Crossroads:
Valentines, Marriage, and Family
This Weekend, Feb. 13-14, or Online HERE Anytime
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“In the beginning God created man in His own image. Male and female created He them. God blessed them and said unto them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth.’” (Gen. 1:27-28)
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh. … What God has joined together, let no man put asunder.”
(Gen. 2:34; Mt. 19:4-5)
“Two are better than one. If one falls, the other will pick him or her up. If one is attacked, they will stand together in defense. A threefold cord is not easily broken.”
(Ecc. 4:12)
“The Lord has been witness between you and the wife of your covenant. Therefore, take heed that you not deal treacherously with the wife of your youth.” (Malachi 2:14-15)
“The Commonwealth of Virginia shall recognize as a valid marriage ‘only a union between one man and one woman’ and shall not create or recognize as a legal marriage any other union or partnership.”
(Amendment to the VA Constitution approved by the People
in a state-wide referendum in 2006)
“Upon the foundation of the laws of nature and the laws of (Biblical) revelation depend all human laws; no human laws shall be allowed to contradict them.” (Sir William Blackstone)
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The Bible and the Law on the Covenant of Marriage
At this time of year when we exchange Valentines and bask in the warmth of special friends, spoil each other with delicious chocolates, beautiful cards, and the fragrance of fresh bouquets in our homes, we also reflect on the abundant blessings that flow from the sacred covenant of marriage.
That is the focus of our Crossroad’s program this weekend, a timeless repeat from previous years with our original team that includes Rev. John Sloop.
A Sacred Covenant: Both the Bible and the Law of the United States, as well as the laws of over 30 states, had until recently recognized marriage as the exclusive union of one man and one woman.
That included Virginia back in 2006 when 57% of voters amended our state Constitution to include that clear definition. No other relationships would be so recognized. That should have settled it. The Bible and the law agreed.
The Cultural and Legal Shift: Unfortunately, even though God’s law for marriage has not changed, our culture has. As a result, in 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court redefined marriage in the case of Obergefell v. Hodges to include same-sex couples.
Sadly, just like the Court’s equally misguided decision in the 1973 case of Roe v. Wade to legalize abortion, this too was a brute display of moral rebellion, constitutional abuse, and raw judicial power.
However, it didn’t happen overnight. Over the years, our culture has done severe damage to the foundational understanding of marriage as a covenant before God and only between men and women. We slowly allowed this to happen in several ways.
Three Breaks: First, we began to accept that marriage was optional through the growing acceptance of cohabitation outside of marriage. Second, we also grew to accept marriage as disposable through no-fault, easy divorce.
As a result, this venerable institution of marriage lost its resistance to fight off the demands of gay activists to make marriage redefinable so as to include same-sex relationships.
These were the demands to which cultural “elites” and the black-robed Supremes so foolishly acceded. Sadly, even many churches also lost their voice, closed their eyes to the authority of Scripture, and remained silent.
Returning to the Eight Purposes of Marriage
So this Valentine’s Day weekend is a good time to rediscover and reaffirm why marriage is important. What do the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God say about it? And what must we do to get back to God’s design and plan for the purposes of marriage and the family?
Our original Crossroad’s Team will be discussing eight of these purposes this Valentine’s Day weekend. They all come with clear Biblical instructions, and they all begin with the letter “P” to make them easier to remember, as follows:
1. Partnership: “God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make an help meet for him.’” (Gen. 2:18)
2. Procreation: “Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth.”
(Gen. 1:28)
3. Protection: “Be not afraid. Fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.” (Neh. 4:14)
4. Provision: “If any provide not for his own house, he is worse than an
infidel.” (I Tim. 5:8)
5. Parenting: “Raise up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Prov. 22:6)
6. Pleasure: “How fair is your love, my spouse; how much better than wine.” (Song of Solomon 4:10)
7. Purity: “You shall not commit adultery.” (Ex. 20:14)
8. Permanence: “Rejoice with the wife of your youth!” (Prov. 5:18) “Let none deal treacherously with her, for she is … the wife of your covenant.” (Malachi 2:15)
Crossroads: Where Faith and Culture Meet
To hear more about this special role of marriage and the family in our lives, please join Rita Dunaway, John Sloop, and me this weekend on Valley radio: WBTX (1470 AM and 102.1 FM) Saturday at 4:00 p.m. and again on Sunday at 7:30 a.m., followed by WSVA (550 AM and 92.1 FM) at 8:30, ESPN (1360 AM and 106.9 FM) at 9:00, and WNLR (1150 AM) at 11:30.
You can also listen online at www.valleyfamilyforum.org by clicking on the Crossroad’s menu shown on our home page.
We deeply appreciate your prayers, your encouragement, and your financial support of these programs. All gifts are tax-deductible and can be sent by check to Crossroads at PO Box 881, Harrisonburg, 22803. We would also enjoy hearing from you, either by return email or with a note to this same address.
Thank you, for God and Country, with best wishes for a wonderful Valentine’s Day weekend.
Dean