What God Has Joined
In Matthew 19:6, the Savior said, “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” This statement was made as part of an argument referring to whether it was lawful for a man to divorce his wife. This got me thinking and asking a series of questions. The questions revolve around the subject of marriage and then become more broad in scope.
1) How and why is God involved in a marriage? It is certain in the time and context of the biblical text that marriage was a contract or series of contracts formally approved by the governing authority, which in this case was also the religious authority. The law of God was also civil law. The Savior pointed to the fact that from the beginning, men and women were created for each other; in other words, marriage was part of God’s plan for his children, and you don’t go contrary to His plan.
2) So, what about marriages today? Is God involved in this fundamental institution anymore? I suppose you could answer yes and no to that question based on the intent and invitation of the couple to have God as a witness to a ceremony performed according to His law. The legal aspect of a marriage today is purely secular, although the state recognizes religious ceremonies as valid. My opinion and conclusion to this question are that when God is used as a witness of the marriage covenant, and the ceremony is performed according to his law, it is sanctioned by Him and carries the full weight of the commitment and is not to be put asunder by the man or woman, except in certain circumstances.
3) Are there other things God has joined together that would be unwise to trifle with? If you consider marriage part of the plan of God’s creation, would any violation of other aspects of that plan fall into the category of things that we do not separate ourselves from? I think the obvious answer is yes. Going against the God of nature results in grievous sin. Those things given by God, such as life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness, fall into something that we join in with God. This central argument of the Constitution of the United States of America is not political but rather a statement of fact. The primary gift of God to us is agency. The proper use of this gift results in us meeting our full potential, which is our purpose of existence.
4) Can God join us on individual ventures outside of the fundamental plan of progression, such as career choices or aspects of personal development? I would answer an emphatic yes to this question. I believe the parable of the talents illustrates this idea perfectly. God gives every individual unique gifts that are meant to better the lives of others. This applies to family, friends, community, and eventually the world. When we recognize a skill or talent that we possess, if we join with God, he will magnify that talent which will bless us and others. If we do not join with God, our talents are buried and are of no use to anyone and will result in punishment.
5) Is our intent and desire to join with God enough to validate our personal salvation or eternal relationships? The answer to this one is nuanced. For example, you would hope that God would automatically join a couple whose love for each other is eternal without an external or additional qualification. However, the book of Revelation describes the final judgment as a process of opening books that contain the works of every individual and also the Book of Life. When Christ gave Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven, he said, “and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” So, is the couple who have eternal love doomed if their names are not written in the records of heaven? Because of the same priesthood keys Peter received from Jesus, proxy ordinances can ensure that the couple can have their names recorded in the books, and their eternal love can become an everlasting relationship.
So the final question is whether or not we do what it takes for God to join or bind us together with our loved ones and Him. The plan is clear, and it has always been that way. It is more about us joining ourselves to our Father in Heaven than the other way around. It is our God-given choice. Once God has joined something together, and we have agreed and committed to it, we need to follow through with the deal or pay the consequences.