The Importance of Reclaiming Marriage

“Marriage is not a human invention; it is a divine revelation. Its design never was our own made-up arrangement of infinite malleability. It was given to us, at the beginning of all things, as a brightly shining fixity of eternal significance. We might not always live up to its true grandeur. None of us does so perfectly. But we have no right to redefine it, and we have every reason to revere it.”

“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.” [Ray Ortlund, Marriage and the Mystery of the Gospel]

The church, for centuries, has proclaimed the words in Mark 10:6-8 at weddings, for they speak of the gift of marriage, recognized by many of the population and acknowledged by Christian men and women: A man and a woman united, a union, confirmed by Jesus in Matthew 19:4-6. Man has manipulated and even denied this truth.

This has caused the institution of marriage and the family as designed by God, which is a sizeable part of the critical infrastructure of our nation and, also essential to the nation’s well-being has been undermined by legislation influenced by worldly thinking.

The cornerstone, the foundation of the nation, our God, is unchanging, as is His word.

Ps. John Piper said in his book, This Momentary Marriage “Some [cultures], like our own, have such low, casual, take-it-or-leave-it attitude towards marriage as to make the biblical vision seem ludicrous to other people.”

We in the church are bound to bear witness to the truth of God’s word in reverence of Him. Within that having the responsibility to bear witness to the truth about marriage and family as totally revealed in the Word of God.

The people of the church being equipped and, sometimes, maybe corrected to have marriages and families that bring glory to God. Marriages/families where God is at the centre and the foundation, with all having a love for each other but a greater love for God. Such marriages and families would stand out, would shine out and be an asset in their own community, as well as the church and our nation.

Marriage, according to God’s design, shows itself to be that part of a critical infrastructure of a nation which is just and stable.

In our times, modern sexual attitudes have undermined marriage. As a result, marriage and family have been damaged through the ease of getting a divorce [marriage being considered as a contract rather than a lifelong covenant], the acceptance that it is the “norm” for premarital sex and cohabitation [fornication] and by some that adultery is allowable.

Across the denominations, whilst we might have different views on the rights and wrongs of contraception, divorce and clerical celibacy, there is general agreement on the truth of God’s design of marriage and family. But, through recent years we have stood back from speaking out, the truths, what the bible teaches on sex, marriage and family life and the responsibilities.

The church needs to clarify and reclaim the truth about marriage. The truth that is written in God’s word and thus shown through the Christian tradition. We should not compromise on marriage and family. It is crucial that we seek to ensure that our witness to our culture and society is not obscured by any confusions and wokeism into which society has slid. We need to take note and have confidence in the words that Paul, inspired by the Lord, wrote to Timothy: “Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.”  2 Timothy 4:2 [NLT]