One of the themes that ties the Bible – as well time and eternity – together is marriage. It is there in the Creation account in Genesis 2 at the beginning of time and there on the Last Day in the last chapters of Revelation at the “beginning” (for us) of eternity. St Paul links this theme to the two Testaments in Ephesians as he specifically refers to Genesis 2:
Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. Genesis 2:23-24
For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bone. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Ephesians 5:30-32
It is Paul’s ending comment that spins the Genesis account all around – he indicates that Genesis 2 is actually a prophecy that the “ultimate (or one true) marriage” is between Jesus and His Bride (the Church) – all other marriages are to simply reflect that supreme one.
It even changes “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper corresponding to him” [Genesis 2:18] as something also said about the Last Adam, Jesus [I Corinthians 15:45]. This statement has impact for the Marriage Feast of the Last Day [for example: Revelation 19:7; 21:9; Matthew 22:2-14; 25:1-13; Hosea 2:19-20]. From that point on, this “helper corresponding to him” will be the eternal relationship of Jesus with His Bride, of the Last Adam with His eternal Wife (who, as Eve did from Adam, also comes from Jesus’ side – in the Water and the Blood [John 19:34; I John 5:6-8], Baptism and Holy Communion). It is a relationship marked by God’s Love, enthusiasm, excitement, delight: “as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you” [Isaiah 62:5].
No, this is actually not about “sex.” The sexual act is but a diminished representation of the self-giving which Jesus does in Holy Communion, where He fully enters into His Church, to dwell within them, empowering them and giving them Life. It is a total self-giving, an eternal self-giving, to which the physical act of sex can only allude (although in its turn fulfilling the earthly need to pass on the precious gift of life in procreation).
Then in Genesis 1:27:
So God created man in His own Image; in the Image of God He created him; male and female He created them;
and 5:1-2:
This is the book of the genealogy of Adam. In the day that God created man, He made him in the Likeness of God. He created them male and female, and blessed them and called them Mankind in the day they were created;
there is deliberate emphasis linking the Image and Likeness of God to the human “male and female.” In Genesis 2, through the man, both humans now carry the breath of God [v 7], a distinction above all other animals. The genders therefore are not merely an accident, a chance product of evolution, nor a cultural accumulation of mere tradition. In the above passages the human genders are of great significance to God in how they reveal His Image to the world and even to the universe (all Creation) – there is a certain plan as to why they exist particularly in the human.
What is so special about the genders? The two separate creation accounts in Genesis 2 reveal a deliberate difference between “male and female” – a difference in gifts between them. Yet the distinctiveness is not so great so as to incapacitate one or the other gender when by itself. A parallel might be in regard to our eyes. Both of our eyes are fully and completely functional by themselves, in fact, people with only one eye can do almost everything a two-eyed person can do. Why then do we have two? Well, as any 3-D moviegoer will tell you, when both eyes are functioning properly together, a whole new dimension becomes available: depth.
How does one get to see the depth of God? His plan is in the interaction of the two genders. True, both are to show the Glory of God as defined in Exodus 33 and 34: goodness, Covenant relationship, grace, mercy, Steadfast Love, faithfulness, forgiveness, justice. But it is when each show these qualities from their created different perspectives that the depth and texture of God’s Glory is revealed, particularly to their children as well as to Creation.
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This cannot be done by two of the same gender. It has been emphasized in the past, that even in single parent homes, the children should have an opposite gender figure involved in their lives if they are to have a balanced concept of the human genders. It was God’s created plan from the beginning to have the basic family unit put together in this way, not only to have a healthy view of human beings, but also as the window which gives awareness of God Himself. The father’s and the mother’s examples together provide their child the beginnings of a picture – an Image and Likeness – of what God is like.
God has never rescinded nor accepted any distortion of His plan in favor of any other idea. He will not settle for homosexual relationships [Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Romans 1:26-27], nor any “unisex” or androgynous idea, because He disdains and condemns this abuse of His designed relationship between the genders. Common law or serial spouses cannot even suggest the Steadfast Love and faithfulness which has marked His relationship with humans throughout the centuries. Casual uniting of the sexes destroys the high honor in which He has invested the human.
He lets no one off the hook; He still requires that “male and female” parents of the basic family unit describe in real terms Who and What He is. Our fallen human nature treats the genders are merely tools to get what we want; or burdens that suppress the reality that lies within us; or mocks the opposite gender in regard to how obvious are its flaws. But the Creator calls on us to value and honor our own and the opposite gender for its unique expression of Him, revealing what is distinctive and essential about Him – because the genders are really about Him.
The task is difficult, even impossible. On one hand, we are only human – a more complete source is required, which God has provided in His diary of His heart and mind, the Bible, and then in the personal presence of His Son. On the other hand, as humans infected with the rebellion of sin, despite even the best of intentions, the sin leaks through and distorts the picture.
Parents often do a very inadequate job of representing the Image of God. Having blown such divine privilege and responsibility, why should they not simply be written off? Yet this is a very important opportunity to show something essential to their children which is needed throughout life: the wonderful asset of repentance and forgiveness. They demonstrate the tool by which the past is settled (not ignored), there is release from the burden of guilt, and they are gifted with a new life beginning always right now.
As well, there is the promise of Romans 8:28, “we know that for those who love God, He works all things together for good, for those who are called according to His revelation.* The God Who could make for those who repent a blessing come out of the worst possible sin, the murder of God on a cross, will do the same with each failure we can and will do in our lives – if we truly put it into His hands.
The issue is much larger than merely “God forbids,” rather it touches on a magnificent plan which He initiated at the creation of the human “male and female.” It deals not just with the short term relationship, but also the “forever” aspect of what we humans will be about in all eternity at the side of Jesus.
What about those who are caught up by the modern trend toward homosexuality? Well, we are sinners and they are sinners. Both of us can arrogantly reject what is the Lord’s will, or else “turn the mind around” (the Greek word for repentance, metanoia) and genuinely seek His plan for time and eternity. We are called on to dissent from the mood of the world and human nature, declaring where the true happiness and blessing is to be found. We have the responsibility to condemn sin, yet we are not authorized to damn the sinner. We can identify the result of the rebellion of sin, and yet we cannot reject one who struggles without also denouncing ourselves – because who among us does not struggle with and even lose to sin? We can stand against the abuse of God’s plan, yet at the same time offer hope, help and discipline to fellow sinners because of what we have come to enjoy at the hand of our faithful Savior. Ultimately this is what being the Image of God is to be about within the relationships in which God has placed us as His representatives.
There is more background to this argument to be found in related posts under the topic “Men and Women (Image of God),” and also in my book The Image of God – Male and Female He Created Them (self-published both in print and in ePub formats through Lulu.com, also available on Amazon and other retail sites).