Marriage was God's idea from the beginning, prior to the fall. It was and still is His plan for the majority of mankind.
[18] Then the LORD God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him." ... [24] Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. - Gen 2:18, 24 ESV
The fall of man continues to distort all that is true and good, including the beauty of marriage. Since that regrettable day, marriage has been under continual attack by the Enemy. The concept of marriage is less then ideal to many in our generation. It is deemed better to cohabit together apart from the bonds of covenant relationship. This way it is not so messy "in case the happy twosome drift apart".
Yes, the concept of marriage is under terrible scrutiny, and now its very definition is being distorted to include the antithesis of what God intended. One of the most influential foundational building blocks of a wholesome society is being chiseled away by the persistent pounding of worldly philosophies.
Yet the truth of God remains resolute. Unyielding in its intent. Relentless in its purpose.
[4] Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. - Hbr 13:4 ESV
God hates adultery. He hates it because it is immoral and the opposite of everything that is pure, right, and trustworthy. It is a covenant destroyer. It rends family. It suppresses the Gospel.
God hates divorce. He hates it because it shreds the picture of what marriage represents. Covenant relationship. Unconditional love. Christ the groom dying for His bride the church.
Yet in our fallen world divorce happens - and it seems God even permits it under certain awful circumstances because of the hardness of our hearts.
Oh married man! Oh married woman! Would to God you will fight tooth and nail to maintain a wholesome, healthy, exemplary marriage for the sake of the Gospel. Remain resolute with God your Father. Cling to Him and cleave to one another.
[18] Then the LORD God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him." ... [24] Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. - Gen 2:18, 24 ESV
The fall of man continues to distort all that is true and good, including the beauty of marriage. Since that regrettable day, marriage has been under continual attack by the Enemy. The concept of marriage is less then ideal to many in our generation. It is deemed better to cohabit together apart from the bonds of covenant relationship. This way it is not so messy "in case the happy twosome drift apart".
Yes, the concept of marriage is under terrible scrutiny, and now its very definition is being distorted to include the antithesis of what God intended. One of the most influential foundational building blocks of a wholesome society is being chiseled away by the persistent pounding of worldly philosophies.
Yet the truth of God remains resolute. Unyielding in its intent. Relentless in its purpose.
[4] Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. - Hbr 13:4 ESV
God hates adultery. He hates it because it is immoral and the opposite of everything that is pure, right, and trustworthy. It is a covenant destroyer. It rends family. It suppresses the Gospel.
God hates divorce. He hates it because it shreds the picture of what marriage represents. Covenant relationship. Unconditional love. Christ the groom dying for His bride the church.
Yet in our fallen world divorce happens - and it seems God even permits it under certain awful circumstances because of the hardness of our hearts.
Oh married man! Oh married woman! Would to God you will fight tooth and nail to maintain a wholesome, healthy, exemplary marriage for the sake of the Gospel. Remain resolute with God your Father. Cling to Him and cleave to one another.
I've always struggled with the tension between marriage revealing the relationship between Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:25) and "There are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it" (Matthew 19:12). If marriage is a holy and God-glorifying endeavor--which I fully accept and believe--then how are we to understand the elevated status that can also be given to singleness?
ReplyDelete1 Cor 7:9 further muddies the waters by suggesting (perhaps somewhat misleadingly) that those who marry do so to avoid "burning with passion." And yet there is something sanctifying (though not justifying, cf. 1 Cor 7:16) about marriage, even for the unbeliever (1 Cor 7:14). With so many angles, what are we to make of the relationship between marriage and lifelong singleness?
Robert, good question and one that I'm not sure I completely know the answer to. However, I do have a couple thoughts.
ReplyDeleteMatthew 19:11 suggests that celibacy is a gift. If it is a gift how then would the status be elevated?
I think in the case of Corinth - the political and persecution landscape that the early church found themselves in was very difficult. It seems this certainly would have influenced Paul's thoughts regarding this topic.
Interesting thoughts Mike! As for singleness being a gift, Jesus says "The one who can accept this should accept it" (Matthew 19:12). Taken in context with verse 11, that suggests to me that among those given the call to celibacy there will be some who cannot accept it (which resonates, on the surface at least, with 1 Cor 7:9). Perhaps elevation is not the best word, but if God calls you to something and some will be able to answer and others will not, I think there is something to be said for being in the former group.
ReplyDeleteAs for Paul's views on marriage, no doubt the political climate of that time and place were influential (as were his personal experience and special revelation, I'm sure). But in what way do you see that playing out here?
[26] I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is. - 1Cr 7:26 ESV
ReplyDeleteI think this verse gives some insight into Paul's thinking when writing about singles keeping their status.
Yet, it seems as though those whom God would call to a life of celibacy would be given the gift to remain so. However, I do have a real good pastor friend who is 43, never been married and yet longs to be! It is a struggle for him. How does his experience fit with these verses? Has he been called to a celibate life? Why is he still single when he has the God-given desire to be married? These are questions I'm sure he has wrestled with. He would with certainty that he doesn't have this gift, but yet this is God's will for him thus far. It causes me to think of Abraham being promised a son and yet years and years go by...Lord increase our faith!