10 Marriage Truths

This is an opinion piece from Fox News and I just really like what this guy has to say about marriage. It's refreshing to hear the ideas of someone who doesn't seem totally jaded by this world and its lackluster view on marriage.

Reverend Bill Shuler is the pastor of Capital Life Church in Arlington, VA. He's compiled a list of 10 things that are absolutes where marriage is concerned, even though we've forgotten many of them, it seems. Reverend Shuler put this list together among rising divorce rates and ongoing attempts to redifine what marriage is in our country. Here's the actual list if you don't get a chance to read his piece:

1. Marriage is a covenant not simply a contract.
2. One must not redefine original intent without the permission of the author.
3. All indicators point toward the emotional, social and economic benefits of marriage.
4. The virtues of commitment and faithfulness must be reclaimed in America.
5. The state of the union is no stronger than the union of our marriages.
6. The marriage penalty tax is contrary to the values we claim to embrace.
7. There is no greater weapon against child poverty and crime than healthy marriages.
8. Strengthen marriage and you strengthen the family.
9. Strengthen families and you strengthen a nation.
10. The definition of marriage was not originally based in social opinion or manmade laws and should not now be reduced to either.

I love this article. Thes things are so true. A couple that really stick out to me are 1, 2 and 10.

Marriage is a covenant, not a contract. I think we tend to forget this one for sure. Marriage is intended to be for life. We shouldn't enter into a covenant without absolute certainty that we do not intend to break it at a later date. Now, I do realize that every situation is different and there are definitely some very valid reasons for divorce, but those people aren't the ones I'm talking about. I;m really onlytalking about those of us who never really had forever in mind at the altar.

One must not redefine the original intent without consulting the author. This really says it all. God is the author of everthing, marriage included. Who are we to rewrite perfection?

The definition of marriage was not originally based in social opinion or manmade laws and should not now be reduced to either. This seems to me to go hand in hand with God being the author of marriage. God didn't consult us when he created the world and everything in it, nor should he have had to. What right do we have to redefine the will of God with our often petty and trivial manmade laws?


Sorry, I'm ranting a little I guess. I don't mean to offend anyone, but this is what I believe and I was pretty excited to find this little article. It's reassuring to remember that I'm not just old-fashioned in the way I think or in the values I hold. I'm just part of a dwindling number I suppose.