Regarding Biblical Marriage

I worry that too many Christians simply rely on the politicians to interpret the Bible for them. (What does an “Obama theology” or a “Santorum theology” look like?) As we careen toward some cultural decisions regarding marriage, and some groups are arguing for laws and constitutions that uphold a “Biblical” view of marriage, it might just help to take a step back and see what the Bible actually says about marriage. For example, did you know that in “the Biblical view of marriage:”

• A man can have many wives, but wives can have only one husband.
• A man can have a wife or many wives, and as many concubines as he can muster. (Solomon had 300.)
• A woman’s slaves become the property of her husband.
• Husbands can divorce their wives but the reverse is not true.
• A wife who’s not proven to be a virgin on her wedding day can be stoned to death.
• A female rape victim must marry her rapist.
• Marriages are arranged by young people’s parents.
• Wives are seized in battle as the spoils of war
• Men must marry their brother’s wives if their brother dies.
• Slave owners assign spouses for their slaves.
• Paul says we should not marry at all.

It makes me wonder if those who are arguing to uphold “the Biblical view” of marriage have actually read their Bibles at all. And if the Bible’s views of marriage are actually diverse and culturally normed, then shouldn’t our own cultural norms tolerate a diversity of positions also? Perhaps a better question for our time is not a legal question about, “Who should be allowed to marry?” but rather the spiritual question, “What would a good and healthy and holy marriage relationship look like?”