe that a divorce is never truly recognized by God, and view it as universally wrong. There are many views in between these extremes.
The Christian church at large has not escaped liberal influences of the [[sexual revolution]]. An indication of such influences is greater tolerance within the church of couples living together without marriage ([[cohabitation]], and if sexual, [[fornication]]), extramarital affairs ([[adultery]]) and no-fault divorce. This is happening in spite of the fact that these practices conflict with doctrinal beliefs present in Christianity since its founding.
==Biblical Foundation==
This foundational principle was first articulated biblically in the [[Book of Genesis]] ({{bibleverse-nb||Genesis|2:24|NIV}}). Later, [[Jesus of Nazareth|Jesus]] set forth his basic position on marriage by bringing together two important passages from Genesis ({{bibleverse-nb||Genesis|1:27|NIV}}; {{bibleverse-nb||Genesis|2:7–25|NIV}}). He pointed to the completion of the [[creation]] — "male and female he created them." Then he described marriage as a relationship, a union, so intimate and real that "the two become one flesh." As persons, husband and wife are of equal value. In truth, they are one. Finally, Jesus added his emphasis on marriage being ''God-made'' and ''lifelong'':
<blockquote style="background-color: #eee">''Have you not read,'' he replied, ''that at the beginning the Creator "made them male and female," 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"? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate'' ({{bibleref|Matthew|19:4–6|NIV}}, {{bibleref|Mark|10:6–9}}).</blockquote>
The [[Apostle Paul]] quoted these passages from both Genesis and Jesus almost verbatim in two of his New Testament books ({{bibleverse|1|Corinthians|6:15–17}} and in {{bibleref|Ephesians|5:30–32}}).
For Christians, Jesus dignified the institution of marriage by performing the first of the recorded [[miracles of Jesus]] at a wedding. See [[Marriage at Cana]] ({{bibleref|John|2:1–11}}).
Christian marriage is seen by Paul ([[Ephesians]] chapter 5) as paralleling the relationship between Christ and the [[Church]], a [[theology|theological view]] which is a development of the [[Old Testament]] view that saw a parallel between marriage and the relationship between God and [[Israel]] ({{bibleref2|Ephesians|5:21–33|NIV}}; also {{bibleref2|Revelations|19:7}}).
[[Image:Marten de Vos Cana.jpg|thumb|left|''[[Marriage at Cana]]'' by [[Marten de Vos]], 1597. ([[Antwerp Cathedral]]).]]
Marriage, especially marriage between believers, is often analogized to a picture of the Trinity.<ref name="oneness">[http://www.christian-oneness.org/chapter7.htm God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit: the Trinity<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Though a woman and a man are separate individuals, in Christian marriage they become joined by God as one flesh in a manner analogous to Adam and Eve, who were distinct persons though literally created from the same flesh ({{bibleref|Genesis|2:23-25|NIV}}, {{bibleref|Matthew|19:4-6|NIV}}, {{bibleref|Mark|10:7-9|NIV}}, {{bibleverse|1|Corinthians|6:16|NIV}}, {{bibleref|Ephesians|5:30-32|NIV}}) The relationships — (a) in the Trinity, (b) between husband and wife, and (c) between Christ and individual believers — are analogous to each other. Each of these relationships points to the unity of individual believers and the Church with Christ and with the Father. Christian marriage is portrayed as the epitome of ''mutuality''. Neither spouse owns her or his own body; that body belongs to the other spouse, and to them both jointly<ref name="oneness" /> ({{bibleverse|1|Corinthians|7:4|NIV}}).
All major Christian groups take marriage to be normal and proper, to be "held in honor among all" ({{bibleref|Hebrews|13:4}}). Biblically, weddings are described as times of joy. In {{bibleref2|1Tim|4||1 Timothy, chapter 4}}, St. Paul talks of heretics who, among other things, "forbid marriage" and he describes their views as "doctrines of demons." [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholicism]] and [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodoxy]] traditionally see an even greater value in [[celibacy]] when that celibacy is undertaken for the sake of a more single-minded devotion to God, but believe that not everyone has this calling from God and acknowledge marriage is preferred by most people. This belief comes from Paul's first letter to the church at Corinth in chapter 7, which he sums up in verses 8 and 9 as:
<blockquote style="background-color: #eee">Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion ({{bibleverse|1|Corinthians|7:8–9|NIV}}).</blockquote>
[[Image:Christian-Marriage-Symbol.jpg|thumb|150x|Sometimes used as a [[symbol]] for Christian marriage: Two gold wedding rings interlinked with the Greek letters ''[[Chi (letter)|chi]]'' (X) and ''[[Rho (letter)|rho]]'' (P)—the first two letters in the Greek word for "Christ" (see [[Labarum]])]]
== View of Roman Catholic Church ==
{{main|Catholic marriage}}
[[Image:Ejdzej and Iric wedding communion-03.jpg|thumb|left|Roman Catholic couple receiving [[Holy Communion]] at their wedding.]]
