Torch, Summer 1978

TODAY, many marriage vows are not taken seriously . Many couples consider "till death do us part" to be figurative . In fact, some marriage ceremonies no longer contain the famous words. They are not a mandatory part of the marriage vows at a church in Haverfordwest, England, where the minister, Rev. Angus Roder ick, said that the phrase, "so long as I am able," may be substituted by those couples who desire it. The clergyman said he feels it is wrong for couples to be held by this solemn pledge if their love has long died. The teaching of the Bible disagrees with this pastor and those in America who have forsaken God's plan for marriage. "Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband . .. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress : but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man (Rom. 7:1-3). Fortunately, even in this day of permissiveness, many will disagree with the philosophy of 3 The Permanence of Marriage James T. Jeremiah Rev . Roderick . For example, Will Smith and his wife observed their 71st wedding anniversary in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Mrs. Smith said the best recipe book for a long marriage is the Bible . "Everything we need is there," she explained . God desires that we use His Word as the guidebook for happy marriages. When the authority of the Word of God is ignored and the lordship of Christ is rejected, there is likely to be distrust, bickering, and general dissatisfaction between husbands and wives . A family Bible on the living room table does not meet the spiritual need in anyone 's home . God's Word must be read, believed, and practiced . The following pledge, based upon sound biblical principles, may be of help to husbands and wives whose marriages are in danger of being wrecked . As husband and wife, we will keep adding fuel to the fire of love by words and acts of appreciation for each other. We will be quick to forgive and to ask forgiveness when misunderstanding comes. We will allow no one to come between us. We will take a sane attitude toward money, and a mature attitude toward work, each carrying a proper share of the family duties . We will take time for wholesome recreation, keep a sense of humor, and learn to laugh even at ourselves. If God entrusts children to us, we will welcome them, love them, and give them good care and training. Christ will have first place in our hearts and in our home. We will be loyal members of a local Bible-believing church, attending its services together regularly and sharing in its ministry to others. By God's help our home will be an asset and not a liab ility to our church, to the community, and to the world (Anonymous). In Paul 's letter to the Ephesian Christians, he presents a solid foundation upon which this pledge can be based. "Wive s, subm it yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord . For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the c hurch : and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the c hurch , and gave himself for it" (Eph . 5:22-26). When the two parties in a marriage commit themselves to God and to one another, as indicated in this pledge, they have placed another rail in the protective fence of the home. Th e husband will love his wife and the wife will be in submission to he r husband . Whenever a married couple follows God's plan, the marriage will be for keeps. Dr. James T. Jeremiah is the president of Cedarville College. Thi s article isan excerpt from his booklet Th e Home that Stan ds which is a co llectio n of "Campus Cha llenge" rad io messages presenti ng Biblical insights for family liv– ing. Copies of this booklet are available for 50¢ from Christian Ed ucation Pub lications, Cedarvi lle, OH 45314.