I was sitting in the clinic waiting room yesterday and overheard a phone conversation. I do not think eavesdropping is a becoming trait. This woman was talking extremely loud, like she wanted everyone to hear, you could not avoid it.
She was asking her friend why her husband was so upset with her, didn't they both agree to see other people, was he really wanting this marriage to work, why didn't she just bring her children and come stay with her, what was she doing for herself, and going to church for encouragement was a good idea.

WHAT!?!?!?!

Does marriage not mean anything any more? Going to church for encouragement, when this lady wants to see other people while married? Not that going to church is a bad idea, it isn't, but this reasoning shows a clear misunderstanding of what the church is for, it is not to condone our actions and encourage us in them if they are sinful, quite the opposite in fact. Have we forgotten what marriage is? Here is a good definition from Websters' 1828 Dictionary:

MAR'RIAGE, n. [L.mas, maris.] The act of uniting a man and woman for life; wedlock; the legal union of a man and woman for life. Marriage is a contract both civil and religious, by which the parties engage to live together in mutual affection and fidelity, till death shall separate them. Marriage was instituted by God himself for the purpose of preventing the promiscuous intercourse of the sexes, for promoting domestic felicity,and for securing the maintenance and education of children.

Marriage is honorable in all and the bed undefiled. Heb.13.

Unfortunately divorce is just as prevalent in the church as outside of the church, that in itself is a sad statement on how the church views, counsels, and accepts divorce. Born Again Christians are just as likely to divorce as are non-Christians.

I find it a mournful thing to think of all of the divorced couples, to think of the children in those families (I am also a child of divorce) and the devastation they experience, to think of all of the blessing that are thrown away, and the displeasure it causes our Heavenly Father.

I pray we will do all we can to hold our marriages together and to encourage others to hold fast to their commitments and covenant relationships. That we would once again see divorce as something disgraceful and marriage as something sacred.

On a side note, I am not saying that if you are divorced you are a disgrace, God is a gracious, merciful, loving, and forgiving God and I seek to be like Him. I acknowledge that there are legitimate and Biblical reasons for divorce. I do however want to say this is not an excuse for divorce and God's desire is ultimately for reconciliation.

Labels: Christianity, marriage