In [[Roman Catholicism]], the Church teaches that marriage is God's doing: "God himself is the author of marriage," which is his way of showing love for those he created. Because a marriage is a divine institution it can never be broken, even if the partners are legally divorced: as long as they are both alive, the Church considers them bound together by God.<ref name="bbc.co.uk">"Marriage in the Catholic Church." Religion and Ethics – Christianity. bbc.co.uk http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/ritesrituals/weddings_2.shtml</ref>
Marriage is intended to be a faithful, exclusive, lifelong union of a man and a woman joined in an intimate community of life and love. They commit themselves completely to each other and to the responsibility of bringing children into the world and caring for them. The call to marriage is considered to be woven deeply into the human spirit. Man and woman are equal. However, as created, they are different from, but made for, each other. This complementarity, including sexual difference, draws them together in a mutually loving union that should be always open to the procreation of children.<ref>[[Catechism of the Catholic Church]] [CCC], nos. 1602-1605)</ref>
In God's plan for marriage, holy matrimony is considered an intimate union in which the spouses give themselves, as equal persons, completely and lovingly to one another. The Roman Catholic Church teaches that marriage is both a natural institution and a sacred union because it is rooted in the divine plan for creation. The valid marriage of baptized Christians is one of the seven [[Roman Catholic sacraments]] — a saving reality.
Marriage is seen as a public sign in at least two ways:
* It is a public sign that a husband and a wife each gives oneself totally to each other.
* It is also a public statement about God: the loving union of husband and wife speaks of family values and also God's values.
According to the Church's Catechism, "the spouses as ministers of Christ's grace mutually confer upon each other the sacrament of Matrimony by expressing their consent before the Church."<ref>[[Catechism of the Catholic Church]], no. 1623</ref>
In opposing making same-sex unions equal to marriage, the Catholic Church views marriage as originating from God, though it is regulated by civil laws and church laws. Therefore, its stance is that neither church nor state can alter the basic meaning and structure of marriage. Husband and wife give themselves totally to each other in their masculinity and femininity.<ref>[[Catechism of the Catholic Church]], no. 1643</ref><ref>http://"The U.S. Bishops' ''Between Man and Woman" ''www.americancatholic.org/Newsletters/CU/ac0304.asp</ref>
''Catholics are encouraged to marry other Catholics'' in order to attain a "perfect union of mind and full communion of life," but it is also the [[priest]]'s duty to remember that marriage is part of God's natural law and to support the couple if they do choose to marry. In spite of ideal of Catholics marrying Catholics, the reality is that today it is common for Catholics to enter into a ''mixed marriage'' (a marriage between a Catholic and a baptized non-Catholic). Couples entering into a mixed marriage are usually allowed to marry in a Catholic church provided they have embraced the following principles:
* They have chosen to marry of their own accord with no external pressure
* They intend to remain together for life
* They intend to be faithful to each other
* They intend to have children if the bride is of childbearing age
When one member of the couple is not a Catholic, a [[dispensation]] is required for a mixed marriage to take place. This is normally granted by the priest who is conducting the marriage.
If one of the partners is not baptized (they belong to a non-Christian religion, or to none) a dispensation for ''disparity of the cult'' is required. This must be granted by the [[bishop]]. It is usually a straightforward matter as long as the dispensation is applied for in time. The priest will usually take care of the paperwork.<ref name="bbc.co.uk" />
Before a marriage takes place, a couple must spend time with the priest to talk about the sanctity of marriage and their role within the church in preparation for their life together. Questions concerning family and children, money issues, lifestyle choices and religion will be asked.
