Sanctity of Marriage

The sanctity of marriage has to do with not defiling the marriage bed, not with the necessity to get married in the first place.

Defiling the marriage bed can happen any number of ways.

1. Sex outside of marriage, either before or during marriage.
2. Joking about the marriage partner in a negative way
3. Ignoring the marriage in favor of business, golf, or anything else

etc.

The "marriage bed" isn't just a four-poster on which you both sleep. It is a term referring to the entire marriage, the union between husband and wife. It has saddened me to see in jokes and posts here on BB the number of times a marriage partner is held up to ridicule either in fantasy or reality. To me, that is as much a desecration of the sanctity of marriage as sex outside of marriage would be.

Just as a note, the young man who posted about the in-law problems -- and that sort of post -- that is another matter. That is asking for help from those experienced in marriage. He is not ridiculing his wife. I certainly can see a difference and I hope others can, too.

Our culture has lost its respect for marriage almost entirely and our children are being raised to see living together and even marriage as temporary affairs to be terminated when no longer comfortable. THAT is a desecration of marriage and the marriage bed.

What is interesting is that this is the precise reason many are not getting married. At least they don't want to play at something which they no longer consider meaningful. There is at least an ounce of refusal to be a hypocrite in that, regardless of the morality involved.

 

Maybe they haven't met the right person?

Maybe they are afraid of commitment?

The young adults today were either in families where divorce took place or had so many friends with divorced parents, that they seem to mistrust marriage or commitment.

I was talking about this with my son and his friend one day (both age 24). They said that growing up they had so many friends with divorced parents it was common. This was not true when I was growing up. Kids from divorced families were the exception, not the norm.

My son, in fact, was the product of this as I was divorced from his dad (before I was saved). In fact, the other day I told my son that I noticed that several of his friends are from divorced homes. He said, "Well, Mom, so many families are divorced families!"). He didn't say it, but it was like "duh, Mom." :smilewinkgrin:

 

Hey, I meant to tell you Scarlett, we got rid of the old singles club at the Church and instead we have a "Worship through fellowship" club. We now encourage couples or any member to bring friends, family and join the Church for a monthly night out.

We went bowling last Thursday and had a fairly good turnout. One of the singles told me today how much he appreaciated this change. He described the previous group as, "a Christian science experiment" where everyone would watch and gossip to see who would "hook up". I guess he lives in the same appartment complex as one of the single ladies. He stopped giving her a ride because of the rumors.

I never would have known without ya, so, THANKS!

 

Great! I play at the organ at the wedding. I better start learning so I can atleast get he first note right. :laugh: :laugh:

 

So I guess ya'll won't need me on the organ since you'll be availible. And I was thinking of buying an instruction book and everything...

 

Thank you for your post, Sister Helen! Probably one of the best all around explainations I have ever read.

#2 is called "Foolish jesting"----I have heard a husband "Jest" foolishly about his wife as early as last night after church!!

 

More of the same old tricks, I see.
Make a statement, then when it is refuted, quickly say you never said it. Thankfully, we have the OP as a witness

 

Well, your OP said nothing about Christians living together, and niether did my reply. On the other hand, you did make a connection between the sanctity of marriage as opposed to singleness.

 

Good post. I agree. :thumbsup: