The Seed Blog: Match Made in Heaven- Marriage God's Way

We are living in an age and a culture that basically sees marriage as any two people, of any gender, with any individual beliefs, for any length of time, as many times as desired. Many today even see marriage as totally obsolete and unnecessary in such a progressive culture.

[Does Marriage Even Make Sense Anymore?] The problem is you have no clue how destructive this view can be. Not just to others, but to you. And the basic reasons for those non-Christians, and often Christians that do still marry, seems to pretty much be because they make me happy. (Fairy Tale Wedding) Because they are the best I think I can ever get. (Great catch) Because I don't want to be alone. (Security)
For a culture that does not believe in God.—a  culture that does not understand His Wisdom or trust His Ways—a  culture that does not understand the reason for their own existence—it is totally logical. "You can be a part of my life as long as you add to my happiness and/or security! And when that doesn't happen anymore, "Adios!" We get this collage of marriage, divorce, adultery, cohabitation, multiple partners, and non-dependent relationships with families raised by both parents, one parent, same-sex parents, no parents. Families raised by multiple, changing parents. Mindsets that reflect and teach the next generation that people are there to serve me—I’m accountable to no one—I am the most important thing on this earth.
This current state of marriage, is one of the surest signs of just how far Satan has infiltrated, not only our culture, but the foundational way of seeing ourselves and the world around us. If you are a Christian—a true believing, disciple of Christ who puts your hope in His love and sacrifice—you are called to love and not condemn the world around you. Just as Christ loves you. The world has no reason to think differently. But you are also called to see things differently, to live differently, to love differently. You have to realize that marriage is so much more than the world has made it out to be. You have to know that it is one of the greatest relationships you will ever be a part of besides your relationship with Christ. You have to know that it has been designed in a very specific way to teach you about real love and to make you more like Christ than possibly anything else in your life. And for us to change, water-down, or do away with any part of marriage as God has designed destroys all that it was created to be.
Let's lay the groundwork for exactly what God intends marriage to be, even today, for those who will trust Him, and then, we will discuss exactly why He intends it to be this way. First, God intended marriage to be between two people of opposite sex: Genesis 2:22-24; Mark 10:6; Romans 1:24-28. We have literally been fashioned—physically, mentally, emotionally, and sexually—to compliment and complete one another. With such intricate, beautiful, and amazing care given to creating the perfect mate for one another, why do we want to rebel and settle for less? This is not the time or sermon for debating, but Scriptures are simply too clear for us to attempt to change or add to their meaning here. [Do you trust Him? Then walk in that faith. If not, why are you here playing the game?] Secondly, God never intended for people of differing faith to marry. Mixed marriages of interracial cultures and nationalities are blessed of God. But mixed marriages of faiths are completely forbidden. This is one of the biggest areas of disobedience to God in marriages within the church. I have turned down many weddings for this reason. Seen many crumble for this reason. Seen people pulled from Christ for this reason. This is simply because the whole reason you marry as a Christian is because you are supposed to become one in Christ. What is the great commission? So that you may serve Him as one all your days. How do you become one in Someone that your partner doesn't even believe in? How do you give your life in servitude, time, money, and care to Someone your spouse doesn't care about? How do you expect someone to love you selflessly, with all of the sacrifice and priority that Christ demands for your spouse when they have no passion for those beliefs? How do you keep yourself from the sin and temptations of the world, when you are with someone who may indulge in them daily? Thirdly, God never intended for marriage to be until {they got ugly, someone better came along, they stopped acting like I wanted them to act, they stopped loving me as they should, they stopped deserving my love, they developed problems that made it hard to love them (physical, mental, emotional, financial), it was no longer fun}—God intended marriage to be for a lifetime. These are the only reasons a marriage ends in God's eyes: death: 1 Corinthians 7:39; adultery: Matthew 5:32; if an unbeliever leaves a believer: 1 Corinthians 7:15. These are the only reasons that God sees as a reason to dissolve a marriage. If it is for any other reason, God has this command: 1 Corinthians 7:10-11.
