BA MDiv Edward W. Kaleefey - Recalculating Marriage: GodS Direction to a Moral Marriage

Recalculating Marr iage

To my Wife and Family

I thank my God and Savior, the LORD Jesus Christ, who gave me the insight and courage to write this book.

Edward W. Kaleefey, Author

Except for the title, table of contents, and quotations from other sources, no portion from this book may be used or copied (in any form) without written permission from the author.

For permission and correction please email .

Main Sources of Scrip ture

Unless otherwise indicated, fewer than 500 scripture quotations from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Under 500 scripture quotations from the New American Standard Bible , copyright 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Other Sources of Scrip ture

Scripture quotations from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Quotations and Scripture from Biblical Studies Press (2006). The NET Bible First Edition , Biblical Studies Press.

Greek scripture quotations from E. Nestle, B. Aland, K. Aland, J. Karavidopoulos, C. M. Martini, and B. M. Metzgar, The Greek New Testament, 27 th ed., 1993.

A few Greek words in 2 nd Review. Is Arranged Marriage Gods Original Design? from 1881 Westcott-Hort New Testament, public domain per BibleGateway.com.

Hebrew scripture quotations from Biblia Hebraica Westmonasteriensis with Westminster Hebrew Morphology 4.18 (BHW 4.18). The Westminster Leningrad Codex is in public domain per BibleGateway.com.

Quotations from Published B ooks

Material from published books falls under either the doctrine of public use or the common-law doctrine of fair use. In most cases, it is safe to quote up to a total of three hundred words from a book without seeking permission ( The Christian Writers Manual of Style , Zondervan Publishing House, 1988, 19).

Quotations from Webs ites

Material obtained from websites (Wikipediasee below), CNN, CBS News, Focus on the Family, government sites, etc.) was restated sufficiently to avoid copyright infringement if applicable.

Quotations from Wikip edia

Wikipedia does not guarantee the validity of the information found in its articles. However, A Harvard law textbook, Legal Research in a Nutshell (2011), cites Wikipedia as a general source that can be a real boon in coming up to speed in the law governing a situation and, while not authoritative, can provide basic facts as well as leads to more in-depth resources (Cohen, Morris; Olson, Kent (2010). Legal Research in a Nutshell (10 th ed.). St. Paul, MN: Thomson Reuters, 3234. ISBN 978-0-314-26408-4.

During the past ten to fifteen years, Gods original design for marriage has come under attack. Activists have used commercial and public media, political correctness, public education, and courts to advance LGBT and same-sex marriage agendas.

For evidence of their success, one needs to look only at business policies, legislation, curricula, court decisions, and church doctrinal statements. Gods means for implementing His purposes for humankind include marriage and the familythe building blocks of society. Rather than maintaining Gods original design for marriage, Christians have become overwhelmed, complacent, confused, and sometimes silent on marriage issues. Something needs to be done.

Do Christians need a book on marriage? I believe they do for three reasons: the secular influence on sexual behavior; the express, implicit, and tacit support by Christians of immorality; and the 2015 decision by the US Supreme Court that the Constitution guarantees a right to same-sex marriage. I have written Recalculating Marriage to help Christians face the facts about marriage, review Gods revelation on marriage, and reshape societys view of marriage.

SECTION 1
FACING THE FACTS ABOUT MARRIAGE

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, Who do people say that the Son of Man is? And they said, Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. He said to them, But who do you say that I am? Simon Peter answered, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus said to him, Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpowe r it .

Matthew 16:1318 (NASB, italics added)

Introduction

Churches are not immune to the moral decline in American society. Recently, I learned about an informal survey of twenty-five-year-old to thirty-five-year-old members in a large Protestant church. The survey revealed that 50 percent held secular or nonbiblical views regarding homosexual practices and same-sex marriage. Shocked, I decided to do some research.