# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2023_S223
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

THEOLOGICAL DOCUMENTS­­—COMMISSION ON THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

223

enacts by means of earthly authorities and instruments
such as laws and customs. Marriage, by God’s own created design, is subject to earthly laws and customs, even
though human laws and customs sometimes undermine
or even abrogate God’s good purposes for marriage.
God, in His mercy, has given marriage as the foundational institution for all of society. The church’s witness to
this divine gift is, therefore, of incalculable importance.
This witness comes not only in the verbal testimony to
the world as it tells of God’s design for marriage, but also
as the actual marriages of believers demonstrate the way
marriage is meant to work in human life.
Therefore, while marriage is not, strictly speaking, an
ecclesial (churchly) institution, the church cannot abdicate its responsibility to teach what God intends marriage to be. Our Creator gives marriage, together with
all His creation, for our good. Psalm 148 testifies to the
Creator’s intention for good in all His works. It speaks
of all creation praising God in a chorus extending from
heaven’s angels, to the air, the sea and dry land, to all
creatures, and to all humanity. Along the way, it speaks of
“young men and maidens together” (v. 12) praising the
Lord. Our hope is that men and women young and old
will see what marriage is, gladly receive it as God’s gift,
and “praise the Lord” as they enjoy marriage’s blessings.

MARRIAGE BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE

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A REPORT ON CLERGY SERVING AS ‘AGENTS OF THE STATE’

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2023 Convention Workbook