These marriage preparations are known as pre-Cana. It is an educational and maturing process for married life. Pre-Cana can take place over six months or an intensive weekend course and is mandatory for Catholics wishing to get married.
While a couple is engaged but not yet married, they are expected to refrain from sexual activity: "They should reserve for marriage the expressions of affection that belong to married love." This is because the Church teaches that sex is part of the procreation process and should only happen within the right framework, which is marriage.<ref name="bbc.co.uk" />
== View of the Eastern Orthodox Church ==
[[Image:Wedding ring Louvre AC924.jpg|left|thumb|Byzantine wedding ring, depicting Christ uniting the bride and groom, 7th century, [[niello]]ed gold ([[Louvre|Musée du Louvre]]).]]
[[Image:Pukirev ner brak.jpg|thumb|left|Orthodox betrothal depicted by [[Vasily Vladimirovich Pukirev]], 1832.]]
[[Image:RepinIE VenchNikolayaII GRM.jpg|thumb|''The Wedding of [[Nicholas II]] and [[Grand Duchess]] [[Alexandra Fyodorovna (Alix of Hesse)|Alexandra Feodorovna]]'', by [[Ilya Yefimovich Repin]], 1894 ([[Russian State Museum]], [[St. Petersburg]]).]]
In [[Eastern Orthodoxy]], marriage is treated as a [[Sacred Mystery]] (sacrament), and as an [[ordination]]. And, like all ordinations, it is considered to be a [[martyrdom]], as each spouse learns to die to him- or herself for the sake of the other. Like all Mysteries, Orthodox marriage is more than just a celebration of something which already exists: it is the creation of something new, the imparting to the couple of the [[grace]] which transforms them from a 'couple' into husband and wife within the [[Body of Christ]].<ref name="Grabbe"/> In addition, marriage is an [[icon]] (image) of the relationship between Jesus and the Church. This is somewhat akin to the Old Testament [[prophet]]s' use of marriage as an analogy to describe the relationship between God and Israel. Marriage is simplest, most basic unity of the church: a [[Wiktionary:congregation|congregation]] where "two or three are gathered together in [Jesus'] name" ({{bibleverse||Matthew|18:20|KJV}}).<ref name="Grabbe"/> The home is considered a consecrated space (the ritual for the Blessing of a House is based upon that of the Consecration of a Church), and the husband and wife are considered the [[Minister (Christianity)|minister]]s of that congregation. However, the do not "perform" the Sacraments in the [[house church]], they "live" the Sacrament of Marriage. Because marriage is considered to be a [[pilgrimage]] wherein the couple walk side by side toward the [[Kingdom of Heaven]], marriage to a non-Orthodox partner is discouraged, though it may be permitted.
Unlike Western Christianity, Eastern Orthodox Churches do not consider the sacramental aspect of the marriage to be conferred by the couple themselves. Rather, the marriage is conferred by the action of the [[Holy Spirit]] acting through the priest. Furthermore (and again, unlike in the West), no one besides a bishop or priest—not even a [[deacon]]—may perform the Sacred Mystery.
The external sign of the marriage is not the exchange of [[wedding rings|rings]] (which takes place at the [[Slavery|betrothal]], not at the marriage); rather, it is the placing of wedding [[crown]]s upon the heads of the couple, and their sharing in a "Common Cup" of wine. For this reason, the Orthodox name for the Rite of Marriage is "Crowning". Among the [[Greek Orthodox Church|Greeks]], the crowns will often be white [[garland]]s, either of flowers or made of [[mother-of-pearl]]; among the [[Russian Orthodox Church|Russians]] the crowns will usually be of gold, in the form of a closed Crown Imperial, with an [[icon]] of Christ on the groom's crown and the [[Theotokos]] ([[Virgin Mary]]) on the bride's crown. These crowns may be joined together by a ribbon. Once crowned, the couple, led by the officiating cleric and followed by their best man or woman, walk a circle three times in a ceremonial "dance" in the middle of the church, while the choir intones the joyous three-part antiphonal hymn "Dance, [[Isaiah]]":
<blockquote style="background-color: #eee">
:Dance, [[Isaiah]], for the Virgin had in womb,''</br>
:and bore a Son, [[Immanuel#In_the_Nativity_of_Jesus|Emmanuel]], God and Man,''</br>
:whose name signifies the coming of the light,''</br>
:and Whom we glorify, as we praise the Virgin.'' </br>
:''Saints and martyrs, who bravely<br?>
:''witnessed and were crowned,''</Br>
:''intercede to the Lord </br>
:''to have mercy on our souls.</br>
:Glory to Thee, O Christ our God'',</br>
:boast of the [[Apostles]], <br?>
:delight of the martyrs'',</br>
:who preach the cosubstantial [[Trinity]]''.</br>
</blockquote>
The sharing of the Common Cup is reminiscent of Christ's first [[miracle]] at the [[Wedding at Cana]] of [[Galilee]] ({{bibleref|John|2:1–11}}), and symbolizes the transformation of their union from a common marriage, as the world knows it, into a sacred union. The wedding is usually performed after the [[Divine Liturgy]], at which the couple will have received [[Holy Communion]]. Like all Sacred Mysteries, the bride and the groom must go to [[Confession]] before receiving it. Traditionally, the wedding couple would wear their wedding crowns for eight days, and there is a special prayer said by the priest at the removal of the crowns. Currently, this prayer is often said at the end of the wedding ceremony.
