Defending traditional marriage

I defend traditional marriage because I believe no other institution is capable of reproducing the same results that a proper traditional marriage can. Over the years however, we have watered down the purpose and meaning of a traditional marriage to the point where most people now believe marriage is simply about being with someone you love and who you want to have sex with; or even worse an institution designed for a tax break and dual incomes. Defenders of traditional marriage have become cornered into this as their definition, which makes it nearly impossible for a state to justify why they ban same sex marriage.

Properly defining marriage is critical if we are to save and protect it from being watered down to the point where it's indistinguishable from any other union of love. Same sex marriages by their very nature can never be equal to traditional marriage and it's paramount to the debate to ensure this concept is being taught properly and adequately.

Let me start off by saying what marriage is not. Marriage is not simply about sex with someone you love. Sex can be had with or without marriage. Marriage is also not simply about being with someone you love. In fact I would go as far to say marriage is more about loving who you are with than it is about being with who you love.

Marriage is a divine institution created for the betterment of mankind. A proper marriage creates a learning environment unlike anything else, and can lead to greater individual growth that is beyond the measure of growth obtained through any other means. If marriage is simply about being with who you love - then once you stop loving that person, or start loving someone else more it would be reasonable to divorce and start new. Sadly this happens all too often because of the warped definition of marriage we as a society have. Sacrifice and selflessness is at the center of marriage. Putting aside your basic human desires, working towards a greater good, and working on personal and family development is what marriage was intended for. It's about taking two things that are opposites in many regards finding a way to coexist and compromise.

The world has corrupted and twisted the definition of marriage into a union designed primarily for the purpose of indulging our base human desires. Such a marriage, even when between people of the opposite sex, is incapable of providing the personal growth a traditional marriage was intended to provide.

There is so much divorce and domestic violence in today's world because people marry to indulging their natural carnal desires. They see marriage as a means to an end. A tax break, increased (dual) incomes, or a means to sexual gratification. When the union no longer provides these selfish gratifications, or if their natural desires changes, they abandon the marriage with complete disregard for anyone hurt in the process, because to them the marriage was always about selfishness and indulgence.  They divorce for the same reasons they got married - self indulgence.

Same sex marriages can never be equal to a divinely designed marriage because same sex marriages are by their very nature about self indulgence and self gratification. They start off by saying I know better than God and I'm going to do it my way instead of his. They've come to this conclusion, in great part, because of the warped reasonings the rest of America has for marriage in the first place. They look at what marriage has become in today's society and see everyone else getting tax breaks and doctor visits for the people they love and conclude they deserve the same thing - and justifiably so. If marriage is nothing more than tax breaks, doctor visits, and sex than there is no reason to oppose same sex unions.

Only a marriage where selfless sacrifice and the setting aside of our base natural desires is present, a marriage where raising a family unto God out weighs all other concerns, a marriage where sex is recognized and treated as a sacred gift bestowed upon us from the God of this universe so that we might obtain a small glimpse into his power and the majesty of his creations, only this type of marriage is capable of providing the personal development and growth God intended for us to achieve. A depth of growth that lasts not only throughout our lives, but resonates in the generations to come.

Any other type of union, whether it be a starter marriages, political arrangement, marriage for tax breaks or government benefits, and especially a marriage where sex and self indulgence is at the heart of it are not the same, and by their very nature never can be. This type of marriage only leads to greater self indulgence. Lead our hearts farther from God and his plan of happiness. And instills in future generations a selfish self serving attitude likely to corrupt and destroy their very soul.

I love my friends and relatives who struggle with same sex attraction, as well as those who struggle with any other sexual indulgence and to them and everyone else I say trust in God's plan. There is a reason he has established marriage between a husband and a wife. I promise you can achieve greater happiness by following his plan than your own. As the years pass and this mortal body loses these passions and appetites  We all have inclinations and desires which conflict with God's plan and it's only by denying ourselves these pleasures that we obtain the self control, depths of love and understanding, and lasting happiness our Lord and Savior has in store for us. Sexual indulgence of any kind out side of the bounds which the Lord has set will not lead to happiness - it cannot, because they are by nature opposed to selfishness and self control.