Why would God have such seemingly harsh and restricting rules for marriages? Even the people of Jesus' day were appalled at the strictness of God's rules for divorce: Matthew 19:10. It is not because He is harsh, legalistic or wanting us to live strict, disciplined and joyless lives. That's such a sad and ignorant view of His Plan. It is actually because God is completely the opposite of all of these things. God knows more than Anyone what it takes to create the most passionate, timeless, free love of all. He created marriage to cultivate this love—that is why He says marriage alone, in true commitment, is a picture of His love for the Church. (It is the only way to express true love): Ephesians 5:32. Marriage is not just a union that brings happiness, security, and acceptance which can be abandoned when these things are lacking. That is a shallow, immature, and miserable prescription for true love. That is a prescription for self-love only.
Let's describe how and why marriage was designed to create the perfect love between two people. One, marriage should bring a oneness not a cohabitation. Marriage was created in order that two people might learn to place their oneness together before their own wants or needs individually: Matthew 19:4-6. So they might learn that nothing else in this world is as important as their love (not family, friends, views, opinions, etc.) So they might learn to love their spouse above themselves. So they might intimately learn and understand the passions of their spouse, in order to love them better. Two, true love will be a selfless love, not a selfish love. Marriage was created so that two people might see each other as so special. They are willing to devote their entire lives to loving, serving, supporting, healing, and caring for one another—no matter the cost: Ephesians 5:25; 1 John 3:18. Even when they get nothing in return; even when their partner fails. Because to love when undeserved—to love when nothing is given in return—is the only time true love can be measured. This kind of love can only be grown and proven in periods of failure and disappointment [In other words, periods of humanness]. To be loved in these times, is to truly know you are loved for who you are, securely and totally. That kind of love will change hearts and cause a deep bond. But it is in these times, this world tells us to give up and move on—causing most never to reach deep, true love with one another—because in thinking they are leaving to find another chance at, "True Love", many are actually giving up their greatest chance to create that true love, for another selfish failure with someone else. Three, true love never compares their beloved to others in fear of not having the best looking, smartest, richest, or even nicest person they could get (even if they change later in life). Marriage was created so that two people might choose to make their beloved the most cherished, treasured person in their world: Hosea 2:19-20; Isaiah 49:15-16. Every soul is of equal worth and value. It is the honor and worth you place upon your spouse that makes them coveted by you. You are the one that can make your beloved more special in your eyes and theirs, than anyone else on earth. That honor you give makes them the best thing in your life, and can make the world covet your love. Four, true love never holds anything back. Marriage was created so that two people might literally give themselves entirely to another—in ownership: Ruth 1:16-17. Their futures, their plans, their dreams, entirely given to one another to be taken care of in love. The total giving of oneself, to the degree that their own bodies do not even belong to themselves anymore: 1 Corinthians 7:3-4: what complete devotion and abandonment. That is the passion, love, commitment, and depth of intimacy that Christ means to create with this incredible covenant called marriage. That is the mutual worth and commitment that should be given to one another. Instead we have turned it into a cheap, self-satisfying mockery of love—mainly because it is a reflection of how most have learned to love today.
If you have sincerely given your life to Jesus our Savior, then understand this world does not represent His ways, and give Him your complete trust and obedience. He has given us these commands and principles for our joy and pleasure. Can you not see that over the past decades, the ways of the world have totally devastated relationships, families, and true romance? Is there not enough proof to show you something is broken in our current system of love and commitment? In a world where everyone takes pride in being different, rebellious, and sinful, take delight in being different for your God, rather than being embarrassed or offended. Treat Intimacy and the Covenant of Marriage with the sacredness and awe that God demands, and there you will find a true love and passion this world could never match: Proverbs 5:18-19; Song of Songs 8:6-7.