Ehe – eine zu heiligende Lebensform

Systematisch-theologische Aspekte

Abstract

The task and meaning of the church marriage ceremony are based primarily on the sanctifying Word of God. The bible describes marriage as a place of holiness. Holiness in marriage is made concrete in being for one another in faithfulness, and this may be so understood for same-sex marriages. Only the engendering of new life is fixed to bond of the two sexes, whereby producing offspring is not constitutive for a marriage. According to Luther, no person should be forced into leading a certain form of life, which contradict their sexual predilection. Protestant ethics also see the real possibility of failure in marriage. Humans have been entrusted with the institution of marriage in order to give this form in a responsible manner. Marriage may also be considered to be a sacrament, but should not be understood to be salvatory.