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So, where do we begin? Probably the best place to begin is at the beginning.

Creation Order

The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being... The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."... Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man." For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. (Genesis 2:7,18,22-25)

God is a God of order. His creation reflects His order. It wasn't until the Fall when man disobeyed God, that disorder and futility entered into the world. (Romans 5:12) What God created, He created good. Genesis 2 is a picture of a normative marital relationship. This is God's intention from the beginning, that a man and woman would marry and be “one flesh”. The primary purpose was that man would have a companion suitable for him. Those who propose that same sex couples should be able to marry are essentially saying that they know better than God what is suitable. Also, the fact that God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number...” (Genesis 1:28) further solidifies the argument that marriage is to be between partners of the opposite sex.

Same sex proponents will explain away these passages by saying that scripture doesn't speak here to any prohibition of same sex marriage, and is therefor not explicitly banning the practice. Further, this passage can not be universally applicable as some people choose to remain single or in relationships where children are not a possibility. They also counter that God needed to have a man and a woman initially in order for the propagation of the species, but that this is no longer necessary.

These are simply arguments from silence, which is why it is so important to interpret scripture in light of other scripture. Left by itself, based on the previous statement we would be right to conclude that the Bible is ambiguous on this topic, and that there might be latitude to interpret this text in many different ways. There are though other passages which would corroborate an interpretation which would be consistent with an anti gay marriage stance. And, lest we think that somehow the Old Testament is divorced from the new, let's here was Jesus has to say about marriage. "Haven't you read," He replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,'and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." (Matthew 19:4-6) Jesus himself interprets and upholds this passage (Genesis 2) as scripture. Jesus doesn't really leave us with the option of saying that this passage can only be applied to the people of the old covenant.

To those who say that this passage is not universally applicable due to the fact that some choose to remain single or in relationships that do not produce children, Jesus replied, "Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it." (Matthew 19:11,12) In the context of speaking to the issue of divorce Jesus is saying that there may be some exceptions to why someone would not be married ie. lack of desire (sexually), or because of a dedication to God and the advancement of His kingdom. Otherwise, this is God's intention and design for marriage, so submit to it.