i will go out on a limb and say that is not what TWAC meant. being married for over 37 years this argument makes sense to me, but he did not explain it very well. Makes me think he may not be married. He has a grasp on the theory but not the reality. A good marriage is not really for God, he does not need our "marriage", He designed marriage for us and our children to provide a healthy and nurturing environment, provide a reflection of His love and care for His children.
And here I was, going to heap laud and praise for sharing this! You naysayers! ;-) tinman97030 I think puts it better than the author, for sure, but the post is still relevant and salient. I believe that the philosophy behind the concept is absolutely insightful, if the execution is perhaps somewhat lacking. To further echo and expound upon tinman's thoughts, I believe that the author's heart is in the right place. This is still worthy of being "shared" around. A marriage is rarely, if ever, about you. Sometimes though, it's not about her either. And here's where it gets a bit tricky - because as a man, as a Christian, to be a good husband, I have an obligation to lead - lead my wife, lead my family - ever onward and upward, always moving, to an ever increasing degree of holiness, and closeness to Jesus Christ. You cannot lead from behind, nor can you lead by consensus. Sometimes, you will need to make it about God, or "godliness" (holiness). So, perhaps the reality is to be found somewhere in a hybridization of the original viral post and this post. The Bible is clear on this matter. If you love God, love your wife. If you seek to honor God, first honor your wife. The Bible says that your relationship with your wife should be as Jesus Christ's relationship to the church, and it reminds us poignantly that Jesus' love was so great that He laid down His life. It is kind of an "if then" relationship. If you love God, love your wife with all your heart. If you wish to honor God, first honor your wife. While tinman is right in saying God doesn't "need our marriage," I believe that our marriage is meant to be a way of bringing God joy and honor - by laying down our selfish ways and selfish desires at the foot of the Cross, and picking up the desires of our spouse and laboring to see those desires realized. Just as Jesus gave up His life so that we could have life, in a small, but important representative way, in marriage, we should give up our "life" and live for our spouse. Imagine such a thing! Since most conflicts in marriage come from some "irreconcilable difference," imagine if your spouse only wanted to see your dreams come true - how could you ever argue with that?! It is not easy to do, because it's counter-intuitive and counter-cultural.
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jgreene777 11 years ago
So does that mean that people who don't believe in god, or at least the Judeo-Christian god, can't have a successful marriage?
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tinman97030 11 years ago
i will go out on a limb and say that is not what TWAC meant. being married for over 37 years this argument makes sense to me, but he did not explain it very well. Makes me think he may not be married. He has a grasp on the theory but not the reality. A good marriage is not really for God, he does not need our "marriage", He designed marriage for us and our children to provide a healthy and nurturing environment, provide a reflection of His love and care for His children.
Reply
egro 11 years ago
This article is great for Catholics, I suppose. But it doesn't speak to many of us.
Additionally, what exactly makes a celibate representative from a celibate organization an expert on marriage anyway?
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blkendrick 11 years ago
And here I was, going to heap laud and praise for sharing this! You naysayers! ;-) tinman97030 I think puts it better than the author, for sure, but the post is still relevant and salient. I believe that the philosophy behind the concept is absolutely insightful, if the execution is perhaps somewhat lacking. To further echo and expound upon tinman's thoughts, I believe that the author's heart is in the right place. This is still worthy of being "shared" around. A marriage is rarely, if ever, about you. Sometimes though, it's not about her either. And here's where it gets a bit tricky - because as a man, as a Christian, to be a good husband, I have an obligation to lead - lead my wife, lead my family - ever onward and upward, always moving, to an ever increasing degree of holiness, and closeness to Jesus Christ. You cannot lead from behind, nor can you lead by consensus. Sometimes, you will need to make it about God, or "godliness" (holiness). So, perhaps the reality is to be found somewhere in a hybridization of the original viral post and this post. The Bible is clear on this matter. If you love God, love your wife. If you seek to honor God, first honor your wife. The Bible says that your relationship with your wife should be as Jesus Christ's relationship to the church, and it reminds us poignantly that Jesus' love was so great that He laid down His life. It is kind of an "if then" relationship. If you love God, love your wife with all your heart. If you wish to honor God, first honor your wife. While tinman is right in saying God doesn't "need our marriage," I believe that our marriage is meant to be a way of bringing God joy and honor - by laying down our selfish ways and selfish desires at the foot of the Cross, and picking up the desires of our spouse and laboring to see those desires realized. Just as Jesus gave up His life so that we could have life, in a small, but important representative way, in marriage, we should give up our "life" and live for our spouse. Imagine such a thing! Since most conflicts in marriage come from some "irreconcilable difference," imagine if your spouse only wanted to see your dreams come true - how could you ever argue with that?! It is not easy to do, because it's counter-intuitive and counter-cultural.
Reply