21st Century Britain’s view on marriage is dire to say the least. Someone could respond with a declaration that the divorce rate has dropped in recent years, to which I can immediately respond, “Well that is because the number of people choosing marriage, as an option by which to enjoy life with the one you ‘love’ has dropped significantly!” Mark Greene from the LICC notes in an article on marriage that the number of marriages in the UK has dropped to the lowest figure in 111 years, and this while the population of England then was the same as that now crammed on to the London tube lines on any Monday morning.
There is no other subject on which I have heard more derogatory jokes. Even while working in retail upon my arrival here in 2004 I must have heard a snide, demeaning, or downright wrong comment from a ‘jaded’ husband at least once a day during the brief moments of interchange. It is tragic to say the least and profoundly destructive in actuality. The youth culture of Britain today makes a believer in the coming glorious Kingdom of God ache with sorrow at the state of our young people. It is not a case of looking at them through ‘old peoples’’ lenses and just having a moan—no it is sorrow at their loneliness, pain, and emptiness! Why broken chaotic families? Easy—Christ-defined marriage as the bedrock of society is no longer even a part of the backdrop of society.
Christians must respond to all the commands of Scripture and faithfully open their hearts to the empowerment of the Spirit of God to reflect the beautiful picture of marriage painted by Paul in Ephesians.
Men, Christ has embodied for His people the level of love we are called to for our wives to win the raging war ravaging marriages. We must love as He loved!
Wives, Christ has portrayed the submission to His Father that is demanded (however counter-feminised-culture) for flourishing biblical marriages.
Oh that we would heed the word. Oh that we would live His life. Who knows the societal transformation we could inaugurate?
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