Divorce is discouraged, but sometimes out of ''[[economia]]'' (mercy) a marriage may be dissolved if there is no hope whatever for a marriage to fulfill even a semblance of its intended sacramental character.<ref name="Grabbe"/> A lay member may remarry, if they obtain the blessing of their bishop to do so. However, in such a case, a different ceremony, the Rite of Second Marriage, which is less joyful and more penitential, sober and somber is used. This rite is also much shorter than the full Crowning—and in fact, no crowns are used. A third marriage is very much discouraged. This form is used only when both members of the wedding couple have been previously married, so as not to punish the innocent one.<ref name="Hapgood">{{Citation
| last =Hapgoood
| first =Isabel F.
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| year =1922
| publication-date=1975
| title =Service Book of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic Church
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| edition=2nd
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| pages =291-305, 604-605
| place =Englewood, N.J.
| publisher =Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese
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</ref> The standard formula used to explain the above is that the Orthodox Church joyfully blesses the first marriage, merely performs the second, barely tolerates the third, and invariably forbids the fourth.
[[Image:07Thessaloniki Agia Sophia09.jpg|thumb|left|Orthodox Church prepared for a wedding ([[Hagia Sophia (Thessaloniki)|Hagia Sophia]], [[Thessaloniki]].]]
[[Early church]] texts forbid marriage between an Orthodox Christian and a [[Heresy|heretic]] or [[schismatic]] (which would include all non-Orthodox Christians). Traditional Orthodox Christians forbid [[mixed marriage]]s with other denominations. More liberal ones perform them, provided that the couple formally commit themselves to rearing their children in the Orthodox faith.
In Eastern Orthodox theology, all people are called to celibacy—human beings are all born into [[virginity]], and Orthodox Christians are expected by [[Sacred Tradition]] to remain in that state unless they are called into marriage and that call is sanctified.<ref name="Grabbe">{{Citation
| last =Gregory (Grabbe)
| first =Bishop
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| year =1979
| publication-date=1986
| title =The Sacramental Life: An Orthodox Christian Perspective
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| edition=3rd
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| pages =49-53
| place =Liberty, Tenn.
| publisher =St. John of Kronstadt Press
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</ref> The church blesses two paths on the journey to salvation: [[monasticism]] and marriage. Mere celibacy, without the sanctification of monasticism can fall into selfishness, and tends to be regarded with disfavour by the Church.<ref name="Grabbe"/>
Those Orthodox priests who serve in [[parish]]es are usually married. They must marry prior to their ordination, and if their wife dies, they are forbidden to remarry (if they do, they may no longer serve as a priest). A married man may be ordained as a priest or deacon. However, a priest or deacon is not permitted to enter into matrimony after ordination, whether he has become divorced or widowed, or even if he had been single at the time of ordination. Bishops must always be monks, and are thus celibate.
Overall, there is a far less legislative approach regarding married life than in Roman Catholicism.
== Views of Protestant Christians ==
[[Image:William Hogarth 012.jpg|thumb|''The Wedding of Stephen Beckingham and Mary Cox'' by [[William Hogarth]], c. 1729 ([[Metropolitan Museum of Art]], [[New York City|N.Y.]]).]]
