Marriage, what role does the Government play?

Politicans constantly debate the question, "In marriage, what role does the Government play?"
And this causes all sorts of different views of marriage to clash and have endless debates and usually only results in more government regulating more of our religious and civil liberties.
Now, it must be understood, that I am a Christian, I attend a Reformed Church and I believe, based upon the Word of God that marriage is between one man and one woman. But the question is misleading, "what role does the Government play?" The correct question is, "Is there even a role at all?"
The best way to protect my view of marriage AND all the views of those who disagree with me, is by REMOVING Government out of the equation. Marriage is religious in nature and therefore should be defined and regulated by the religious preference of the party being married, according to their churches/organization's practice. Marriage is a private matter that the Government has no place in regulating...Just as we don't need a license to have a friend at work or to have a cousin or parent, we don't need, and in a free society, should NOT need, to have the Government involved in private relationships between consenting adults.
Protect Marriage, Protect Liberty, Get the Government OUT!