Marriage Thoughts
A casual perusal of the web today has led to two future topics for blog posts. I will exapnd on these thoughts in future posts. For now, I wanted to catalog my initial reactions as much for myself as for my readers.
First, Internet dating service Match.com’s new slogan is “It Doesn’t Hurt To Look.” That is a terrible way to think. Why don’t you just make your slogan “Hey, Married People–Just Try Us Out for the Pictures that Members Post!” Meanwhile, what does looking at all of these attractive members of the opposite sex do for the married person? Well, first, it takes away adoration from the spouse. Second, what you think about is what you desire. Thinking about these women (or men) increases the desire to cheat.
So, as the Bible commands, “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Phil 4:8). When you see temptation, conciously avert your thoughts where they should go: to your spouse. James White has a series on Philippians 4:8 -
Think About These Things | Honorable | Just | Pure | Lovely | Commendable
Second thing is a blog post from Meditations on Meaning entitled “The Science is Clear: Marriage Should be Eradicated.“ I don’t have time for a reasoned response in the short space here, but I will respond in full very soon.
Obviously, even Jesus taught that marriage, as God fully intended it, isn’t for everyone (Matt 19:3-12, esp. verse 11). But should we be so hasty to simply eradicate the entire concept? The majority of the points that Dan makes in his post are true of our Western, individualistic culture. This is the same issue that underlies the man-centered theologies I’ve discussed in the previous post.
For secular folks, eradication of marriage may be an option. But for Christians, called to live as God commands, it means learning how to die to the desires of our sinful nature. This isn’t an easy calling; it is one I struggle with daily. But I thank the Lord for granting me the opportunity to try on each new day to live as a perfect offering to Him. This is a higher calling, a calling to demonstrate God’s love to the world.
