The Downfall of Marriage?

There is a growing discontent with the tradional institutional marriage. Depending on what survey you listen to, most people in America today think differently about marriage than previous generations did. Fewer and fewer couples view marriage as a sacred covenant to enter into. Fewer couples today stand behind their commitment to stay married "until death do us part". People are opting out of marriage and are instead entering into relationships of convenience without the strings attached.
Marriage as we have known it is rapidly moving into a very dangerous and deteriating condition. It is so much easier to walk away from one's problems than it is to try and solve them. The stigma of divorce no longer hampers us and society makes getting a divorce so easy.
Yet, there is hope. There are numerous resources available to help troubled marriages and the soon-to-be married. Many churches have outstanding ministries devoted to the married. There are many good magazines and books devoted to showing the way to a better marriage.
If you are in a troubled marriage and want help, I encourage you to take advantage of the help that is out there. Or, if you just want to spice up your marriage and make it what it used to be, check out what is available.
You may find my book, C Through Marriage, helpful as well.

Marriage in the church

This subject is far too huge to cover in this blog. However, I am want to share my concern for how the church handles the subject of marriage. Most churches give little or no attention to providing instructions and resources to help couples maintain happy and successful marriages. Limit time and resources are usually given to preparing those wanting to get married for the realities of living together as husbands and wives. Thankfully this is changing in many churches, but for most it is common to not do much of anything to promote godly marriages.

Shame on us! It is no wonder that marriages in the church are in trouble. Divorce amongst professing Christians is commonplace and widely accepted. The stigma of divorce has been removed. No we are chipping away at the very foundation and meaning of what marriage is. Many churches no longer restrict marriage to that of a man and a woman. Is it any wonder?

Pastors have failed the church! We are the ones who determine the direction of our ministries and the contexts of our messages. We are the ones who fail to put marriage high on the list of our priorites. We are the ones who must change our priorities for the church. No church can be effective in her ministries and survive the chaotic times we live in without a foundation of solid and godly marriages.

The need is overwhelming because we have been negligent in our duty to help one another live in godly marriages and homes. There are Christian counselors and ministries everywhere willing to help broken marriages and I am glad they are. But, they could not exist if the church were to do her job of taking care of Christians who marry. It takes great effort and determination to stay married and we had better wake up to the task before it is too late.

Staying married

We live in a day in which many are opting out of marriage. There is a movement that is trying hard to redefine what marriage is, to the point where anyone who disagrees with them are made out to be weird or prejudiced. What was once considered to be the very foundation upon which society was built is quickly crumbling away. It is not uncommon for someone to be married multiple times.

I am still convinced that the traditional institution of marriage is worth saving. I believe that if we were to put as much energy into saving our marriages as we do destroying them, we all would be better off. Saving marriages will not solve society's problems, but it will go a long ways towards stablizing our thinking so we can deal with our problems.

It is my prayer that my book will help to save many marriages from mediocrity and the divorce court. If it helps just one couple, it will be worth it all.