Foundations of Marriage Part 1
In today’s society liberal secular thought is seeping into
even the most Christian homes and watering down the beliefs of many. Not until recently has the debate of same-sex
marriage gotten so heated and tense.
Many young adults, including many Christians, see marriage as a dying
institution and opt to cohabitate with significant others instead of committing
to a lifelong, monogamous relationship.
Our instant gratification lifestyle has deadened our senses so that we
continually want more, faster, with no real end in sight. As Scott Stanley of the University of
Denver’s Center for Marital and Family Studies writes, “The dominant culture no
longer has as broad of support for marital longevity, and Christians’ behavior
often mirrors that of the dominant culture.”[1]
So is marriage under attack from outside secular forces? Yes, would be the easy answer, but in truth
the Christian is also to blame for trust in God is severely lacking. This is why that, by defining Biblical
marriage, Christians can see how they are to live, love, and listen to their
spouses and how only God can bless their marriage. It is vitally important for Christians to
have a solid definition of marriage, so that they can strive to meet that goal
in order to live in the most joyful state where the likelihood of divorce is
diminished and the foundation of the relationship solidly remains God. And in doing so, their witness to the rest of
society will be increased.
Why Marriage?
The Judeo-Christian view of marriage begins with the
creation account in the book of Genesis setting the foundation of what is to be
considered a good marriage, and how the two sexes are to interact with each
other and the rest of creation. But why
marriage, why creation in the first place?
As finite
beings, humans most likely will never know why God decided to create rather
than not to create. However, much can be
said about why he decided to make humans the way he did, both male and
female. As a triune being, God has
always had a relationship, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit
are in communion with each other, and although are of the same substance,
interact accordingly, each with specifically designed roles. But when God created man in the creation
account Adam was alone[2],
but there is no passage that shows that Adam was even aware he was alone. It was God that saw that it was not good for
him to be alone and therefore made all kinds of animals, but realized it was
only a female, made from Adam, which could be a comparable helper. So, woman can be seen as a gift from God in
completion of the man-woman relationship.
As a gift, man was to take care of the woman, just as one takes care of
any other gift that may be received. “A
canonical understanding of this creation of sexual differentiation within our
essential unity as human beings supports the connection with the triune nature
of God himself.”[3]
As an omniscient, omnipotent, and good God, he decided to make humanity in his
own image, so that they too could benefit from relationship. This “godly creation of marriage was not only
for their mutual benefit in this relationship, but also for the purpose under
God’s creative power and blessing to have children, and thus populate the
earth.”[4] Notice how humanity was made for a purpose,
“to have children”; we are not merely random molecules that happened to come
together through time and chance like the naturalists may try to promote. The Judeo-Christian God is personal and
because of this, we are personal and made for relationship. However, the introduction of sin into the
world skewed and perverted this relationship and in doing so, has created a
maelstrom of problems for couples and society alike. For, “If God the creator in fact, as the
Bible teaches, instituted marriage and the family, and if there is an evil
being called Satan who wages war against God’s creative purposes in this world,
it should come as no surprise that the divine foundation of these institutions
has come under massive attack.”[5] So how then has this sin and spiritual
warfare affected the institution of marriage?
A study of marriage through scripture will show how it has been
adversely affected and how it has been overcome...
[1] Scott, Stanley.
“Strengthening Marriages in a Skeptical Culture: Issues and Opportunities.” Journal of Psychology and Theology 31,
no. 3 (2003): 225.
(Pictures are of my beautiful wife and my wedding at Glensheen Mansion in Duluth, MN)
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