Bible Question Box The importance of marriage

The Decline of Marriage “Only 67 percent of American women aged 35 to 44 were legally married as of This contrasts with 81 percent in the period , before the unusually high marriage levels of the baby boom years. This trend…reflects several developments, including rising age of marriage, increasing popularity of cohabitation, high divorce rates and growth in the number of children born out-of- wedlock.” - Rodger Doyle, “The Decline of Marriage”, ScientificAmerican.com, Dec. 20,

Marriage is important because… It is from God & honors God, Gen. 2:18-25 It is from God & honors God, Gen. 2:18-25 – Relationship that completes, Prov. 18:22 – God is the witness of your covenant; God hates divorce, Malachi 2:14, 16 – God joins husband & wife together: Do not put asunder, Matthew 19:6 – Honorable: “precious…as of great price” Hebrews 13:4 3

Marriage is important because… It lasts a lifetime, Rom. 7:1-2; Matt. 19:4-5 It lasts a lifetime, Rom. 7:1-2; Matt. 19:4-5 – Permanency is the foundation – Commitment is the glue – Union is the blessed result – PROBLEM: American marriage rate: 9.8 per 1,000 American marriage rate: 9.8 per 1,000 American divorce rate: 4.95 per 1,000 American divorce rate: 4.95 per 1,000 4

Marriage is important because… It is the foundation of a stable society, Gen. 2:24 (Psa. 127:1) It is the foundation of a stable society, Gen. 2:24 (Psa. 127:1) – Intact families stabilize, Psa. 127:3-5; Prov. 4:1-4 – Marriage the basis of parenthood, Gen. 1:28 – Other arrangements damage parenthood & society… 5

Experimental families: Experimental families: – Majority of children in Sweden & Norway are born outside of marriage; 60% of Denmark’s first-born Unmarried parents break up 2-3 times married rate Unmarried parents break up 2-3 times married rate – Same-sex registered partnerships reinforce the view that marriage is unrelated to parenthood – Sweden gave adoption rights to same-sex partners in 2003 “Death of Marriage in Scandinavia”, Stanley Kurtz The Boston Globe, 3/10/2004 “Death of Marriage in Scandinavia”, Stanley Kurtz The Boston Globe, 3/10/2004 Death of Marriage in Scandinavia 6

45% of teenagers (ages 13-18) live with both biological parents 45% of teenagers (ages 13-18) live with both biological parents 25% are in two-parent families where one parent is a step-parent 25% are in two-parent families where one parent is a step-parent 24% live in some kind of single-parent household 24% live in some kind of single-parent household 7% live with cohabiting couple 7% live with cohabiting couple Source: Federal Reserve Board, Survey of Consumer Finance, 1998

Adolescents in intact families, as a group, are the least likely to feel depressed compared to those with divorced, step-, cohabiting, or single parents (National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent Health) Adolescents in intact families, as a group, are the least likely to feel depressed compared to those with divorced, step-, cohabiting, or single parents (National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent Health) The rate of youth incarceration is significantly greater for children raised in single-mother and stepfamily homes than for those raised in intact families (National Longitudinal Survey of Youth) The rate of youth incarceration is significantly greater for children raised in single-mother and stepfamily homes than for those raised in intact families (National Longitudinal Survey of Youth) Broken Homes…Broken Society 8

Children in non-intact families are three times as likely to have children outside of marriage (National Longitudinal Survey of Youth) Children in non-intact families are three times as likely to have children outside of marriage (National Longitudinal Survey of Youth) Rates of engaging in problem behaviors such as lying, stealing, drunkenness, and violence are sharply higher for children of divorce compared to children in intact families (National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent Health) Rates of engaging in problem behaviors such as lying, stealing, drunkenness, and violence are sharply higher for children of divorce compared to children in intact families (National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent Health) “Marriage: What Social Science Says and Doesn’t Say” Jennifer Marshall, The Heritage Foundation Broken Homes…Broken Society 9

Marriage is important because… It is the foundation of a stable society, Gen. 2:24 (Psa. 127:1) It is the foundation of a stable society, Gen. 2:24 (Psa. 127:1) – Provides occasion for moral constancy, Heb. 13:4 – Training ground for teaching next generation to serve God, Psa. 78:4-7; Eph. 5:33-6:4 10

Marriage is important because… It protects against immorality, 1 Co. 7:1-5 (6:12-13, 18) It protects against immorality, 1 Co. 7:1-5 (6:12-13, 18) – God expects us to keep our bodies morally pure, 1 Ths. 4:3-8 (Rom. 13:12-14; Eph. 5:3, 11-12) – Mutual responsibility to fulfill needs of mate, 1 Cor. 7:3-4 11

Marriage is important because… It exemplifies Christ & His church, Eph. 5:22-33 It exemplifies Christ & His church, Eph. 5:22-33 – Christ, the head & church submissive – Husband the head & wife submissive Outrageous to today’s culture Outrageous to today’s culture Modern society can offer no better model Modern society can offer no better model 12

Marriage is important because… In marriage, God teaches us the virtue of loving someone else more than self, Song of Solomon 6:3; 7:10; 8:6 In marriage, God teaches us the virtue of loving someone else more than self, Song of Solomon 6:3; 7:10; 8:6 – Love must be learned to be lived, Gen. 2:24 – In marriage, love is learned & lived, 1 Cor. 13:4-7; Eph. 5:25-29; 1 Pet. 3:5-7 Wife: Gentle & quiet spirit, submissive life Wife: Gentle & quiet spirit, submissive life Husband: Understand & honor your wife Husband: Understand & honor your wife 13

The Importance of Marriage God gives marriage it purposes, pleasures & precious value, Eccl. 3:11, 5 God gives marriage it purposes, pleasures & precious value, Eccl. 3:11, 5 – Be enraptured in your love, S of S 4:9-11 (Prov. 5:18-20) – As goes the home (marriage), so go a nation, the world…and your soul! 14