Government must recognize marriage for these various reasons, and therefore, must have a working definition of the institution. This is fundamental and cannot be avoided. Otherwise, it would be like saying the governmnent cannot be involved in the concept of "ownership" and is, thus, unable to enforce against thefts, burglaries or robberys.
Marriage is an institution ordained by God, not man. Government is not some disembodied thing, it is an institution directed by men and in order for government to “officiate”, men must delineate powers and procedures. That was fine when the men who determined those powers and procedures were willing to be guided by what they read in Scripture, as were those who held public office.
However, today, too many people have cast Scripture aside and reject God’s role in their lives and in society. They have directed government in ways that are hostile to God’s institution of marriage.
Don’t forget that secular people will be happy to form and dissolve relationships outside of marriage and government, and government knows not to interfere. It is absurd to call upon government to protect marriage when that same government will not stop the neighbors from cohabiting or engaging in palamory.
It is time for government to get out of the business of determining who is married and who is not. It should be none of government’s business for the simple reason that when we do so, we must give government the power to define exactly what is marriage and what it is not. This power has become harmful to marriage as God defines it.