What the Bible says about marriage is this: God designed it for one man and one woman, to serve His creation, and to provide a living portrait of His redemptive love. Forget the so-called “clobber passages.” Rationalize away Paul’s words if you can. There is no way around the theology of sex, marriage and salvation that runs straight through from Genesis to Revelation. But there remains a choice. Like the Pharisees of Jesus day, one may know what the Bible teaches and choose a different path.

A new book by Matthew Vines claims that Christians ought to affirm same-sex love. The arguments are not new, and have been thoroughly refuted. Still, the youthfulness of the author and his profession of Christian faith are a twist, and at a time when the Church is wrestling with the prevalence of same-sex marriage it is necessary to refute them again and again.

The book illustrates two lies: one general, the other more personal.

The general lie is that there is legitimate debate about the Bible’s teaching on sexuality. There isn’t. Despite the obviousness of the Bible’s claims, a small sector has succeeded in convincing many that it’s debatable-like dancing or card playing-so we had better not divide over it. No doubt Satan is pleased with such ambivalence, though proponents of it may not be pleased with their reward.

Then there is the lie the author tells himself. Like Eve, he wonders “Did God really say?” The temptation to believe that the desires of flesh come from God, and are therefore acceptable, overcomes him. Like Eve, Vines chooses sin, and is trying to cover himself in a dust-jacket. But God is not fooled, and neither are we. We have His Word.

After creating the planets, oceans, plants, birds and animals God saw that it was good. In the grand finale, God created male and female. He made them “in his own image” and gave them authority to steward everything else. Reviewing his work, he declares it very good. (Genesis 1)

Chapter 2 of the story provides some additional details. God made Adam first, and when it became evident that “it is not good for man to be alone” He created a partner. So the Bible begins with a garden wedding: man and the woman he needed. “This is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24)

Fast-forward four-thousand years. The Pharisees, the religious leaders of the time, are not happy with a popular young teacher from Nazareth. In one of their many attempts to trip him up they ask about marriage. “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”

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