Christian Marriage

how common this is. She became quiet. Why? Because her own father had two wives.

There are, as you know, serious problems too that arise over demands of more dowry after the marriage and abuses that occur if that demand is not met. I have sensed from conversations with many people that there are many cases at the hospitals that are because the hardness of hearts in the marriage

In the Old Testament when Moses gave a certificate of divorce (Deuteronomy 24:1), it was because of the hardness of hearts (And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.” Mark 10: 4-5 ).

People everywhere ignore God’s design for marriage. Today this hardness of heart is still with us. It manifests itself differently in different cultures, but the hardness of heart, sin and depravity of man crosses all cultural barriers.

What we must do, is find the clear teaching of scripture on the subject of marriage. Where the cultural practice in marriage does not contradict scripture, lets embrace that cultural practice. But, where the cultural practices in marriage contradict scripture, then let us use that as our opportunity to stand by scripture and be different from our society.

The Lord has called us to be salt and light. We are to bring every area of our lives into subjection under the lordship of Christ that people can see the difference that Jesus can bring to an individual, a family and to society. We have an incredible opportunity to show the difference that Jesus can make when we bring our marriages under the subjection of Jesus Christ.

Our Hindu neighbor Rina began to ask my wife Lenora about our family. She commented that she saw our marriage as good. She said she believed it was because of Christ and the Bible making a difference in our lives. This is exactly the kind of testimony we are hoping to have as we seek to bring our marriage under the Lordship of Christ.

What symbol is used in the Bible to be a visible representation on earth of Christ and the Church? It is marriage! (Eph 5:22) Christian marriage should be an earthly demonstration of the relationship Christ has with the church.

Our marriages should reflect the kind of commitment Jesus demonstrated when He went to the cross and gave himself up for the church. We have in Scripture, instructions to both the wives and the husbands to let us know what is needed to bring our marriages under the Lordship of Christ.


Wives:
“Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.” Colossians 3:18

The Bible instructs the wife to submit to her husband. This should come from a desire of the wife to serve the Lord. This is a submission that is based on love. (I Corinthians 13:5 Love does not insist on its own way).

Here in Colossians we come to find out the reason why it is good for the wife to submit to her husband. “It is fitting in the Lord.” In Ephesians the motivation is stated as, “out of reverence for Christ.”

Whether it is here in Colossians, I Peter or Ephesians the instruction for the wife is consistent. The idea is to be willing to give up something for the sake of others. The wife gives respect and honor to her husband. This submission means the wife is building up her husband, not tearing him down.

To obey this instruction means the wife is giving up some rights. This is done in the context