Should we be surprised?  At this year’s Sundance Film Festival a documentary, entitled “Zoo”, on bestiality will reportedly be shown.  No one should view this as progress towards great freedom or new frontiers.  Anyone who has this view or teaches others that such a film denotes moral progress has overlooked historical testimony.  The Bible in Lev. 18:23-30 and Deut. 27:21 warns against bestiality.  This warning was issued because the Israelites were moving into a pagan culture.  They would be tempted to follow pagan practices.

We should not be surprised to see media attention turned to this practice in our day.

In the teaching of evolution man is just an animal.  He has evolved from lower forms of animal life.  Thus what is wrong with bestiality?  Is there any difference in matrimony and bestiality?

Secondly, when the biblical definition of marriage is tossed aside all types of biblically unacceptable doors are opened up for exploration.

Many readers of this article, have in their own lifetime seen a growing cultural acceptance of men and women living together outside the bonds of marriage, the growing permissibility of unbiblical divorce, and acceptability among many for homosexual unions.  It should not be surprising that other types of sexual relationships will be explored and even advocated by some.

What is the answer?  As Christians we must stand on the objective truth and testimony of God’s word.  Jesus Himself said, “Thy word is truth.” (John 17:17)  We must remember that God ordained marriage. He defines marriage.  We read in Genesis 2:24, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”  We cannot settle for a different definition of marriage.

We have to realize that our culture gives Christians many opportunities to “redefine” God’s definition of marriage.

One of our relatives may enter into an unbiblical relationship.  We may be informed that the two love each other.  Thus the relationship is made right.  We may be told that the two are happy.  Happiness is what counts isn’t it?  In each instance we have to turn to Genesis 2:24 and begin with the fact of God’s definition of marriage.  The “love” that the two have or the “happiness” the two have does not allow us to redefine a biblical marital relationship.  Marital love and marital happiness flow out of a biblical marital relationship, not by some other means.

I freely admit there is a temporal pleasure in sin (Heb. 11:25).  However, this pleasure is defined as temporary and is not the pleasure for which God created us to have and enjoy.  Eph.5:22-23 as well as the Song of Solomon speak of the joy of marital relationships.  Eph. 5 in particular shows how the marital relationship is to exemplify Christ’s relationship with His bride the church. 

We must remember that man’s happiness, as defines happiness is not our chief goal. Our chief goal is to bring glory to God and to enjoy Him forever. (See the Westminster Shorter Catechism Q/A 1.)

Given the rampant degeneration of morality, we may be tempted to excuse some sins because they are not as bad as other sins.  For example, we may hear of one night stands, ongoing affairs, or a man and woman living together without the benefit of marriage.  We might respond, “Well I would rather have that then either one be involved in a homosexual relationship.”  However, perverse sins do not allow other sins to be redefined as a righteous act. Sin remains sin.  God does not change the definition of sin.  Jesus defined lust for another woman as adultery.  (Mt. 5:28) Lust is different from a sexual affair. However Jesus calls it adultery.  It is a sin and off-limits. The incarnate Christ walked on earth in a time of prostitution and marital unfaithfulness.  However these sins did not result in His stating that lust in one’s heart is grudgingly permissible because there are far more perverse ways to commit adultery.  In the eyes of our holy triune God sin is sin. God’s definitions of it remain unchanged.

We face all sorts of temptations to water down our opposition to the seventh commandment. Other forms of adultery may be promoted in the near future. We must be on guard for ourselves and our children.  We must take every thought captive to God’s word in this and all areas.  We must teach our children to do this also.

Review ©2007 Byron Snapp, Hampton, Virginia