http://www.salon.com/2015/09/16/17_biblical_rules_for_marriage_the_kim_davis_set_chooses_to_ignore/
17 biblical rules for marriage the Kim Davis set chooses to ignore
Evangelicals conveniently forget the Good Book encourages polygamy and
prohibits unions between Gentiles and Jews
VALERIE TARICO, ALTERNET
Some people believe that Kentucky—or even all of America—should be
subject to biblical law rather than constitutional law. They believe
public servants like celebrity clerk Kim Davis owe their highest
allegiance to the Bible, which means they shouldn’t be forced to give
out unbiblical marriage licenses—like to gay couples. The issue is
contested by a host of liberals, secularists, Satanists and moderate
Christians. But assuming that Bible believers and religious freedom
advocates carry the day, public servants will need to know their Good
Book. The following 15-item quiz can be used to screen applicants for
county clerk positions or as a guide for those already on the job.
If Kentucky issues only biblical marriage licenses, to which of the
following couples should a county clerk grant a license?
1. A man with a consenting woman, but without her father’s permission.
No. Numbers 30:1-16 teaches that a single woman’s father has final
authority over legal contracts she may enter.
2. A man, a nonconsenting woman, and her father. Yes. According to the
Law of Moses a female is male property, as are slaves, livestock and
children. (See Exodus 20:17, Exodus 21:7.) Her father can give her in
marriage or sell her to a slave master. Female consent in the Bible is
not a prerequisite for marriage or sex.
3. A married man and three other women. Yes. The Old Testament endorses
polygamy, and the New Testament does not reverse this—except for church
elders (1 Timothy 3:2). (See Biblicalpolygamy.com)
4. A childless widow and her husband’s reluctant brother. Yes. Genesis
38:8-10 makes it clear that a man has a responsibility to seed children
for his deceased brother. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus doesn’t alter
the tradition but does say it will no longer apply in heaven. (Matthew
22:24-28)
5. Two men. No. Leviticus is clear. Two men having sex is an
abomination, just like eating shellfish, getting tattoos, shaving your
beard, or wearing blend fabrics. (Leviticus 18:22, 20:13, 11:9-12,
19:28, 19:27)
6. Two women. No, not even with their fathers’ permission. Paul’s
epistle to the Romans (1:26) makes it clear that this is degrading and
unnatural.
7. A Christian and a Hindu. No. The Apostle Paul calls this being
unequally yoked (2 Corinthians 6:14). If the applicants balk at your
refusal, you might respond gently with Paul’s own words: “What
fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion
has light with darkness?”
8. A soldier and a virgin prisoner of war. Yes, but you should provide
written instructions on the purification ritual required before bedding
her. The soldier must shave her head and trim her nails and give her a
month to mourn her parents before the first sex act. Also, remind him
that if she fails to “delight,” he must set her free rather than selling
her. (Deuteronomy 21:10-14)
9. A rapist and his victim. Yes, with qualifiers. The woman’s consent is
not an issue, but her father should be present as he is owed 50 shekels
(approximately $580) for the damage to his daughter. Also, the contract
should have an addendum stating clearly that no divorce will be allowed.
The rapist must keep her for life since, obviously, no one else will
want the damaged goods. (Deuteronomy 22:28-29)
10. A man and his wife’s indentured/undocumented servant. Yes, although
you might remind the man that in this case a marriage license is not a
prerequisite for sex, since community property laws apply. However,
should God bless this union with babies, any offspring will belong to
the man and his wife, not the indentured woman. (Genesis 30:1-22)
11. A man and his mother, sister, half-sister, mother-in-law,
grandchild, or uncle’s wife. Probably not. Although God’s law is
timeless and unchanging, He does seem to shift on this one. In the book
of Genesis, God rewards marriages between siblings—for example, the
patriarch Abraham and his half-sister Sarah. But later texts
specifically prohibit a variety of incestuous relationships (e.g. Lev.
18:7-8; Lev. 18:10; Lev. 20:11; Deut. 22:30; Deut. 27:20; Deut. 27:23).
12. A black woman and a white man, or vice versa. Absolutely not.
Scripture is full of verses prohibiting interracial marriage (Gen. 28:6;
Exod. 34:15-16; Num. 25:6-11; Deut. 7:1-3; Josh. 23:12-13; Judges 3:5-8;
1 Kings 11:1-2; Ezra 9:1-2, 12; Ezra 10:2-3, 10-11; Neh. 10:30; Neh.
13:25-27).
13. A gentile and a Jew. No. If the Jew should appeal to the
Anti-Defamation League, remind them of how dangerous such a union could
be: “Thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter
shalt thou take unto thy son. For they will turn away thy son from
following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the
LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.” (Deuteronomy 7:3-4)
14. A man and a pregnant woman who claims to be a virgin.Yes. You may
feel personal misgivings about a marriage that is based in deception
from the get-go, but judge not that ye be not judged. One in 200
American women who give birth say they have never had sex. Rather than
plaguing this young couple with your corrosive doubt, you can encourage
them with the biblical virgin birth story, while taking care to avoid
any sex-negative implications that might harm their marriage.
15. A man and a goat. Don’t be ridiculous. Can a goat sign a marriage
license?
16. A man and a sex-trafficked teen he bought from a gangster. Yes, but
not until Kentucky legalizes sex trafficking. Sexual slavery is quite
common in the Bible, well regulated (Exodus 28:8), and frequently
sanctioned or blessed by God. However, the New Testament teaches that we
should pay our taxes and be law-abiding, even under a secular/pagan
government. (Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13-17)
17. Two zombies. Only if they are not Christians. Jesus states clearly
that there will be no marriage for Christians in the afterlife (Matthew
22:24-28). Otherwise, marriage between the undead is not addressed in
the Bible, and you should default to whatever the Supreme Court may have
ruled on this matter.
Note: Some liberal Christian license seekers may complain to you or your
supervisor that these guidelines come mostly from the Old Testament,
which has been replaced by a New Covenant under Jesus. Ask them if the
Old Testament is still part of their Bible. Remind them that the Ten
Commandments are in the Old Testament—all three versions. Lastly, quote
the words of Jesus:
Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not
come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and
earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the
Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of
these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called
least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he
shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5: 17-19).
Stand firm. If the Bible is the perfect Word of the living God, your
detractors are up against the Almighty himself. And, as the spiritual
warfare hymn reminds us, the hordes of (liberal, gay, atheist, feminist)
darkness cannot quench your light.