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This past semester at Appleton Alliance Church, we offered several different classes and studies on marriage. Since marriage can be such a big part of life, it’s good for churches to do this once in a while. As is often the case, these kinds of studies can produce passion in people for marriage. That is both good and dangerous. Why dangerous? Let me explain.
First, in our passion for cultivating healthy marriages, we run the risk of turning God into a means rather than the end. God can become our servant or assistant in our pursuit of a healthy marriage. We end up “marrying God for his money.” Yes, we pursue loving God with heart, soul, mind, and strength, but only in so far as he’s there to produce for us healthy marriages. This is “marriage idolatry.” Of course, the irony in making healthy marriages the end, is that they never become healthy. Why? That’s the second reason.
In the garden of Eden, Adam and Eve had a great marriage until they rebelled against God. The health of their relationship with each other was contingent on the health of their relationship with God. It still works that way. Healthy marriages are byproducts of making God the end. So if your passion is for healthy marriages, the best thing you can do is help people love God for himself; to make him the end not, the means. This week I will be giving away two copies of the book, The God Who Is There: Finding Your Place in God's Story by D.A. Carson. To enter, simply sign in to the Rafflecopter giveaway below and enter either by following me on Twitter, on Instagram, or on both! Winners will be chosen and notified by email. At this time, I do ask that only those living within the 48 contiguous United States enter the giveaway. Thank you for understanding.
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