It's hard for the world of today to understand the true meaning of marriage as it has been contaminated with so many extraneous and secular motives but the primary end of marriage is fecundity. It is made in obedience to God's command to go forth and multiply. Christian marriage is geared to precisely this end; the creation of children. This is not "legalism". Mutual companionship and comfort are not primary ends of marriage. It is a union made before God for the purpose of producing offspring. If the primary end of marriage is voided, there can be no marriage.
It's an indication of how far we've strayed from the true meaning of marriage that such an idea should be met with shouts of horror and accusations of fundamentalism.
Oy. This is legalism at its finest and Christ condemned the legalists of his day and rightfully so.
Again, you're a little mixed up. He didn't condemn their legalism. He condemned their hypocrisy for not practicing what they taught. Read the Scriptures. Jesus told the people to obey the Pharisees because they were teachers of the law, but not to imitate their example.
I have read and continue to read the Scriptures. I am not mixed up either. I think you, my friend, are the mixed up person.
The Scripture said that a man should not “burn” but marry, and nowhere did it say that he had to marry to have children. Only that the parents are to accept all children that issue from their union and gladfully accept this blessing. So, no birth control, let alone abortion.
I agree with you only on one point and that is that we HAVE strayed far from the true meaning of marriage, but in no way do I think marriage should not be allowed for two people who know that they cannot consummate the marriage. That’s like saying that a Jews could not have been a Jew if he had no penis and could not have been circumcised. Oy vey.