Almost all [[Protestant]] denominations hold marriage to be ordained by God for the union between a man and a woman. They see the primary purpose of this union to be to glorify God by demonstrating his love to the world. Other purposes of marriage include intimate companionship, rearing children and mutual support for both husband and wife to fulfill their life callings. Protestants generally approve of [[birth control]] and consider marital sexual pleasure to be a gift of God.
[[Conservative Christianity|Conservative]] [[Protestant]]s take a strict view of the nature of [[marriage]]. They consider marriage a solemn covenant between wife, husband and [[God]]. Most view sexual relations as appropriate only within a marriage. [[Divorce]] is permissible, if at all, only in very specific circumstances (i.e., sexual immorality, abandonment by the non-believer).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gotquestions.org/grounds-for-divorce.html|title=What are Biblical grounds for divorce?}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gotquestions.org/abuse-divorce.html|title=Is abuse an acceptable reason for divorce?}}</ref>
Since the 1970s, many in Protestant denominations and some other Christians have been debating whether equality of husband and wife or male headship is the biblically-ordained view. They have divided into basically two groups: [[Complementarianism|complementarian]]s (who call for male headship and other distinct gender roles) and the [[Christian Egalitarianism|Christian Egalitarian]]s (who call for full partnership equality and for couples to discover and negotiate roles and responsibilities in marriage).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ctlibrary.com/ct/2004/august/8.55.html |title=Editor's Bookshelf: Creating Husbands and Fathers |accessdate=2007–02–11 |last=Neff |first=David |date=2004–08–01 |work=Christianity Today }}</ref>
==== The Complementarian view ====
{{see also|Complementarianism|Christian views about women}}
The [[Complementarianism|Complementarian]] (also known as Traditionalist or Hierarchical) view of marriage maintains that gender-based roles and a husband-headship/wife-submission structure is biblically required in marriage. The term, ''complementarian,'' emphasizes equality at Creation, yet different compulsory roles in marriage. The husband and wife are of equal "worth" before God, since both are created in God's image, but not equal in "function" or responsibility. The husband has the God-given responsibility to provide for, to protect, and to lead ''his'' family. Wives are expected to respect their husbands' authority and submit to it.<ref name="BFM2000"> http://www.sbc.net/bfm/bfm2000.asp ''The 2000 Baptist Faith and Message,'' [[Southern Baptist Convention]], 2000 revision</ref> However, some Complementarian authors caution that a wife's submission should never cause her to "follow her husband into sin."<ref>Piper, John and Grudem, Wayne (eds.) ''[[Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood]]: A Response to Evangelical Feminism.'' Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1991, p. 57</ref>
The Complementarian view, as stated by several prominent evangelical leaders in what is called ''The Danvers Statement,''<ref name="Danvers/"> says the following about Christian marriage:
{{quotation|
* Husbands should forsake harsh or selfish leadership and grow in love and care for their wives.
* "Wives should forsake resistance to their husbands' authority and grow in willing, joyful submission to their husbands' leadership
| ''The Danvers Statement.''}}
Biblical authority cited by Danvers' authors is listed as {{bibleref2|Ephesians|5:21-33}}, {{bibleref2|Colossians|3:18-19}}, {{bibleref2|Titus|2:3-5}}, and {{bibleref2|1Pet|3:1-7||1 Peter 3:1-7}}.<ref name="Danvers">''The Danvers Statement.'' Prepared by several evangelical leaders at a Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW) meeting in Danvers, Massachusetts, December 1987. Online: http://www.cbmw.org/Resources/Articles/The-Danvers-Statement</ref>
A more detailed statement of the Complementarian view of marriage appears in Southern Baptist Convention's ''[[Baptist Faith and Message]] (2000)'':
{{quotation|The husband and wife are of equal worth before God, since both are created in God's image. The marriage relationship models the way God relates to his people. A husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. He has the God-given responsibility to provide for, to protect, and to lead his family. A wife is to submit herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband even as the church willingly submits to the headship of Christ. She, being in the image of God as is her husband and thus equal to him, has the God-given responsibility to respect her husband and to serve as his helper in managing the household and nurturing the next generation.|'''Article XVIII. The Family.''' [[Baptist Faith and Message]] 2000}}
Some strict complementarians allege their view of Scripture leads them to take a stance against women holding positions of authority in the religious, and sometime the political worlds.<ref name="BFM2000" />
==== The '''Egalitarian''' View ====
{{see also|Christian egalitarianism|Christian views about women}}
Those who believe that full partnership in marriage is the most biblical view, producing the most intimate, wholesome and mutually fulfilling marriages, hold that the Apostle Paul's statement recorded in {{Bibleref2|Galatians|3:28}} applies to all Christian relationships, including Christian marriage:
<blockquote class="toccolours" style="float: none; padding: 10px 15px 10px 15px; display: table;"> '''"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is ''neither male nor female'': for you are all ''one'' in Christ Jesus"''' ({{bibleref2|Galatians|3:28}}). '''Jesus, the Son of God, proclaimed, "So, they are no longer two, but one flesh."''' ({{bibleref2|Matthew|19:6}})</blockquote>
Both [[Complementarian]]s and [[Christian Egalitarianism|Christian Egalitarian]]s agree that the Apostle Paul wrote that the "husband is head" and "wives, submit," and that he was divinely inspired to write what he wrote. The difference is where they each end up by way of ''interpretation'' of pertinent Scriptures.
