/
RSS Feed
In this episode, Brett, Brian, and Jason conclude their interview with Dr. Gene Edward Veith by talking about his new book, “Post-Christian”, which can be purchased on Amazon here.
Being Lutheran Bonus – Interview with Dr. Gene Edward Veith, Part 3
Jason,
I am so glad you were able to obtain an interview with Dr. Veith. He is an absolute gem.
One statement he made brought a topic to mind that I have been thinking about from time-to-time for a couple of years now. Beginning about 5:42 of the recording, Dr. Veith said “once you separate sexuality from having children you take it out of the context of the family.” It seems as if this is a HUGE focus of the Catholic Church and it seems to me as if the focus is off just a little bit but it is, in my mind, incredibly significant.
I think the focus should be re-centered on the separating marriage from sexuality instead of separating having children from sexuality. Here is my thinking and I would love your feedback.
In Ephesians 5:31-32 Paul wrote: “‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.” (ESV)
I think that the “mystery” is the two becoming one. How are the two made one? I believe it is by them coming together to consummate their relationship. They do not become one by having children. Children are the byproducts of a husband and wife coming together. Another way of expressing that is that they are “offspring”. Not every coming together of a husband and a wife produces offspring. Offspring are secondary to the marriage relationship.
The emphasis on child bearing in sexuality seems to end up de-emphasize the relationship between Jesus and the Church and I am thinking that this might be by design of the evil one. Satan is said to be attacking the family when his main interest might instead be attacking marriage because of how closely it demonstrates the relationship between Jesus and the Church. I hear so many people, especially outside the Church, talk about the importance of their children to them. I never hear anyone talk about the importance of their spouse to them and I think Satan smiles about that.
Offspring, however, are not insignificant. They are very important and, normally, husbands and wives become fruitful and multiply because their love for each other produces offspring. It is the norm for love to produce offspring. Barring any kind of abnormality, such as physical issues or homosexuality, love can’t help it. Also, barring any kind of abnormality in the Church, the love between Jesus and His Church will normally produce offspring.
Anyway, these are my undeveloped thoughts on the topic and I would be really interested in knowing yours. I don’t have any formal theological training so feel free to shoot holes in this argument.
Your brother in Christ,
JT Borah
I think you’ve certainly captured at least part of it. The emphasis on the one-flesh nature of the marriage relationship needs to return, as it is a reflection of the reality of how the Church relates to Christ. I think much of the swing the other direction – the childbearing aspect of marriage – has been an overcorrection to try and have a plausible, scientific argument to counter the (what seems like) overwhelming momentum of the gay marriage movement.
But, just like Genesis 1-2 shouldn’t be viewed primarily as an apologetic against evolution, we shouldn’t view biblical teaching on marriage primarily as an apologetic against the “Love Wins” movement. The Church would do well to stand on and promote the good theology, and let apologetics flow from that.