Tag: Marriage

Gentle Marriage

On By BrianIn Virtue of Gentleness

Gentle-Way

[Wives:] But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle (meek) and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. – I Peter 3:4 ESV (Other Translations)

 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding (considerate) way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. – I Peter 3:7 ESV (Other Translations)

 Wives are to have a gentle and quiet spirit that comes out in their words and actions.  But husbands too must be gentle if they are to be considerate of their wives and honor them.  In whatever way women are the weaker vessel, it requires husbands then to be gentle with them.

And husbands and wives, like all people, can be weak and bruised and weary from the trials and struggles of this world.  And so they need to be gentle with each other.

This is the great test of gentleness.  It is easy to put on show in public, but what are we like at home?  Are we gentle with each other, or are we harsh, brawling, loud, or manipulative?

Every marriage would improve greatly if gentleness ruled in our homes.  God calls us to grow in gentleness.

If you are married, are you gentle with your spouse?

Does gentleness rule in your home?

How might you need to be more gentle toward your spouse this week?

Current

On By BrianIn Current Collection

Here are some more helpful posts to help Christians think through the recent Supreme Court’s decision on “same-sex marriage.”

Everything Has Changed and Nothing Has Changed: The Supreme Court Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage – Albert Mohler

Why the Gay Marriage Debate Was Over in 1950 – Joel Miller

How Christians Can Show Countercultural Resolve on Marriage – Jennifer Marshall (TGC)

Dear Christian Friends: Remember you are not Home – Erik Raymond (TGC)

How Should You Talk to Your Children About Same-Sex Marriage? – Russell Moore

40 Questions for Christians Now Waving Rainbow Flags – Kevin DeYoung

Current

On By BrianIn Current Collection

Here is an overview and some helpful initial responses to yesterday’s Supreme Court “same-sex marriage” decision.  Don’t miss the last two especially.

Supreme Court rules gay couples nationwide have a right to marry – Robert Barnes (WP)

Here are the key excerpts on religious liberty from the Supreme Court’s decision on gay marriage – Sarah Pulliam Bailey (WP)

Why the church should neither cave nor panic about the decision on gay marriage – Russell Moore (WP)

What Your Church Needs to Know—and Do—About the Court’s Marriage Ruling – Erik Stanley (TGC)

But What Does The Bible Say? – Kevin DeYoung

So-Called Same-Sex Marriage: Lamenting the New Calamity – John Piper (DG)

Current

On By BrianIn Current Collection

I was talking to some other pastors this week about same-sex marriage, and we noted the great confusion on the Biblical Christian teaching on this issue, especially in the views of our young people.  So here are a few helpful posts to help us keep thinking through the issue:

Five Questions for Christians Who Believe the Bible Supports Gay Marriage – Kevin DeYoung

Should We Support Gay Marriage? NO – Wolfhart Pannenberg

The Solemnization of Matrimony – Kevin DeYoung

Family Collection

On By BrianIn Family Collection

Here are some good posts on the family:

Marriage on the Edge of Eternity – Francis Chan
(It might be time to rethink our focus…)

10 Ways to Exercise Christlike Headship – Owen Strachan
(It may not be what you think…)

5 Reasons We Eat Together as a Family – Tim Challies
(Some good reasons for an important family practice…)

Family Focus

On By BrianIn Family Collection

Here are some good posts on marriage:

Affair Proof and Divorce Proof Your Marriage in 2 Hours a Week – Gary Thomas
After years of reading, writing, speaking, traveling, and pastoral counseling, I’ve identified two things that, when they are in place, can almost guarantee you that your spouse won’t have an affair and that you won’t get a divorce. But you need to do both. I didn’t come up with these; I’m just recognizing them. You’ve heard of both of them, there’s nothing new here, but consider these two elements as the “canary in the mine.” If your marriage has both elements, the “air” in your mine is fresh and healthy and your marriage is probably fairly stable. If one or both of them die, the air is getting poisoned, and you need to take caution. Your marriage is now much more vulnerable to disintegration….

18 Things I Will Not Regret Doing With My Wife – Tim Challies
Here are 18 things I know I will never regret doing with my wife.
1. Praying with her. It took too long for the two of us to begin to really pray together; even now, we have a long way to go. But we have learned the importance of praying together and never regret the times we spend together before the Lord….

18 Things I Will Not Regret Doing With My Husband – Aileen Challies
So here are 18 things I will not regret doing with my husband.
1. Dating him. Because Tim is a pastor, Monday is usually his day off.  But like most days off, our Mondays are usually filled with chores (and in his case, writing). But one thing we always try to do is to get away from the house and go out for some time and some lunch. I will never regret setting aside that time to be together….

Embrace God’s Definition of Marriage

On By BrianIn Family/Single Life1 Comment

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife,
and they shall become one flesh.
– Genesis 2:24

At the very beginning, God the Creator defines marriage as one man and one woman who leave their parents, hold fast to each other, and become one flesh.  In Matthew 19:5, Jesus reaffirms this definition.

Unless you have been living under a rock for the last 20 years, you know that there is a growing movement to redefine marriage as being between any two people, including two men or two women.  Other countries have legalized so called same sex marriage.  Certain states in our own country have done so, and other states are considering it at the next election.  Many believe the Supreme Court will take up the issue in their next term.

As we consider the possibility that our country may soon legally define marriage as between any two people, it is important for us to recognize three distinctions:

  • Legal vs. Right – Our government determines what is legal, but God determines what is right…and wrong.  So if our government should legalize so called same sex marriage, that still won’t make it right.
  • Legal vs Real – Again our government determines what is legal, but God defines what is real.  He created reality and he defines it.  He defines reality so that if I hold my pen in the air and let it go, my pen will drop.  I can reject the law of gravity, but it is still real, and I am still bound to it.  He defined real marriage between a man and a woman.  I can reject his definition, but it is still real, and I am still bound to it.
  • Legal vs True – Our government determines what is legal, but God determines what is true – that which agrees with reality.  I have a cat.  I can call it a dog, but that doesn’t make it true, because it doesn’t agree with reality.  We can call two men or two women married, but that doesn’t make it true, because it doesn’t agree with reality.

As Christians we need to hold to God’s definition of marriage.  No matter what our culture or government thinks, we must hold to the teachings of our Savior.  We must hold to the definition of our Creator.  We must hold to Biblical truth.  We must hold to what is right, real, and true.  We must believe it and live it, no matter how unpopular it may be.

Some will say that this position is not loving.  But we must remember that love “does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth” (I Corinthians 13:6).  It is not loving to legalize something that is not right.  It is not loving to create a legal fiction and tell people they are married when they really aren’t.  If we love people, we must hold to the God’s definition of marriage, the only right, real, and true definition there is.