Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject
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Biblical Examinations Of An
Emotional
& Controversial
Subject
Biblical Examinations
Of An Emotional & Controversial
Subject
MARRIAGE – Love Designed By God
 The “Biblical definition” of marriage Gen 2
 This text must be seen as the “primary defining”
passage on marriage in all the Scripture
 It is where the family has its beginning
 It is the reference Jesus used in discussing the
topic…alluding to “at the beginning” Mt 19:4
and “from the beginning” Mt 19:8
Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject
MARRIAGE – Love Designed By God
 The “Biblical definition” of marriage Gen 2
 This is important because efforts have long been
underway & succeeding in “re-defining” marriage
 Current social and political events point to this
 It is seen in government acceptance when taxes
are paid or a census is taken  co-habitation
 God has other views about this Heb 13:4
Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject
MARRIAGE – Love Designed By God
 The “Biblical definition” of marriage Gen 2
 This “re-definition” is even more evident from the
homosexual movement
 Now, they are seeking (and succeeding) in states
recognizing same sex marriages to legitimize their
behavior and for them to gain access to monetary
benefits reserved for “traditional” families
Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject
MARRIAGE – Love Designed By God
 The “Biblical definition” of marriage Gen 2
 This “re-definition” is even more evident from the
homosexual movement
 God has other views about this Gen 18:20
Jude 5-7 1 Cor 6:9-10 Rom 1:24-28
 The “Biblical family” must be respected and
defended
Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject
MARRIAGE – Love Designed By God
 A relationship God takes very seriously
 We must be impressed with how serious God
views marriage
 If we want our marriages to be successful and
ones that God approves, our view of marriage
must equal His and be as serious as His
Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject
From Mal 2:14 & Mt 19:6b, 8b…
…we learn God is a “witness” to the oath
we take when we marry another and to the
covenant we enter into.
Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject
From Mal 2:14 & Mt 19:6b, 8b…
…we learn God is a “witness” to the oath
we take when we marry another and to the
covenant we enter into.
…we learn that “from the beginning” God
expects man to marry a woman, and that
He authorizes no man to “put asunder”
what He alone joins.
Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject
Despite God’s clearly understood
views, man regularly shows his
ignorance and disrespect for the
Bible’s clear teaching on marriage.
From the “strange” category…
Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject
News From 11/13/07
• Indian man
marries female
dog in traditional
Hindu ceremony
• He stoned 2 dogs
to death & hung
their bodies from
a tree 15 yrs. ago
• Hindu astrologers
convinced him
this was the only
way to rid himself
of his curse
Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial
Subject
Despite God’s clearly understood
views, man regularly shows his
ignorance and disrespect for the
Bible’s clear teaching on marriage
From the “strange” category…
From the “common everyday”
department…
Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject
Marriage & Divorce statistics
suggest man does not view
marriage as seriously as does God
Nationally
• Marriage & Divorce statistics
have hovered around the 50%
range for the last 4 decades
(Divorce laws changed in the 1970’s…
divorces became very easy to obtain)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject
Nationally
• Of those who are married, 42% of
women and 46% of men have
been married more than 1 time
• On average, 1st marriages ending
in divorce last about 8 years
• Median time between divorce and
a 2nd marriage is about 3½ years
Source:
U.S. Census
Bureau
Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional
& Controversial
Subject
Nationally
• In recent years, there has been a
slight decline nationally in the
number of divorces
• Marriage counselors herald this
as an improvement
• What it does is mask the growing
number of people co-habiting
Source:
U.S. Census
Bureau
Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional
& Controversial
Subject
The Barna Research Group conducts
primary research, produces media
resources pertaining to spiritual
development, and facilitates the healthy
spiritual growth of leaders, children,
families and Christian ministries. Located
in Ventura, California, Barna has been
conducting and analyzing primary research
to understand cultural trends related to
values, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors
since 1984.
