World Definition of Family
HRSA, which is the Health Resources and Services Administration, a Government group, defines family as “a group of two or more persons related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together; all such related persons are considered as members of one family.”1
What is considered the nuclear family? At one time, it was considered a one-man-and-woman marriage with children in the household. However, the world has changed this definition to consist of a more, in their words, inclusive description of any two married parents and their children. Britannica explains, “Although such couples are most often a man and a woman, the definition of the nuclear family has expanded with the advent of same-sex marriage. Children in a nuclear family may be the couple’s biological or adopted offspring.”2 Notice that same-sex marriage is an advent; in other words, it is new and has just arrived in the US within the last two decades.
Thus, the world has altered and changed the definition of the family structure to bend and conform to the construct of the modern sexual revolution of the age. As a result, the digression has caused some churches to shift their definition of a family, embracing the new social order.
The burning question then is whether there is flexibility in Scripture to allow such an altering of the family unit over the next several minutes. I want to construct a Biblical definition of the family and present a clear picture of how the church that has failed to embrace the biblical model and definition has declared war against God.
Defining Family in Scripture
A few things need to be established as we set out to establish a biblical definition. First, God established his model with Adam and Eve. The creation account in Genesis 2 tells us in verse seven, “7 then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.”3 Then, picking up in verse 18,
18 Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” 19 Now out of the ground the LORD God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. 21 So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.4
God created other creatures, none of which are good as a partner for Adam. It is not until God forms woman out of the rib of Adam that Adam finds his helper. She is like him but not the same as him. She is female. What is clear is that God’s design from the beginning is to make marriage a relationship between one man and one woman. If we mess up this aspect of the family, it will be altered and become a farce before God.
Second, God’s established design is quickly perverted. Look at Genesis 4:17-19:
17 Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch. 18 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. 19 And Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.5
Only five generations into the Cain line, we see the Polygynous family unit born. Polygamy is a perversion of the God-intended relationship between a husband and wife. While we see some men of faith in the Bible take multiple wives, family dysfunction is always present. The family suffers, and there are more burdens for the family when multiple wives enter the picture.
Third, marriage between a husband and wife is expected for a person to be sexually active. The idea that sex outside of marriage is acceptable is foreign to the Bible. The Holman Dictionary states, “To the church in Corinth, a city well-known for profligate sexual activity, Paul wrote that Christians must control their sexual desires and that those who cannot do so ought to marry.”6 (See: 1 Corinthians 7:2, 8–9, 36–37). Part of the issue is that “anything that cheapens or lessens the union of a husband and wife in marriage, such as pre- or extramarital sex, also tarnishes God’s relationship with His people.”7 Cohabitation, or couples who are living in one home and having sex but are not married, is unbiblical.
Fourth, same-sex relationships are perversions of the biblical model. In every instance of the Bible’s discussion on the subject of same-sex sexual experience, it is always declared sinful. Holman Dictionary is helpful, “Homosexuality is a consequence of rejecting the created order. The prima facie case against homosexuality in the Scripture is found in God’s creative plan for human sexuality.”8 Johnson goes on to add that “This creation order for human sexuality received the endorsement of both the Lord Jesus Christ (Mark 10:6–9; Matt. 19:4–6) and the Apostle Paul (Eph. 5:31).”9 Paul explains in Romans 1:18-32 that homosexuality is the rejection of God as Creator and is atheism demonstrated. Finally, Johnson states,
As to modern notions of “homosexual orientation,” a scriptural perspective will view any same sex inclinations at least as harmful as proclivities toward any other sin, as negative consequences of fallen human nature that is inclined towards sin. In light of Rom. 1, homosexual predisposition may also be an indication and outworking of earlier and other sin(s).10
What is abundantly clear is that same-sex relationships are not Scripturally acceptable, and God does not recognize such relationships as marriage, regardless of how the world defines marriage.
A biblical definition of a family is one biologically born male man married to one biologically born female woman. If the couple chooses to have children, they can be their biological children or adopted children. In any case, the only Scripturally accepted family is a husband (born male) and wife (born female) married and Lord will with children.
What about churches that are accepting same-sex marriage?
It is easy to wonder what it means when a church or denomination declares they are same-sex, marriage-affirming. First, it is a giant red flag. If a church or denomination is embracing and affirming LGBTQ+, it screams that they have left Scripture behind. The LGBTQ+ practice is a rejection of God. It is atheism in practice. It rejects God as Creator. It gives birth to rebellion. The church is no longer a church the moment it accepts the practices of sexual perversion. Eventually, it will lead the church to reject God completely.
Here is the thing: amid this dialogue, it is important to state that the church should love and point those who are in the LGBTQ+ community to Christ. Part of that love is explaining and pointing out that God’s design for them differs from the one they are living in. They are living a lifestyle of sin. The church has long shown grace to the sexually immoral. Whether it be fornication, that is, sex outside of marriage, adultery, cheating on your spouse sexually, or pornography. Yet, when it comes to LGBTQ+, we often go even further down the judgment train and write these individuals off as impossible to win to Christ. This is inexplicably false! They can just as easily receive saving faith as any other practicing sinner. While sin rejects God, it does not prevent God from saving them from their immorality and brokenness.
Honestly, there needs to be revival and a changed heart in both the church that has embraced LGBTQ+ in the name of love and the church that has written these individuals off as unworthy of grace or, at the very least, nearly impossible to win to Jesus. We cannot be caught limiting the power of God’s grace. The Lord can overcome the most broken of sinner’s hearts with the power of his saving grace! Praise God, not one of us is unreachable for God and his grace!
God’s design for family is counter-cultural. It goes against the flow of our pervasive world. Honestly, the church today faces a lot of difficulty. We have the option to stand on Truth in love, stand on Truth but without love, or reject Truth and embrace the world. Only one of these allows us to remain faithful to the Lord and our mission to share Jesus and make disciples: standing on Truth in love.
- https://www.hrsa.gov/get-health-care/affordable/hill-burton/family#::text=Family%3A%20A%20family%20is%20a,as%20members%20of%20one%20family. ↩
- https://britannica.com/topic/nuclear-family ↩
- The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ge 2:7. ↩
- The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ge 2:18–22. ↩
- The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ge 4:17–19. ↩
- Paul H. Wright, “Premarital Sex,” ed. Chad Brand et al., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 1326. ↩
- Paul H. Wright, “Premarital Sex,” ed. Chad Brand et al., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 1326. ↩
- Jerry A. Johnson, “Homosexuality,” ed. Chad Brand et al., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 777. ↩
- Jerry A. Johnson, “Homosexuality,” ed. Chad Brand et al., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 777. ↩
- Jerry A. Johnson, “Homosexuality,” ed. Chad Brand et al., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 777. ↩
