Marriage is not only a social institution. It is a spiritual alliance between two people who love each other and in which belief and trust are the necessary parts of its development. However, many couples often can face definite difficulties with their marriages because they can deviate from the way on which they should follow the principles of marriage given in the Bible.
There are a lot of issues in marriage which are difficult to solve only according to the social and moral rules and norms. It is significant to remember what the Lord says about marriage in order to complete his will and find the peace in souls and the marriage. The Bible says that man could not be alone. That is why it is necessary to do all possible to find the harmony and light in marriage.
It is known that according to the Christian tradition a couple can be considered as married when a man and a woman have exchanged the vows in the presence of a priest and witnesses. Thus, “marriage is an exclusive relationship. The total unity of persons – physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually – comprehended by the concept “one flesh”.1
It is important to be married in front of God’s face; this concept differs from the social perception of the marriage. That is why promiscuity is also forbidden according to the Christian tradition. Thus, that marriage which was not honored in church is considered as not holy.
The Bible says that “marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral”.2 If the marriage is holy, there is no place for adulterer in it.
When a couple wants to marry it is significant to remember about the responsibility. The church rejects the majority of divorces because these two people have vowed to be together in spite of the difficulties and temptations. “Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate”. 3
Moreover, “God instituted marriage so that men and women might complete one another and share in his creative work through the procreation of children”.4 That is why the problem of divorce in relation to the Word is still discussed by scholars.
There are some visions of the issue according to which divorce and remarriage can be allowed in certain circumstances as it is can be interpreted from the words of New Testament.5 Nevertheless, the traditional opinion on marriage does not allow divorces.
“Has not the Lord made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth”.6
Today two visions of the divorce issue exist. Many Christians interpret the Word of New Testament and emphasize the problem of adultery as the main reason for the permission of the divorce and for the remarriage. However, we cannot say strictly about the facts because the Bible says clearly about the situation when one of two people is dead and their right to be married again.7
Marriage is the base for the spiritual development of two people who live in love and have children. Moreover, the family as the result of marriage is the important social cell. To feel safety and harmony in the heart, it is necessary to follow the holy principles described in the Bible and remember that couple is a unity which cannot be separated because it is saved by God.
Bibliography
Elwell, Walter A., ed. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology. USA: Baker Academic, 2001.
The Holy Bible. English Standard Version. USA: Crossway Bibles. Towns, Elmer L. Theology for Today. USA: Cengage Learning, 2008.
Footnotes
1 Walter A. Elwell, ed. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology (USA: Baker Academic, 2001), 743.
2 Hebr. 13:4-7.
3 Matt. 19:6.
4 Walter A. Elwell, ed. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology (USA: Baker Academic, 2001), 743.
5 Elmer L. Towns. Theology for Today (USA: Cengage Learning, 2008).
6 Mal. 2:15.
7 Elmer L. Towns. Theology for Today (USA: Cengage Learning, 2008).