One of the latest phrases to enter the dictionary is ‘equal marriage’.  Now, that’s an attempt to frame the question before it is even asked.  After all, who would support a marriage that is unequal?

Well, I would.

Marriage is in itself a joining of unequals – husband and wife bringing their own unique blend of strengths and weaknesses to a marriage.  How boring it would be if we WERE equal. And how deeply destructive.  As it is, I know there are certain areas in which I will excel, and other that I should step back if I know what is good for me! We are not constantly competing for ascendancy, or to borrow from Orwell, heading towards a place where “all marriages are equal, but some are more equal than others”.

‘Equal’ marriage is all really about the striving for legitimacy – a legitimacy that can only be realised by the full physical and emotional complementarity of marriage – marriage between one man and one woman.

Even human marriage is a foreshadowing of the ultimate marriage – between the Lamb and His Bride, the Church.

Let us rejoice and be happy
    and give God glory!
Give God glory, because the wedding of the Lamb has come.
    And the Lamb’s bride has made herself ready.
 Rev 19 v7

Christians who believe in ‘equal marriage’ are I think the ones who will be the most disappointed – because there will be no equality in that marriage. The Husband of the Bride, He Himself modelled inequality for us.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
Phil. 2 v5-7.