In the forthcoming weeks, I will engage in a series of ministry blogs contrasting the Christian understanding of marriage with the most common conceptions and beliefs of marriage that are currently depicted in our post-Christian culture through music, television, film, fashion, sports, and print.  My intent is to present the most widely held beliefs and practices that our present culture deems as “acceptable” and “the norm,” and then discuss and contrast it with what the Bible and the Christian truth portrays in God’s creational design for marriage, the home, human intimacy, the family, and life-satisfaction.

The need for such a discussion and contrast is long overdue.  We live in times when the forces of gender-neutrality, erotic pragmatism, role-relationship confusion, self-satisfaction, and ego-centric pursuits (“as long as we both shall love” instead of “live”) dominate the landscape of interpersonal relationships and commitment (or rather the lack of it).  It’s time we take a fresh look and glean creative insights over how the Christian Gospel and its good news of life, freedom, hope, and relational value can find its place and purpose in a married couple’s commitment to building a sacred union that goes beyond the culture’s “supply and demand” insistence for a utilitarian “go and get all you can” for yourself and for your self-gratification.

At this point, it’s important to remember that not all depictions or portrayals of marriage in our current culture are completely depraved, deficient, and lack-luster.  Indeed, from time-to-time, we see admirable examples of sacrifice, deep commitment, and enduring love, especially in times of trial, disease, and catastrophe.  However, the commitments in these examples are often depicted as “old-fashioned” or rare, coming from a previous era, but not in-sync with our present times.  The time is right to compare and to contrast how our post-Christian culture seeks to derive meaning and value from marriage, and how the Bible portrays it for the welfare and happiness of human life and culture.

In forthcoming discussions, I want to highlight topics such as, but not limited to:

• The Bible’s insistence on an engaged couple’s “saving themselves and preparing themselves for each other” as contrasted with the post-Christian practice of “co-habitation.”
• The Bible’s depiction of the “leaving father and mother” and “weaving” a mutual dependent relationship on each other (imaging the intimacy of the Triune God upon creation) with the post-Christian concept of “erotic utilitarianism” and sexual “self-gratification.”
• The Bible’s insistence on the husband’s loving, sacrificial, initiative to his wife (following the initiative of Christ to the Church) with the post-Christian practice of a shared egalitarianism where “whoever wants to lead” is negotiated.
• The Bible’s portrait of unique and defined role-relationships in the marriage covenant with the post-Christian’s view of gender role-equality.
• The Bible’s presentation of human intimacy in the marriage relationship on 4 levels and progressions (spiritual, mental, emotional and physical) with the post-Christian practice of intimacy as an erotic “supply and demand.”
• The Bible’s representation of human dialogue and communication in the marriage relationship as grounded in God’s character towards the valuing of a spouse’s identity with the post-Christian culture’s depiction of human discourse as pragmatic and self-absorbing (“it’s about MY needs”).
• The Bible’s understanding of human sexuality as unique and sacred between male and female with the post-Christian view that sexuality is “conditioned” and “culturally-determined.”
• The Bible’s view of fulfillment in the marriage relationship as a “submission” of both the husband and the wife to the “mission of God” for their life, relationship, and home with the post-Christian culture’s view of “submission” as something “inferior” and “degrading.”
• The Bible’s view of commitment as a sacred covenant (“as long as we both shall live”) with the post-Christian view of commitment as a human condition (“as long as we both shall love”).

In the course of presentation and discussion, more topics will emerge, compelling us to elaborate on them as opportunity allows.  More than ever before, the Church in today’s culture must clearly articulate and contrast God’s design for marriage in a Christian context with the world’s view of marriage in a civil context, if we are ever to offer a better alternative to life and happiness to people looking for it.  The Gospel demands a clear contrast and portrayal.

Coming soon………….