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Most people would agree that few topics are as important to our lives as marriage. However, this long-standing institution has been under attack in our culture for the past few generations! Is marriage, as traditionally defined as a legal union between a man and a woman, worth preserving for society? Is there an advantage to this form of union to individuals’ mental and physical health, and to society in general?
In the current blog, and the next blog, I am going to discuss the importance of marriage in the Christian life.
Marriage is a foundational institution in our society as it replenishes the country’s population for the next generation. It also provides an important social unit for community function and order as well as helping the weak in society the poor, children and the elderly. Marriage additionally assists its participants. Numerous studies have shown the benefit of traditional marriage on personal and mental wellbeing, health and finances (1-8).
Marriage also represents an important entry into society for married couples. Emotionally, marriage provides love, acceptance, as well as intimacy for the spouses and care for children.
As important as these attributes are regarding marriage, spiritually it is even more important. The Bible describes the main purpose of Christian marriage as demonstrating to society the precious relationship between Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:21-33). Stated another way, marriage is primarily an evangelical tool!
Marriage – Primarily reflects the relationship between Christ and the church
Wow! Why is this, considering all the other important reasons for marriage? Please consider the following:
- God’s goals – God’s plans are greater than our own and His plan is to sum up all history in Christ (Ephesians 1:10-11). Consequently, viewing marriage and its purpose within the overall construct of God’s plan is important and appropriate. God wants all people to come to know Him and so marriage is primarily evangelical as we demonstrate Christ’s loving relationship to the church.
- Importance to us – Although marriage as a witness to society, it is also vital to our own marriage relationship, as it reminds us that we were married for God’s purposes and not primarily for our own desires such as: sex, a wonderful marriage ceremony, and having children (as wonderful as they are). Remembering God’s goal in marriage also minimizes whatever expectations for marriage we might hold such as the responsibility for household tasks and interactions with extended family.
- God defines the relationship – Knowing that the purpose of marriage is to reflect Christ and the church reminds us that we primarily serve Christ and our spouse. When we leave and cleave from our prior families our priorities are clearly to be toward our marriage partner and God (Ephesians 5:31-32).
How then does marriage reflect the relationship between Christ and the church?
- The love between a man and a woman reflects the love Christ and the church have for each other.
- The love of the husband, and his complete devotion to his wife, reflects the love and devotion of Christ to the church.
- The submission of the wife to her husband reflects the submission of the church to Christ. The prescribed order of people and institutions in the Bible is important not only for the function of society, but for the church and family as well (1 Timothy 2:1-2; Romans 13:1-7; Colossians 3:18ff, 1 Peter 2:13-20; Ephesians 6:1-9). It is within the confines of order that the gospel best goes forward to bring people to Christ.
- This combination of order, love and devotion provide a productive, caring picture to society of what Christ does for the church. Marriage should attract people to the gospel.
Marriage is a wonderful institution that God has ordained and provides marvelous benefits to the church, society and individuals. However, at its highest purpose is an evangelical tool that God uses to attract people to the gospel.
Thanks very much for joining me today. Join me next time as we discuss Teleios research and the scientific benefits of marriage or read more at https://teleiosresearch.com/marriage-gods-plan/.
- Horwitz AV (1996). Becoming married and mental health: A longitudinal study of a cohort of young adults. J Marriage Family, 58:895-907.
- Marks NF, Lambert JD (1998). Marital status continuity and change among young and midlife adults longitudinal effects on psychological wellbeing. J Family Issues, 19:652-686.
- Kamp Dush CM (2013). Marital and cohabitation dissolution and parental depressive symptoms in fragile families. J Marriage Family, 75:91-109.
- Meadows SO (2009). Family structure and fathers’ wellbeing: trajectories of mental health and self-rated health. J Health Social Behavior, 50:115-131.
- Abern M (2014). Marital status independently predicts testis cancer survival—an analysis of the SEER database. Urologic Oncology, 30:487-493.
- Barbash I, Gaglia MA, Torguson R, Minha S, Satler LF, Pichard AD, Waksman R (2013). Effect of marital status on the outcome of patients undergoing elective or urgent coronary revascularization. Am Heart J, 166:729-736.
- Hahn BA (1993). Marital status and women’s health: The effect of economic marital acquisitions. J Marriage Family, 55:495-504.
- Killewald, A, & Gough, M. (2013). Does specialization explain marriage penalties and premiums? Am Sociological Review, 78:477-502.
William C. Stewart, MD
Disclaimer – This blog and its content are provided only as information. No content on the website should be taken as advice or recommendation to any personal or institutional situation. The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily either shared or endorsed by Teleios. Both the blog and the contents are subject to change at any time without notice. Although I endeavor to ensure that the blog and the content are current and accurate, it may contain errors. I do not represent that the blog or the content is current, accurate or complete, or appropriate for your specific requirements. I do not accept any liability from any person for the blog, the content or any other information (or the use of such information) I provide. I do not have a seminary degree, but I have trained myself in the scriptures to teach and provide this information. For any specific question, I suggest you contact experts in that field and or do your own research into the scriptures.
