One misconception many people have, both inside and outside the church is that the primary purpose of marriage is the propagation of the human race. God's Constitution indicates otherwise. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” The Lord God issued the charge to Adam to "be fruitful and multiply" and although He defined marriage as the parameters in which reproduction should take place, procreation isn't the primary purpose of marriage, believe it or not.
God's command had to do with creation and subduing the created order. God created man--male and female--and He expected them to procreate and fill the earth with His presence through other human beings, all of whom would rule over the created order as His managers. Marriage was essentially a companionship covenant, the relationship structure through which men and women--husbands and wives--would join and become one flesh and together rule the earthly dominion the Lord God had given them. Procreation is a function of marriage, but definitely not the only functions or the main function.
As contemporary society plainly has shown, marriage is not necessary for procreation. This is why we see so many unwanted children, and crime running rampant in our society. Unmarried men and women have no trouble at all making babies and then abandoning them "on the doorstep" or even worse. In many parts of the world, the number of out-of-wedlock births exceeds the number of babies born to married couples.
Contrary to the common idea that marriage is mainly about making babies or just in enjoying sex, marriage actually serves as a deterrent to rampant reproduction. There are at least two reasons for this. One: The law and principles of the Lord God. Two: Married couples who take their responsibilities seriously are careful not to conceive and give birth to more children than they can adequately love and care for. The Kingdom's ambassador had some strong words on this subject: But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. We should plan carefully about family planning. And know this: abortion is not "family planning" nor is it "health care". Abortion is the termination of life and the premeditated destruction of potential.
Genesis 1:28 I Timothy 5:8
~~W.R. Luchie
God's command had to do with creation and subduing the created order. God created man--male and female--and He expected them to procreate and fill the earth with His presence through other human beings, all of whom would rule over the created order as His managers. Marriage was essentially a companionship covenant, the relationship structure through which men and women--husbands and wives--would join and become one flesh and together rule the earthly dominion the Lord God had given them. Procreation is a function of marriage, but definitely not the only functions or the main function.
As contemporary society plainly has shown, marriage is not necessary for procreation. This is why we see so many unwanted children, and crime running rampant in our society. Unmarried men and women have no trouble at all making babies and then abandoning them "on the doorstep" or even worse. In many parts of the world, the number of out-of-wedlock births exceeds the number of babies born to married couples.
Contrary to the common idea that marriage is mainly about making babies or just in enjoying sex, marriage actually serves as a deterrent to rampant reproduction. There are at least two reasons for this. One: The law and principles of the Lord God. Two: Married couples who take their responsibilities seriously are careful not to conceive and give birth to more children than they can adequately love and care for. The Kingdom's ambassador had some strong words on this subject: But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. We should plan carefully about family planning. And know this: abortion is not "family planning" nor is it "health care". Abortion is the termination of life and the premeditated destruction of potential.
Genesis 1:28 I Timothy 5:8
~~W.R. Luchie
