The story of the garden of Eden is full of majestic images and typology. Yet, as majestic as this paradise is, we must fight the fleshly conclusion of nature; we must understand the glory in the history of paradise.
Beauty is often a concept in the humanities and metaphysics. But our creation was a different dispensation. Our God did not stop at an intelligent design but rather, created a virtuous world as well. Scientists came up with a concept known as the anthropic principle. The universe was specially arranged to have allowed life.
“Paradise” is a Persian term meaning “garden.” In the garden, you have every food you need. In eastern culture, there is a lot of worship of the garden.
But God is not simply a principle; no, He is personal (really, Three Persons, but let's not get ahead of ourselves). God created the first man, Adam, sinless. Even after the Fall, Adam lived about 930 years. Ancient civilizations tell their myths of a golden age; yet even in Paradise, Adam was not fulfilled in solitude. So God created Eve, not from the dirt like Adam, but from Adam's rib.
Adam gave up a piece of himself to Eve just as a husband gives up a piece of himself to his wife in a relational context.
The first marriage lasted many centuries, and some scholars have claimed that it would have produced up to 50 descendants. While this may seem fantastic to some, evidence of this exists in mitochondrial DNA, in mathematical studies in birthrates, and in the age of world history.
Nevertheless, marriage is the original institution for mankind. That fact is undisputed. From marriage, we have the family. From families, we have tribes (and nations and eventually empires). Also, amidst this, we would have religion.
The American experiment broke with what is known as the Old World Order. It cut the fat of the kingdoms, royalty, and empires. But this accomplishment was only possible with the remaining institution of the family. Even the institution of organized religion was ultimately still reliant upon the family.
The institution of marriage therefore is not simply some method of self-fulfillment. Instead, it is the bond of all society. Even independent people need the bonds of family, or the independent will die of isolation. The Judeo-Christian culture admits the Biblical position of marriage, as Jesus taught.
2. And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, “Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife?” tempting him.
3. And He answered and said unto them, “What did Moses command you?”
4. And they said, “Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.”
5. And Jesus answered and said unto them, “For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.
6. But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.
7. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;
8. And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.
9. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder”
– Mark 10:2-9
Marriage is monogamous (one man with one woman), for a permanent lifelong commitment. That safeguards procreation. The father handles the external affairs of life for the family, and the mother handles the internal affairs of life in the home. (I’ll admit every home and family is different, however; and there are plenty of places to bend and stretch.) If we want a prosperous life and culture, monogamous marriage must be the rule—not just an exception.
The government should respect marriage, family, and the home. The government never created the family (but vice-versa).
The government has been tinkering with the nature of the home to become the masters instead of servants. The no-fault divorce laws, family courts, gay marriage, sexual education courses, and the LGBTQ movement have damaged the family.
Ultimately, the attack on the family is the attack on freedom. The attack on the family causes crime, hurts the economy, and limits freedom. The marriage bed must be undefiled in our personal life (and just as much in our public policy).