We certainly do live in a very secularized culture. The once-Christianized veneer (the Judeo-Christian ethic based on biblical morality) has worn off, and secularism and moral relativism have taken its place. And study after study just continues to confirm how secular this nation really has become. For example, according to a new study, nearly 80%—almost 8 in 10—of US teenagers (15–19 years old) “expect to cohabit before marriage.”
The vast majority of teenagers today expect that, sometime after high school, they’ll move in with a “romantic partner.” That may sound benign to some, but the Bible says that’s fornication, a sexual sin that flies in the face of God’s “very good” design for marriage and sexuality:
Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. (Genesis 2:24)
And sadly, when these numbers were filtered for “weekly religious service attendance” (the survey results did not specify which religious services), the number only dropped to 70%!
Now, 95% of these same teenagers “expect to marry someday.” But by living with someone before they’re married, they are not only going against God’s design and sinning against him (and against each other), but they are setting themselves up for an increased chance of divorce when they do marry!
It’s the first institution God created (Genesis 1:26–27), the bedrock of the family and therefore society, the only appropriate, good, and holy setting for sex, and a picture of Christ’s relationship with his bride, the church.
Marriage is not just a piece of paper or a romantic ceremony that formalizes an already committed relationship. It’s so much more than that—it’s the first institution God created (Genesis 1:26–27), the bedrock of the family and therefore society, the only appropriate, good, and holy setting for sex, and a picture of Christ’s relationship with his bride, the church.
Marriage should be honored by all, and we Christians should put on display—for our children, grandchildren, churches, and a watching world—God’s incredible design. How can we do that? Here are a few practical tips:
Mally and I will celebrate 50 years of marriage this December. I am so thankful for a wife who has been one with me in the ministry God called us to. Without her, the ministry of AiG would not be where it is today or even exist. I can honestly say we love each other more than ever. And what is the core factor for a stable marriage? Having a third “partner”: the Lord Jesus Christ.
Marriage—not cohabitating—really is one of God’s gifts, and we must work to raise godly generations who understand and believe what the Bible says about the goodness of it.
Marriage—not cohabitating—really is one of God’s gifts, and we must work to raise godly generations who understand and believe what the Bible says about the goodness of it.
This item was discussed Monday on Answers News with cohosts Patricia Engler, Tim Chaffey, and Dr. Gabriela Haynes. Answers News is our weekly news program filmed live before a studio audience here at the Creation Museum and broadcast on my Facebook page and the Answers in Genesis Facebook page. We also covered the following topics:
Be sure to join us each Monday at 2 p.m. (ET) on my Facebook page or the Answers in Genesis Facebook page for Answers News. You won’t want to miss this unique news program that gives science and culture news from a distinctly biblical and Christian perspective.
Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,
Ken
This item was written with the assistance of AiG’s research team.
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