Restore Marriage

Australia legalised same-sex marriage on December 9, 2017. The federal Parliament passed the Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Act 2017 on December 7, 2017, which redefined marriage as “the union of two people to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life”. This occurred when 12.2 million Australians (52.1% of the population) according to the Census of 2016 said they were Christian.

Many said prior to the Marriage Amendment Act that it was the sharp end of a wedge and that there was much more on the agenda of those behind the Act. Since the Act, many changes have occurred across our nation, from the titles people use in “official” communications, to how mothers and fathers are described on birth registrations, sometimes as Parent 1 and Parent 2. There have been changes to abortion laws across the States and Territories. Also, as of November 2025, all states and the Australian Capital Territory have implemented schemes providing assisted suicide and euthanasia for eligible individuals. These laws typically refer to the practice as “voluntary assisted dying”.

Where has the Christian voice of Australia been? It would seem that many are hearers of the Word and not doers of the Word. James 1:22-24.

Alongside all that has happened, divorce rates have not really abated.  Each year, the divorce of parents affects 40,000 + children. Many of these children bear the scars of domestic violence, whether physical or verbal, in its many forms. Families, communities, and the church can be affected by the breakup, the effects even following through to the workplace.

In his book “Marriage and the Mystery of the Gospel,” published in October 2016, Ray Ortlund said:

“I yearn for a recovery of joyful confidence in marriage as God originally gave it to us. This requires a humble, thoughtful return to biblical teachings. We will never see human sexuality restored without a rediscovery of Scripture as the consensus of our culture.”

Over the years, marriage and family values have been eroded, and regrettably, the church has not been exempted from this. Spiritual attacks are causing this erosion, and they target marriage and family, as well as most, if not all, spheres of our society.

Marriages and families are the foundation of societies, nations, and, of course, the church. As the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 [NKJV]. The Apostle also wrote much about marriage in 1 Corinthians 7 and Ephesians 5, and also about the responsibilities of fathers, which is also covered in the Old Testament.

Around us, in the church's body, we see people coming to meetings with burdened or distracted hearts that are effectively closed off to hearing, to receiving the Word. The Word that is spoken out in fullness and truth in fear of the Lord and not of the world. Thankfully, the battle is the Lord's, as is the victory, and it is our prayer that hearts within the church will be open to receive and to act, to be doers of the word. That is “doers of the word” within life, whether within marriage, family, other relationships, the workplace……

The Word shows us the importance of marriage and family to our Lord; the Word reveals its eternal significance. His design of marriage shows us the unchanging, the redeeming love of our God for us all, no matter how we have sinned, showing the eternal bond between Christ and His bride – us, the church.

May the church reflect and model His design and purpose of marriage, and may we equip all age groups and ministries accordingly.

"For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church."

Ephesians 5:30-32