I think you need to respect the perspective for what it is - non-religious. In that light, this gentleman has provided you with a cogent, completely logical argument to support your cause within your own religious experience. “Marriage requires consummation,” being the operative observation of an obvious but overlooked fact.
Given the activity in question isn’t really sexual, meaning it is non-progenitive, what business does a Christian clergy of any sect or order have in blessing sexual play? There is certainly nothing Biblical that supports it, correct?
The whole QUESTION of this being MARRIAGE is out. As such, where does that put you within the perspective of church policy? Christian marriage, an institution that came from Christ Himself, is explicit in its Biblical definition.
So what would the Church like to call this, whatever it is - union, fraternity, partnership . . .
I for one BRISTLE at the term PARTNER, or PARTNERSHIP. I have a business partner, whose male, and in describing our relationship, wedding band affixed to my finger, it makes me cringe as soon as the word ‘partner’ escapes my lips. I feel like I have to further explain the context of the term.
Anyway, you ought to thank this gent in my opinion. He may not agree with your view of God and the Universe, but his observations on the language of the issue is, in my opinion, highly valuable to anyone debating it within their own church.
May God bless you richly.
I am simply discerning truth from a lie in his statement. Forgetting the political argumentation - which is vain discussion in light of eternity anyway! And, no - I don’t thank him for this potty-mouthed tripe.