Verified Document

The Foundations Of Christian Marriage Essay

Christian marriage is one of the most important Christian traditions. Since God created the first man and woman, He intended us to create strong relationships with our partners, procreate, and participate in community life in this way. Marriage is the foundation of not only strong families, but also of strong individuals and strong societies. Therefore, Christians should continue to advocate strongly for the institution of marriage in spite of secular norms and trends that lead away from the marriage tradition. The current trends that include a high rate of divorce, or partnerships that do not result in marriage, do not agree with Christian lifestyles. Moreover, these trends are relatively new and certainly do not reflect the tradition established by Christianity. The divorce rate has only been high within the past century, as previously it was not normative to divorce. Domestic partnerships that result in children without a wedding is also a trend so new, that it remains unacceptable in many traditional Christian communities around the world. Christians need to return to the roots and remember that trends are less important than Gods words in the Bible.

Christianity is also fundamentally opposed to violence in relationships. Unfortunately violence in marriages is not a new phenomenon. The Bible does advocate a male-controlled family structure, but the Bible does not in any way advocate violence towards women. Instead, the Bible teaches that marriages are built on mutual respect and on understanding the God-given roles in the family. A Christian marriage does restrict the freedoms of both women and men because of the patriarchal structure because "in a patriarchal culture all authority is vested in the husband-father," (Cooke 79). This means that the roles of husbands/men are as strictly...

One of the foundations of a Christian marriage is its role as promoting spiritual growth. Marriage in the Christian context is not just about raising children or economic interdependency. Rather, a Christian marriage is "a new human life of togetherness" in which the individuals are reborn just as Christ was reborn out of His love of humanity (Cooke 80). Christian marriage is a "sacramental relationship" based on "trust and hope," which is why even a patriarchal culture can have marriages based on mutual respect and trust. The Christian marriage concept can be best understood within the context the story of Christ, as Christ urged a relationship between the husband and wife that was fundamentally different from the marriage relationship that had previously existed (Cooke).
The Christian model of marriage is based on theology. When God advised Christians to "be fruitful and multiply," He did so within the framework of the traditional Christian marriage. Adam and Eve, the original Man and Wife, established the role models for all future marriages. When God created man and woman, He specifically did so to distinguish humans from the animals. God did not intend for people to procreate with anyone at any time, outside of the bonds of marriage, like animals do. The goal of human life is to serve God, not to create the maximum number of children possible. Marriage is a spiritual institution that can promote the development of emotions like love and compassion. Through the institution of marriage, the spouses improve their relationship with God by being willing…

Sources used in this document:
Works Cited

Cooke, Bernard. "Christian Marriage: Basic Sacrament." Chapter 4 in Perspectives On Marriage by Kieran Scott & Michael Warren. Oxford University Press, 2007.

Scott, Kieran. "Cohabitation and Marriage as a Life-Process." Chapter 8 in Perspectives On Marriage by Kieran Scott & Michael Warren. Oxford University Press, 2007.
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

The Importance of a Traditional Christian Marriage
Words: 639 Length: 2 Document Type: Essay

Christian marriage is one of the most important Biblical principles. Since God created the first man and woman, He intended us to create strong relationships with our nuptial partners, procreate, and participate in community life in this way. Marriage is the foundation of not only strong families, but also of strong individuals and strong societies. Therefore, Christians should continue to advocate strongly for the institution of marriage in spite of

Christian Perception About Remarriage and Divorce
Words: 3773 Length: 13 Document Type: Essay

Divorce and Marriage Divorce and remarriage Divorce and Marriage is Permissible In the current modern society, a breakup of the traditional marriage is the most significant challenge. Prior research on this matter suggests that 43% of first marriages end separation and possible within 15 years. Although these results are disputable, it is undisputable that the divorce is on the rise across the globe. The increase in divorce is the main cause of societal

Marriage and the Family the
Words: 1714 Length: 5 Document Type: Term Paper

This is essential if we are to ensure that children receive proper and stable parenting - which is so essential to child development in all areas. Debate and different views as to new modes and methods of improving and promoting family and marriage have their place. However, this does not mean that the ideal of family should in any sense be diminished or discarded. Bibliography Barber, N. (2000) Why Parents Matter: Parental

Christian Values and Business Management
Words: 27724 Length: 75 Document Type: Term Paper

Christian Biotechnology: Not a Contradiction in Terms Presented with the idea of "Bioethics" most people in the scientific community today immediately get the impression of repressive, Luddite forces wishing to stifle research and advancement in the name of morality and God. Unfortunately, this stereotype too often holds true. If one looks over the many independent sites on the Internet regarding bioethics, reads popular magazines and publications, or browses library shelves for

Christian Counseling for Autism Spectrum
Words: 1406 Length: 4 Document Type: Research Proposal

She references Romans 3: 23, 24: "…(23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (24) and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." (New International Version). Ultimately, Hendricks informs, the comfort and safety of parents with autistic children must be revealed through "their faith that a sovereign God designed their child and planned all the days of

Family Systems and Marriage Preparation Programs It
Words: 1445 Length: 4 Document Type: Literature Review

Family Systems and Marriage Preparation Programs It has been a recent development within the United States when the government has started making an effort to establish marriage programs that can help strengthen the foundation of marriages. They have done so by recently joining hands with the church and other faith-based organizations that run marriage preparation programs. One such organization is the Association of Couples for Marriage Enrichment (ACME) that primarily focuses

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now