Marriage Under Attack
0 comments | Posted by Steven Layson on 30 May 2011 in From Steve's Study ::
I think it’s fair to say that in many ways marriage is under attack in our society. With the easing of the divorce laws leading to record rates of divorce, the rise in “cohabitation” as people claim they don’t need the “piece of paper”, and the push for “gay marriage” seeking to change the definition of marriage itself, many now view the traditional, biblical view of marriage as an “outdated” institution.
Even Christians views and experiences of marriage are changing. Divorce statistics among regular church-goers are just as high as those outside; many young Christians have abandoned the traditional ideal of waiting till marriage to start sexual relations; and around the world there is a push for churches to bless same-sex unions.
So, what should we do? Do we run with the ever-increasing tide of popular opinion, or should we continue to hold firmly to the principles laid out in the Scriptures?
Although in some ways it would seem easier simply to “go with the flow”, for those of us who have put our faith in Jesus, our ultimate guide for all our life-decisions has to be God’s word. Even though it may mean that we run counter to the prevailing culture at times, we can trust that God’s ways, as outlined in Scripture, are what is best for us. He made us, after all, and he knows the wisest way for us to live.
After all, it’s not as if much has changed from the days of the bible writers. As we’ll see in today’s passage (Proverbs 5), there has always been the temptation to break the marriage bond. And yet, just because the temptation is there doesn’t make it the right choice. So, let us continue to encourage and pray for one another to remain faithful to our spouses, and to always look to strengthen our marriages. For “what God has joined together, let no one separate” (Matt 19:6).
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