The Thoughts of Wesley son of Cornelius

"Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 'The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. ... Then he [the king] said to his servants, "The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find." So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. "Friend," he asked, "how did you get in here without wedding clothes?" The man was speechless. Then the king told the attendants, "Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." For many are invited, but few are chosen.'" (Matthew 22:1-3, 8-14 NIV)

I hope in the last few posts I have convienced the reader that marriage is a picture, or representation, of the relationship between God and his chosen ones. As with the relationship with God and the believer, God is the only one who defines marriage. No church, no government, and not even a couple can define marriage. Paul comments on this topic: "This [two becoming one] is a profound mystery." (Ephesians 5:32)

Why is marriage such a crucial issue? I believe the strength of a people or nation is dependent on the strength of God's marriage.