Noah Webster's definition of marriage

Noah Webster's definition of marriage

In Noah Webster's original dictionary (1828) marriage is defined as follows:  

"The act of uniting a man and woman for life; wedlock; the legal union of a man and woman for life.  Marriage is a contract both civil and religious, by which the parties engage to live together in mutual affection and fidelity, till death shall separate them.  Marriage was instituted by God Himself for the purpose of preventing the promiscuous intercourse of the sexes, for promoting domestic felicity, and for securing the maintenance and education of children."

Here is a link for further reading about Noah Webster, with some great quotes and other related definitions.
An Example of How Scholars of the Past Were Often Bible Believing Men


Here is how a modern dictionary are defining marriage:

Merriam-Webster's definition of marriage

"The state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law (2) :  the state of being united to a person of the same sex in a relationship like that of a traditional marriage <same-sex marriage>

b :  the mutual relation of married persons :  wedlock

c :  the institution whereby individuals are joined in a marriage

2

:  an act of marrying or the rite by which the married status is effected; especially :  the wedding ceremony and attendant festivities or formalities

3

:  an intimate or close union <the marriage of painting and poetry — J. T. Shawcross>."

We can redefine marriage in the dictionary, and laws can change to make it legal, but what must be considered is that marriage is an institution that was created at the establishment of the sexes.  As soon as woman was made and presented to man, they were united in holy matrimony by God Himself. He is the one who instituted marriage before there were any laws established, other than natural laws. He created and designed the opposite sexes to compliment each other, both physically and spiritually.

There is a slippery slope that occurs when we attempt to change God's way of doing things for His created world.  This is an article that came out recently in response to the U.S. Government's redefinition of marriage:

By Heather Clark
Christian News Network

HELENA, Mont. — A polygamist in Montana is seeking to obtain a “marriage” license for a second “wife” following last Friday’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling declaring that all 50 states must legalize same-sex nuptials because of the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.

“It’s about marriage equality,” Nathan Collier, 46, told The Associated Press this week. “You can’t have this without polygamy.”

Collier went to the Yellowstone County Courthouse on Tuesday with his partner Christine to seek a second marriage license as he stated that if the Supreme Court really believes in equality, then he should have the right to marry as he wishes as well. He cited language from dissenting Chief Justice John Roberts, who stated that the “gay marriage” ruling “would apply with equal force to the claim of a fundamental right to plural marriage.”

“[The majority ruling] offers no reason at all why the two-person element of the core definition of marriage may be preserved while the man-woman element may not,” Roberts wrote. “Indeed, from the standpoint of history and tradition, a leap from opposite-sex marriage to same-sex marriage is much greater than one from a two-person union to plural unions, which have deep roots in some cultures around the world.” Click here to continue reading. 

Where will this end?  What other group will come forward and cry "Discrimination!"?  A marriage is not only a civil union, but a religious, sacred union as well.  It is a slippery slope when governments step over the line into religion and try to establish moral law, a duty that belongs to God alone.  Our government was founded upon those moral laws established by God as a basis, a foundation for everything else that was written.  It was something simply understood by the general public, whether Christian or nonChristian.  It was the glue that held our society together, and because America was "good", it became "great."

Whatever your view, the simple truth is that we are all sinners.  We are all in the same boat.  We are in need of a Saviour to save us from all of our sins.  Whether the sins you struggle with are primarily fornication, or alcoholism or other addictions, gluttony, lying, cheating, uncontrolled anger, selfishness, theft, jealousy, greed, murder, laziness, rebellion, whatever it may be, there is hope.  There is life.  There is salvation for your lost soul.  Even if you think you have no sin, you were born in sin, so you are still facing the same destination and the same struggles as the rest of us.

Satan loves to take good things, godly things, and pervert them.  Think about it - men are supposed to hang out with men!  In the "olden days", men would go out hunting and fishing together, building barns together, plowing fields together, hanging out.  Women would cook and clean together, sit on the front porches and quilt together while they talked, there was a lot more bonding time, which is something we need and is God-given.  I believe that the intimacy of same sex friends is something we all crave, and in this super busy and high tech world we live in, we really miss that time.  I'm going to say it again: that desire and attraction for intimate friends (and I'm not talking sexual) is God-given and beautiful.  Where it crosses over the line into sin is when lust and sex come into the picture.  I think we all have to admit that this nation is sex-crazed!  Marketers use it to sell things, billboards and advertisements use less than appropriate pictures to communicate a message, and it's affecting the way we think and react. 