Source:
Barna
Research
www.barna.org
Biblical
Examinations
Of An
EmotionalGroup
& Controversial
Subject
Nationally
• Co-habitation is becoming
increasingly more popular
• An increasing trend even among
“born again Christians”
• During their single years, 1 out of
every 3 adults (33%) has lived
with someone of the opposite sex
Source:
Barna
Research
www.barna.org
Biblical
Examinations
Of An
EmotionalGroup
& Controversial
Subject
Nationally
• Co-habitation is much more
common among men than women
• Men - 39%
Women - 28%
• A person’s faith leanings are
related to co-habitation statistics
• Born again Christian
• Atheists
25%
51%
Source:
Barna
Research
www.barna.org
Biblical
Examinations
Of An
EmotionalGroup
& Controversial
Subject
Nationally
• People are entering marriage later
in life…another indicator of the
“co-habitation factor”
• “Born again Christians” are just
as likely to get a divorce as are
non-born again adults
• Born again Christians 33%
• Non-born again adults 34%
Source:
Barna
Research
www.barna.org
Biblical
Examinations
Of An
EmotionalGroup
& Controversial
Subject
Nationally
• Geography also is a factor in the
divorce rate
• The Northeast has the lowest rate
•
•
•
•
Northeast 28%
Midwest 32%
South 35%
West 38%
Source:
Barna
Research
www.barna.org
Biblical
Examinations
Of An
EmotionalGroup
& Controversial
Subject
Locally
• Marriage & Divorce numbers are
also not impressive in Athens and
Limestone County
• Through October, 2007 (10 mths.)
• 522 marriage licenses applied for
(Source: Limestone Co. Probate Judge)
• Over 600 divorces filed for
(Source: Limestone Co. Circuit Court
Clerk)
Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject
What this reminds us of is that, on a wholesale
level, man no longer agrees with God’s serious
view about the marriage relationship He
instituted long ago.
Let marriage be held in honor
among all, and let the marriage bed
be undefiled; for fornicators and
adulterers God will judge.
Heb 13:4
NASV
Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject
MARRIAGE – Love Designed By God
 A relationship for which we should prepare
 How much preparation for a marriage license?
 We require more training for secular careers than
for life’s most important human relationship
 Proper preparation for marriage on the part of
both parents and children is necessary for
successful marriages
Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject
MARRIAGE – Love Designed By God
 A relationship for which we should prepare
 Parents are concerned whom their children will
eventually marry cp. Gen 24:1-4
 Abraham arranged the marriage for Isaac
 His did not want a daughter-in-law from among
the Canaanite people…he desired a wife for Isaac
from among his own people, relatives
Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject
MARRIAGE – Love Designed By God
 A relationship for which we should prepare
 It is not recorded what Abraham’s concerns were
 Our first thoughts would most likely be idolatry
 However, there may have been other cultural
indicators that made the patriarch worry about
his son’s future marriage
Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject
MARRIAGE – Love Designed By God
 A relationship for which we should prepare
 Even though parents today cannot arrange their
children’s marriage, principles from Abraham’s
actions certainly can be applied
 It is not sinful, wrong for our children to marry
unbelievers…“Canaanites” around them
1 Cor 7:12-13 1 Pet 3:1-2, 5
Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject
MARRIAGE – Love Designed By God
 A relationship for which we should prepare
 However, marrying unbelievers is dangerous
 Becoming “one” with such a spouse is quite
often a recipe for disaster Mt 19:6a
 Yet, the answer is not simply “Marry a Christian”
 Some who have obeyed the gospel also would not
make good marriage partners for our children
Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject
MARRIAGE – Love Designed By God
 A relationship for which we should prepare
 Parents should help their children look for and
date those with “honest and good hearts”…
ones who will help them do right and share their
goals
 This “preparation” is not only spiritual…parents
also have physical concerns Song of Sol 8:8-9
Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject
Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject
MARRIAGE – Love Designed By God
 A relationship for which we should prepare
 Parents should begin early teaching their
children all these important principles for when
their children eventually marry Song of Sol 8:2
Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject
MARRIAGE – Love Designed By God
 The importance of dating & courtship
 Because parents do not arrange their children’s
marriages, this is an extremely important and
necessary topic to include in our discussion
 Our children only know parental love during their
growing up years
 Then, hormones eventually “kick in”
Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject
Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject