By Marc Bayne, one of the two presenters

This is a short list of articles and documents for further reading and consideration on the subject of gay marriage, in connection with the January 23, 2016 seminar on this subject.  

This seminar examined the arguments Christians and the Church have relied on in the "gay debate" within our culture. We presented some historical insights into the development of marriage customs from a variety of societies, with a focus on the West and America. Participants discussed and processed the content to identify the apologetics, and the moral/cultural considerations.  In our discussion we also considered several Scripture texts to determine and show the Biblical position on homosexual behaviors and/or lifestyles, and how churches and individual Christians should respond accordingly.  This topic is also of interest to Muslims because Islam experiences similar cultural currents in the West.  

Presenters: Dan Kersey and Marc Bayne

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are known at the patriarchs of the Jewish people. In the Bible (Genesis 32:24-32), a story is found of Jacob wrestling with a man. Before the end of the story, this man is also revealed to be a divine being, possibly an angel, or perhaps even God himself. What is most curious about this event is not that Jacob is wrestling with a divine being, but that the divine being does not prevail against Jacob.

This story thus presents at least two questions: With whom did Jacob wrestle? and Why was this person unable to prevail against Jacob? As the story clearly points to a divine being as the answer to the first question, the second question becomes much more significant. It leads us to ask how or why God did not prevail against Jacob. In fact, the paradox of this issue has led some to question or doubt the nature of the God of the Bible, and to question the Christian faith.

This article attempts to answer both questions that arise from this story: With whom did Jacob wrestle? and Why was this person unable to prevail against Jacob?