One of my fun lines from Princess Bride. "Mawage is what brings us together today." What is marriage? It's the earliest sacred institution. It is, first and foremost, a lifelong bond between a woman and a man. "For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh" (Gen 2:24). The text is repeated in the New Testament. Jesus did it (Matt 19:3-6). Paul did it (1 Cor 6:16; Eph 5:31). That's the basic definition ... Old and New.
Of course, so few understand that today. Even Christians are confused, blinded by such nonsensical terms as "same-sex marriage" or "open marriage" ... terms in direct contradiction to biblical marriage. Why is that? Well, the world is in opposition to God (John 15:19; 1 John 2:15-17), so obviously it would be in opposition to those things that God ordains. But it's more than that. Marriage has special significance. Paul says that marriage is a picture of Christ's relationship to the Church (Eph 5:32). He says this specifically with reference to Genesis 2:24. Marriage is a practical image of how Christ gives Himself up (Php 2:5-8; Eph 5:25-27) for His bride. It's His idea. It's His model. It's His aim for our best.
Jesus promised the world would be hostile to us. We're suprised that it is. Instead of pushing against His gifts and images that He offers in order to help us understand and experience Him better, we should embrace it. Anyone who loves God certainly will.
I find it very telling that God established the man-woman union so quickly in Adam’s earthly life--and instantly so in Eve’s--no doubt indicating marriage’s essential place in Man’s existence, as well as in the society that was to follow. And the mysterious truth “that marriage is a picture of Christ's relationship to the Church” was there from the start as well. And then Satan showed up in the Garden of Eden…and he was off and running in his mission to ruin all of the good gifts God created for His creatures. However, because we have God’s Word and its record of all He has done and will do for those who look to Him for direction and protection, Satan’s influence upon the world and its ways need not touch us beyond superficial surface blows. May all of us who know and experience God’s best gifts stand firmly against the evil one and stay the course.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I quite enjoy The Princess Bride myself (and also Robin Hood: Men in Tights). Regarding your post title, I have seen both “Mawage” and “Mawwiage” online. I guess if the pronunciation of “marriage” is going to be butchered, so would its spelling--as well as its meaning, as you regularly point out. Marriage--"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means." Inconceivable!
ReplyDeleteI understand, Lorna. I don't know how to properly spell a word that doesn't actually exist either.
DeletePhonetically.
DeleteGod says something is good, and our immediate reaction as sinners is destroy it.
ReplyDelete