[[Complementarianism|Complementarian]]s understand "head" to mean "leader" and "authority figure," as the head of an organization like its president or chief executive officer. [[Christian Egalitarianism|Christian Egalitarian]]s consider this understanding to be contrary to the teachings and example of Jesus Christ. Therefore, they believe more attention needs to be given to discerning (1) what Paul actually ''meant'' when he penned those instructions, (2) to what extent his gender-based guidance was intended for an abusive first century culture in which women were considered disposable entities, chattel (property of husband) and permanently minors legally and to what extent he was prescribing a hierarchical relationship in which wives must be under husband authority for all people in all times.
Much has been written concerning the meaning of "head" in the [[New Testament]]. The word used for "head," transliterated from Greek, is ''kephalē'' — which means ''the anatomical head of a body.'' Today's English word "cephalic" (sə-făl'ĭk) means "Of or relating to the head; or located on, in, or near the head." In the New Testament, a thorough concordance search shows that the second most frequent use of "head" ''(kephalē)'', after "the structure that connects to our neck and sits atop our bodies," is the metaphorical sense of "source."
In Hebrew thought, perhaps greatly because of the law of primogeniture, which gave the first-born considerable rights and privileges over later born siblings, it was very important to determine who came first in birth order. Therefore, Paul and other rabbis pointed to the {{bibleref2|Genesis|2:22}} record, "the {{LORD}} God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man," making it clear that the male was the first-created (first "born") and therefore perpetually entitled to special rights and privileges under primogeniture. While it is benevolent to consider the husband's headship as meaning he is the ''source'' who works to ensure his wife's growth and development as a person, it still requires gender bias, implying that somehow he is uniquely (and better) qualified to provide growth and development to her, more than she would be to mutually provide those benefits to him. The wife's submission is seen in the context of Paul's injunction (in {{bibleref|Ephesians|5:21}}) for all Christians to submit to one another.
A straightforward reading of {{bibleref2|Matthew|20:25–26||Matthew 20:25–26a}}, {{bibleref2|Mark|10:42}}, and {{bibleref2|Luke|22:25}} may lead one to conclude that Jesus even ''forbids'' any hierarchy of relationships in Christian relationships: "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles ''lord it over'' them, and their high officials ''exercise authority'' over them. Not so with you!" While "lord it over" implies abusive leadership, his words "exercise authority" have no connotation of abuse of authority.'''
== Views of other Churches ==
[[Image:Phil and Marlene.jpg|thumb|left|175px|A [[Celestial Marriage]] must be performed in an [[Temple (Mormonism)|LDS temple]].]]