Jesus said in Matthew 19:4-6: "And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."

According to the afaJournal July-August 2015 on p. 18:

The Bible tells us that man and woman were created by God as distinct acts of creation, and that being male and female was an aspect of how they were created in His own image (Genesis 1:27: "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."  and 2:7: "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." see also vs. 18-19).  Marriage is the joining of these distinct genders into one flesh.  Thus marriage is between one man and one woman.  Further the Bible teaches that while sex within marriage is pure and honorable, sex outside marriage is sinful and will be judged by God (Hebrews 13:4: "Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge."). The seventh commandment, "You shall not commit adultery," protects the sexual relationship between a man and woman who are united in marriage by forbidding marital infidelity, pre-marital sex, homosexuality, bestiality, and the use of pornography (Exodus 20:14).

The article goes on to talk about celibacy. Have you heard of this word? It's not a word used very often in our society! 

Outside biblical marriage, God's standard for sex is celibacy, saying "no" to both heterosexual and homosexual lusts ([Jesus said in Matthew 5:27-28: "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."]). Celibacy is a gift of God that allows the unmarried to live a life of purity and contentment, so that a person does not have to engage in sex to have a full and satisfying life (1 Corinthians 7:7-9: "For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.").  

Homosexuality is highly addictive and difficult to stop, but those who find themselves in that lifestyle should know that God's grace is sufficient to forgive them and cleanse them from their sin (1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.").  Think about that! Those are POWERFUL words!  Forgiveness, cleansing, and this applies to ALL unrighteousness! This doesn't guarantee that because you are forgiven and cleansed that those temptations and feelings won't still be there, but you can live a celibate life and be in the center of God's will for you life, and live an abundant life (John 10:10). 1 Corinthians 6:9-11: "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,n or thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. " (emphasis placed by me)

Did you see that? "And such were some of you!"  He was talking to the church members at Corinth.  Like I said before, we are all in the same boat, sinners in need of a Savior.  We may not all struggle with the same sins, but they are sins nonetheless.  We are also in the same grace boat - we all have hope of eternal life and forgiveness.  Ephesians 2:8-9: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast."  

Titus 1:2: "In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began."  That's a long standing promise! Praise the Lord! And God cannot lie, so you can take that promise to heart and claim it!

2 Peter 3:9: The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."  Not willing that ANY should perish, but that ALL should come to repentance!

Yes - repentance.  That is being sorry for your sin and coming humbly before a pure, holy, almighty God with agreement that your sin is what is sin - sin, or rebellion against God - and desiring to turn away from it and toward God.  That is the only way forgiveness can be accepted, but it is there waiting for you to get to that place in your soul.  This applies to every single one of us, those who have sexual sins, those who have anger, bitterness, hate toward people, hate toward God, whatever your sin may be. Now is a good time to soul search.  That is a good practice to do every day.  The apostle Paul had to humble himself and die to those selfish lusts and desires every day of his life, as do we, because they keep creeping up. Galatians 2:20: "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

In conclusion, Noah Webster had a definition of marriage that tied into not only the Bible, but recognized its importance in the lives of children and our society as a whole. It is not hateful to disagree with someone or disagree with something that has been made legal.  There is healing for our nation, and whether or not others will rebel against God's design, we as Christians can and must stand on the truth from God's Word, not only because it is right, and because it is good, but because we will be held accountable for the choices we make in this life.  Let's have healing and be able to stand before God one day as He smiles on us and is proud of us, not ashamed and saying He never knew us.

2 Corinthians 5:10: " For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."

Romans 14:12: "So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God."

Jesus said in Matthew 7:23-24: "And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man..."

Proverbs 14:34: "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people."

2 Chronicles 7:14: "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 

Aren't those some of the most beautiful words you have ever read? THERE IS HOPE AND HEALING FOR OUR NATION! PRAISE THE LORD! May it begin with me.