Recent discussions of and with a number of Christians in my life led me to delve into the issue of a man’s role and a woman’s role within marriage. As I studied I came across a number of good teachings from a number of solid Christians. This is, hopefully, the first in a multi-part collection of my own lessons, convictions, and beliefs regarding the nature of men and women, the purpose of marriage, and the clear and concise teaching of Holy Scripture on this subject.
Introductory comments: In today’s society and culture there are few things as damaged, tattered, and torn as the institution of marriage. The impact of this ruptured remnant of Biblical authority being lost within our lives is immense; it’s weight bearing down upon the fabric of culture, tearing it apart at the seams.
Beyond the financial ramifications, which are usually substantial, the emotional repercussions are often life-changing and persistent, carrying with them the sort of shame, remorse, bitterness, and distrust that effects the potential for future positive relationship growth.
A proper understanding of God’s purpose for marriage and the distinctly unique roles of a Christian husband and a Christian wife can serve to lay the foundation for a loving, lasting, unbreakable covenent relationship.
Part 1 – God’s Purpose for Marriage
Ephesians 5:31,32:
31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”[e] 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
From this passage in Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus we see that the deepest, truest purpose of marriage is to be a reflection, a representation, a likeness of how Christ related to and treated His Church. This is NOT simply an illustration, or an insteresting and satisfying perspective of marriage, this is the true meaning of marriage.
Quoting CJ Mahaney:
“So we see that there is a purpose in marriage that goes beyond personal fulfillment. Something of the selfless love, care, and sacrifice that Jesus shows toward the Church is supposed to be evident in you as you relate to your wife. Something of the respect, submission, and devotion that the Church shows toward Jesus is supposed to be evident in your wife as she relates to you. That’s the purpose for your marriage. That is why God has given her to you, and you to her.”
From John MacArthur:
“Marriage is the capstone of the family, the building block of human civilization. A society that does not honor and protect marriage undermines its very existence. Why? Because one of God’s designs for marriage is to show the next generation how a husband and wife demonstrate reciprocal, sacrificial love toward each other.
But when husbands and wives forsake that love, their marriage fails to be what God intended. When marriage fails, the whole family falls apart; when the family fails, the whole society suffers. And stories of societal suffering fill the headlines every day.
Now, more than ever before, is the time for Christians to declare and put on display what the Bible declares: God’s standard for marriage and the family is the only standard that can produce meaning, happiness, and fulfillment.”
Society is falling apart all around us. In an increasingly unbelieving and secular culture that is predicated upon instant gratification, selfish desires, and foolish pride, we must seek after the wisdom of Holy Scripture, and comform ourselves to the model we have been given in Christ.
Christian, your marriage is projecting a message into the world for all to see, like it or not. Examine yourself. …Examine your life and the fruits you are bearing.
Again, John MacArthur:
“If you’ll walk in the power of the Spirit, yield to His Word, and be mutually submissive, you can know that God will bless you abundantly and glorify His Son through your marriage.”
Very nice work Jon. Thanks for this compilation.
tr
Comment by galatiansc4v16 — March 8, 2008 @ 8:44 pm |
Thanks tr! I’m hopeful that the next pieces come together as easily as the first!
Travel save brother.
Jon
Comment by boxer4luvr — March 8, 2008 @ 9:53 pm |
I certainly appreciate how this, your part one turned out. The implication on society, or the world for that matter, should the sanctity of marriage not be upheld is startling.
Since the church has a similar divorce rate as the world, do you think we have passed the point of no return? Is it all down hill from here, save for the grace of God? What have we done to ourselves?
Comment by Loving The Word — March 11, 2008 @ 11:09 am |
Thanks for the post El!
In my opinion, the statistics which reflect that the divorce rate is similar within the confines of “the church” are misleading. I believe that “the church” has lost its way. Well….let me be careful how I state this…there are many, many churches out there that no longer teach, preach, and model themselves after, the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. When these “churches” are included in the sample population which is used to arrive at the statistic(s) you mentioned I don’t believe it to be an accurate reflection of how TRUE Christian husbands and wives relate.
I’ll be more specific and use myself as an example:
I was married before I was Christian. After I became a Christian I was in a church that did not teach and preach the true Gospel, instead offering a watered down version that was intentionaly altered to be “non-offending”. (I assume the idea was to bring in more numbers, although that didn’t turn out too well either!) As I’ve stated before, God surrounded me with some true Christians who helped me see the error and darkness in which I was walking with respect to the beliefs I had at the time. Having had the error of my ways brought to my attention in a loving manner by these Christians who surrounded me, I turned from the old ways and not only changed my ways, putting on the new, but also shared this Biblical teaching with my wife, who also embraced it. Our marriage is so much stronger now than it has ever been! It is simply amazing what a woman can do, is willing to do, is capable of, for a man who loves her…and shows her that. ….hoi!…but now I’m getting into my next part of the series!! hehe
To answer your question, I believe that our society is at a pivotal juncture. Some of the things that I see going on these days are simply ludicrous!! Have we passed the point of no return?…. Heaven only knows. But I do believe that there will need to be a reformation within our society before things get any better. I am hopeful that one is beginning right now, today.
What have we done to ourselves? That is a very good question indeed. I believe there is a great deal to be gained by reclaiming Biblical authority within the true church. That means reforming much of what is considered “religion” today.
The problem: Psalm 11:3 – If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do?
The soulution: Isaiah 58:12 – Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
Christ above all,
Jon
Comment by boxer4luvr — March 11, 2008 @ 4:27 pm |
Good point about how we are arriving at those “statistics”. Thanks for the “sneak peak” into part II.
I certainly asked some fairly impossible questions to answer, but you did a great job considering them. Reclaiming the Gospel and reforming much of what is considered “religion” today… May God help us to do that very thing.
Psalm 11:3 It certainly does seem that our foundations have been destroyed, or nearly so. Repairing the breached, restoring the streets… according to Isaiah 58:12. It must start in our very homes that we might be the example for those around us. God help our marriages to be as you intended them to be. —Looking forward to part II, as God leads, and in His time, of course. Thank you for posting this for our consideration. The breakdown and destruction of family is the foundation that Satan has been chiseling away at since the beginning. He’s done a lot of damage and we have a lot of retrofitting to do. God help us to do it. In Jesus’ name, help us to do it in and around each of our lives, according to your will that you might be glorified.
Comment by Loving The Word — March 12, 2008 @ 10:51 pm |