In [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] ("LDS Church"; see also [[Mormon]]), "[[Celestial Marriage]]" is a sacred [[covenant]] between a man, a woman and [[Godhead (Latter Day Saints)|God]] performed by a [[priesthood (Mormonism)|priesthood]] authority in the [[Temple (Mormonism)|temples]] of the Church. Eternal Marriage is legally recognized, but unlike other civil marriages, Eternal Marriage is intended to continue into the [[afterlife]] after the [[resurrection]] if the man and woman do not break their covenants. Eternally married couples are often referred to as being "[[Sealing (Latter Day Saints)|sealed]]" to each other. Sealed couples who keep their covenants are also promised to have their posterity sealed to them in the after life. Thus, the slogan of the LDS Church: "families are forever." The LDS Church encourages its members to be in good standing with it so that they may marry in the temple. "Cancellation of a sealing," sometimes incorrectly called a "temple divorce," is uncommon and is granted only by the highest authority in the Church. Civil divorce and marriage outside the temple is somewhat of a stigma in the [[Latter-day Saint]] culture although currently the Church itself directs its local leaders not to advise members about divorce one way or another.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem.b12f9d18fae655bb69095bd3e44916a0/?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=ec21b5658af22110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=1 |title=Mormon view of divorce }}</ref>
In the [[New Church]] (or [[Swedenborgianism]]), marriage is considered a sacred covenant between one man, one woman and the [[Lord]]. The doctrine of the New Church teaches that married love (sometime translated ''conjugal love'') is "the precious jewel of human life and the repository of the Christian religion" because the love shared between a husband and a wife is the source of all peace and joy.<ref>http://www.theheavenlydoctrines.org/static/d6295/457.htm see ''Married Love'' 457</ref> Marriage is also meant to be eternal and divorce is only allowable when the spiritual union is broken by adultery. When a husband and wife work together to become [[angels]] in [[heaven]], their marriage continues uninterrupted even after the death of their bodies, living together in heaven to eternity. [[Emanuel Swedenborg]] claimed to have spoken to [[angels]] who had been married for thousands of years. Those who are never married on earth will find a spouse in heaven. <!-- please insert other denominational views here -->
== See also ==
* [[Christian Egalitarianism]]
* [[Complementarianism]]
* [[Wedding|Religious aspects of marriage]] (for all religions).
== Footnotes ==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
* [http://www.marriagedivorce.com Analysis of historic, current and Biblical Christian views on Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage]
* [http://www.dsj.org/tribunal/annulment.htm Annulment Tribunal, Diocese of San Jose]
* [http://www.saveoursacrament.org/home.html Annulments, Information on Roman Catholic]
* [http://uk.geocities.com/ducatumevangelii@btinternet.com/Maryandjoseph1a.htm Bernard Orchard, Summary of ''The Betrothal and Marriage of Mary to Joseph'' and chronological chart]
* [http://www.catholic.net/rcc/Periodicals/Homiletic/2001–10/orchard.html Bernard Orchard, ''The Betrothal and Marriage of Mary to Joseph,'' Part 1]
* [http://www.catholic.net/rcc/Periodicals/Homiletic/2001–11/orchard.html Bernard Orchard, ''The Betrothal and Marriage of Mary to Joseph,'' Part 2]
* [http://www.marriagechristian.blogspot.com/ Biblical view of marriage — The Blood Covenant of Marriage]
* [http://www.sdnewsnotes.com/ed/articles/1998/0698tb.htm Catholic divorce]
* [http://www.familyland.org/ Catholic Familyland]
* [http://www.growthtrac.com Christian Marriage Resources]
* [http://www.nd.edu/~theo/research/jhy_2/writings/mardiv%26sex/oneflesh.htm Christian view of the meaning and permanence of marriage]
* [http://www.cbeinternational.org Christians for Biblical Equality]
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07695a.htm Divorce; Canonical Impediments]
* [http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/subject_index/subject-index-cat_divorce_en.html Divorce]
* [http://www.Divorce-Remarriage.com First Century Marriage Research] by Dr. Intone Brewer, Tyndale Biblical Library
* [http://foryourmarriage.org/ For Your Marriage - "Resources for living happily ever after"]
* [http://www.familydynamics.net/marriagefuture.htm Future of Marriage from a Christian Viewpoint]
* [http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/subject_index/subject-index-cat_marriage_en.html Marriage Catechism]
* [http://en.liturgy.ru/photo/x3.htm Photo: Orthodox Crowning (Marriage)] Russian Orthodox
* [http://www.josemariaescriva.info/index.php?id_cat=779&id_scat=766 Saint Josemaría on marriage]
* [http://www.socraticmethod.net/kyrios.htm "The Kyrios Dialogue" - The Socratic Method used on conservative Christian men for the issue of a husband's authority.]
* [http://stvladimirchurch.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album77&id=P1020009 Wedding Crowns] (Photo) Russian Orthodox
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[[Category:Christian viewpoints|Marriage]]
[[Category:Marriage and religion]]
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