What Does Biblical Marriage Mean?
Christian Nationalism and the Paxton Divorce Saga
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Texas Republican state senator Angela Paxton used the term “Biblical marriage” when announcing her divorce from odious Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. What does this term mean? Why is it important? How does it impact people of any faith who might find themselves in a failing marriage under a Christian Nationalist regime?
Christian Nationalists believe Biblical marriage is a holy covenant between God, one man, and one unrelated woman. No other union fits their definition of Biblical marriage.
Because Biblical marriage is a holy covenant with God, Christian Nationalists believe marriage is permanent. One cannot dissolve holy covenants with God simply because they no longer love each other. They aren’t allowed to walk away when things become hard, even to the point of physical and emotional abuse. Christian Nationalists believe it is a couple’s responsibility to work on their Biblical marriage, because it is a holy covenant no matter what.
Except…
In Matthew 5: 31-32, Jesus allows for divorce on the grounds of sexual immorality. While Christian Nationalists generally define sexual immorality very broadly, in their definition of Biblical marriage, sexual immorality = adultery.
"It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: but I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery". Matthew 5:31-32 KJV
The apostle Paul also provided a corollary for divorce in I Corinthians 7:15: If a Christian marries a non-Christian, and the non-Christian wants a divorce, the Christian will not be deemed to violate the terms of Biblical marriage by seeking to divorce the non-believer.
"But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace". I Corinthians 7:15 KJV
Ken Paxton has faced numerous allegations of adultery and marital infidelity, including during his 2023 impeachment trial. As a Christian Nationalist, Angela Paxton invoked the term Biblical marriage to justify her decision to divorce her philandering husband. Fellow Christian Nationalists understood this language immediately, whether or not they accept her decision.
I highlight whether or not they accept her decision for further discussion, because in a Christo-fascist government, this point will matter.
A well-connected, useful Christian Nationalist like Angela Paxton will likely get away with divorcing her husband on Biblical grounds, but lesser-connected American women won’t be so lucky.
In Christian Nationalism, it is common to blame the woman for her husband’s adultery. Often, unhappy wives are lectured about submission: He is looking elsewhere because he is unhappy with your failure to submit to him.
Christian Nationalist counselors and pastors will often tell a woman to “work on her appearance” or “give him sex whenever he demands it” or “be more in tune with him and his needs.” She will be peer-pressured into allowing him more chances as part of “forgiveness” and “the need to help him live up to God’s plan.”
If children are involved, Christian Nationalists will use them to further guilt women into remaining in marriages with unfaithful men. Because to them, having a father in the home, even one who is modeling abhorrent behavior, is better than an absent father/single mother situation.
Readers will find many of the above themes in
’s newsletter from yesterday. It isn’t related to the Paxton divorce saga, but I share it as an example of the kinds of bullying and abuse Christian Nationalists subject their female adherents to.When I say Christian Nationalists intend to make divorce next-to-impossible to obtain, I’m not exaggerating.
I also wrote about John MacArthur last year as part of my series Sex and the Christian Nationalist. This newsletter contains an informative video of him delivering a sermon on sexual immorality being the cause of God’s judgment of the United States. (Since I’ve referred to this theme recently in regards to the Texas floods, it can be helpful to see Christian Nationalists actually saying this stuff in front of microphones and cameras.)
Americans, please understand. Invoking the term Biblical marriage empowers Christian Nationalists to be the ones to decide whether YOUR divorce will be allowed.
Don’t roll your eyes and dismiss this phrase. Or wonder how weird and antiquated someone has to be to use it. In a Christian Nationalist theocracy, the only permitted divorces will be Biblical divorces, as adjudicated by Christian Nationalists acting as God’s avenger on wrongdoers.
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Judges give light sentences based on being a "good christian", even when they have committed heinous vile crimes. The cover they give sickos in all realms is insane.
This is turning into a version of the Handmaids Tale before our very eyes. I truly hope Americans fight back in unity.