The church’s role in marriage

The church safeguards that the couple understands and adheres to the biblical principles concerning marriage. Remember this, though—”the church” that we are referring to here is not so much talking about brick and mortar, as much as it is being referred to as the Greek word (ecclesia), which is synonymous with the Hebrew (kahal) of the Old Testament. Both these terms simply mean “an assembly.” It denotes the entire body of the redeemed; all those whom the Father has given to Christ… (Hebrews 12:23).

Marriage is an expression of the image and character of which unveil the Lord Jesus and through which His divine life and love are conveyed. When marriage habits mirror those of Jesus Christ, motivating holiness in the covenant couple, humanity predictably benefits from the reflected graces. However, when the light of the church’s (the bride of Christ/the marriage bond’s) standards is relaxed and the holiness of those under covenant is weak, then the institution of marriage suffers.

With an ever-increasing acceptance of same-sex marriage as well as cohabitation without covenant becoming popular options to marriage (between what God established being one man, and one woman), the sanctity of this most holy ordinance has been sinfully distorted. Because of that, our nation’s prosperity and stability has been compromised—thus, the chaos that we see today. The enemy of our souls is having a field day all across the United States and to the four corners of the earth.

In the early church, to live as Christ commanded was demonstrated by repentance and a virtuous life. The holy jealousy of the clerics regarding the integrity of the church, and the salvation of souls committed to their care, was given clarity and detail pertaining to the Word of God. With a return to the effective pastoral practices of the early church and that apostolic fervor, which accompanied it, the church is sure to be a more visible sign of hope for society.

Accordingly, wives are to take their unique principles from the purpose of the church in its relation to Christ: “Wife, be subject to your husband, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, and is Himself its Savior. As the church is subject to Christ so let wife also be subject in everything to their husband” (Eph. 5:22-24).

And thusly, husband, this means you are to love your wife, just as Christ loved the church. As He gave up His life for His bride (the church), you are to love your wife so deeply that if it came down to it, you would die for her!

Marriage is an establishment ordained by God, and a basic building block of respectable citizens. Unifying man and woman in everlasting bonds of love, marriage models the relationship between Christ and His bride, the church, while furnishing a stable environment for the rearing of children.

Even among many Christians, a fundamentally contractual view of marriage now predominates over a more scriptural understanding of the institution. And it is our responsibility to sort out what is gospel from what is culture.

Christian marriage is an institution ordained of God, blessed by our Lord Jesus Christ, established and sanctified for the happiness and welfare of mankind. In it, both the spiritual and physical union of one man and one woman enter, cherishing a mutual esteem and love, bearing with each other’s infirmities and weaknesses, comforting each other in trouble, providing in honesty and industry for each other and for their household, praying for each other, and living together the length of their days as heirs to the grace of life.

Drs. Michael & Kendra Holmes are the senior pastors of Deliverance Revival Church in Byron, Ga., the founders of Royalty Relationship Coaching, LLC, the authors of the 31-day devotional, “Cross-Fire: Igniting Passionate, Purposeful, and Powerful Relationships” and guest hosts of the television talk show, “The Marriage Circle Connection.” W.A.R. is an acronym for “We Are Royalty,” the official slogan of Royalty Relationship Coaching, LLC. Visit the website at www.RoyaltyRelationshipCoaching.com.

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