Marriage and family are the basic social units upon which society is built. Biblical marriage and as a result, the blessing of family, carries a greater responsibility: reflecting the image of God through man ruling and having dominion in the earth.

Marriage is primarily for several important purposes: for sanctification (1 Cor. 7:14, 1 Thess. 4:3, Heb. 13:4), for the creation of family (Gen. 1:28, Gen 9:1), and the advancement of the kingdom of God (Gen. 1:26, Psa. 8:6).

Marriage is not designed for convenience or the pursuit of human happiness but for the glory of God. Marriage was created by God to assist mankind in his assignment to rule and govern properly on the earth. Marriage is also an illustration of the relationship between Christ and the church. Christ willingly gave himself for the church and the response of the church is to submit to Him entirely.

The gift of children in a marriage helps define a family. Although the definition of both marriage and family has changed in recent years and includes examples of non-traditional roles, it was in God’s mind that one (marriage between a man and woman) would produce the other (children/offspring/seed) which creates families. Children are a blessing from the Lord and are given to bring posterity and protection to that family and the nation.

God is concerned about the human family and this is evident throughout all Scripture: children are commanded to obey and honor/respect the human authority in their lives – parents, who are to lovingly provide for, protect, train, and instruct them. This pattern is echoed in the Bible to show us how families should be structured on the earth for the blessing of all society.