Marriage- More than a trip down the aisle?

Marriage is under attack from almost every quarter. This militant anti-Christian view of marriage has infiltrated every sphere and stratum of our society. It is attacked by comedians, soap operas, and by modern militant feminism which seeks to rid itself of every maternal and wifely instinct. Marriage is under attack by those who consider it to be an antiquated piece of Victorian which can now be dispensed with by our more enlightened and liberated age.

It doesn’t seem very long ago that the world once considered that when a man and woman lived together outside of marriage, they were living in sin. But so successful has been the attack on marriage as a sacred and abiding institution that such is no longer the case. Concubinage (the state of being or keeping a concubine), the defiled bed, cohabitation are becoming the norm. Martin Luther stated in 1521, “There is no estate to which Satan is more opposed than to marriage.” If ever the Christian is to combat this humanistic, atheistic and sinful attack then it is essential that Christians themselves have sound and God-glorifying marriages which are built upon a solid biblical foundation.

How, then, is the Christian to view marriage? Marriage, according to Ephesians 5, is to be a mirror which reflects the love of Christ for the church and the love which the church has for Christ. Marriage is to reflect that glorious relationship. It is an astonishing thought that every Christian marriage is to portray the love of Christ for the Church. This is a great mystery.

Can our children say to the unconverted that Christ’s love for the church is something like their mother’s and father’s love for each other? The Christian marriage is to radiate the amazing and sacrificial love of Christ.

Divine love is to permeate the Christian home, and this is why none should enter marriage lightly and unadvisedly, but thoughtfully and wisely, considering the purposes for which marriage was instituted. This then is the biblical ideal set before us.

Marriage is to be an illustration of the apostle’s teaching about love however what we see today is far from what it should be.

Do you agree?