Statement on Marriage
In the midst of swirling cultural beliefs regarding marriage, sexuality, and legal issues regarding both, we at Christ Community Church sense the importance to clearly put forth what we understand to be God’s direction. Throughout history there have been varying degrees of separation and disagreement between what the Church has taught and what has been acceptable in the culture to which the Church ministers. The issues of marriage and sexuality are ones in which the separation has been growing wider. We hold to the faithful witness of God throughout the Old and New Testaments regarding these topics, and affirm what we believe as described below. While this is not an exhaustive statement on marriage and sexuality, it covers what at this time seem to be the issues that most need clarification.
Marriage is a gift of God. Even though both believers and non-believers get married, and though human governments both endorse and define it, marriage is not a man-made institution. From the Creation, marriage was a part of God’s plan for people.1 The marriage of a man and woman was created by God for the mutual comfort of each other, for the full expression of love between them, for the well-being of society, for the establishment and protection of the family, for bringing up continuous generations who love God, and ideally for the world to see a reflection of Jesus’ love for His church. God, in His infinite wisdom, established marriage as the fundamental relationship in the family.
God calls some people to a life of singleness. Marriage, while being a gift of God, is not for everyone. Being single is not a life of solitude or loneliness, nor is it a second-class status in the Church. Unmarried people are not deprived or lacking. In fact, Paul’s instructions indicate an unmarried person has more to give to the building of Christ’s kingdom.2
Marriage is designed for a lifetime. Much has been, and will continue to be, written about Jesus’ teachings concerning divorce and remarriage. Who is permitted to divorce? Under what circumstances? If they have Biblical grounds for divorce, can they later remarry? Godly people have lined up with different positions. But what is undeniable is that God intends for a man and woman who marry to maintain their covenant with each other for life. God stands solidly against divorce.3 We understand Scripture to direct that while there are Biblical grounds that make divorce permissible in certain cases, divorce is not mandated.
One of the great banners of the grace of Jesus is when married couples work through their difficulties and allow God to heal and rebuild their marriage. Again, since marriage is designed to be a reflection of Jesus’ love for His Church, difficult and sacrificial reconciliation is often required. People entering into marriage do so at great personal sacrifice. Reconciliation requires letting go, even when it is difficult to do so. But when true Biblical reconciliation happens, God gets great honor.
As marriage is designed for life, we strongly encourage anyone who is considering marriage to go through Biblical, substantive and thorough pre-marital counseling. As a church staff, we will not perform the marriage of a man and woman who have not undergone such counseling, whether it be done by us or those we approve.
Biblical marriage is between a man and a woman. The witness of Scripture from beginning to end is that marriage is a covenant designed between a man and woman. While governments may have defined marriage as between any two consenting adults, Scripture so clearly portrays this covenant as between a man and a woman.4
Marriage is a gift for all mankind. Marriage is a common grace, not restricted only to followers of Christ. As such, we would affirm and encourage the marriages of people who are not followers of Jesus. While wording of vows would be different, God’s grace and mystery wrapped in the union of a man and woman is one way in which His grace can reach those who do not currently know Him.
The wedding of a believer to a non-believer is Biblically unacceptable. Scripture points to the abhorrence of the marital joining between those who have trusted Christ and those who have not.5 However, if one of two non-believers currently in a marriage comes to have faith in Christ, God calls that new believer to remain in the marriage.6 The call for followers of God to marry within the faith began in the Old Testament, and has continued into the New.
Sexual intimacy is legitimate only within the bounds of marriage. Culture does not set our standard here. Throughout Scripture, proper sexuality is expressed within marriage. As people who live within a culture which currently devalues and even belittles sexual purity and faithfulness, followers of Jesus carry a unique and prized standard which is desperately needed in our world.
We recognize that marriage, as God designed it, is hard work. We take vows in a wedding ceremony because commitment is needed. If marriage were easy and untested, we wouldn’t need to make promises of our future behavior. But marriage is not always easy. Therefore, we encourage married people to regularly pursue teaching, help, retreats, and other ways to grow mutually in their faith. It is a great gift of God, and like other gifts, He asks us to steward our marriage relationship well.
1. Genesis 1:26-28, Matthew 19:4-6
2. 1 Corinthians 7:25-28
3. Malachi 2:13-16 – While there are occasions which Scripture permits divorce, God’s testament throughout Scripture is in favor of a man and a woman to stay married through life.
4. While this document’s purpose is not to fully discuss our position on homosexuality, we view same-gender sexual relationships as one of many symptoms of living in a sexually broken world (see Romans 1:18-32). As fallen people, we all are “broken” physically, emotionally, spiritually, relationally, and yes, sexually. Active homosexuality is a sin, as is heterosexual sex outside of marriage. As such, a same-gender marriage would be condoning and encouraging a sinful behavior. For more detailed reading on same-sex attraction, same-sex intimacy, and our broken sexuality, see Washed and Waiting by Wesley Hill and chapter 16, “Homosexuality” in The Moral Vision of the New Testament by Richard Hays. Both of these materials describe in depth a compassionate, Biblically based, and culturally relevant position on how God’s people should accurately view the issue of homosexuality and same-sex attraction.
5. 2 Corinthians 6:14-15
6. See Paul’s instructions in 1 Corinthians 7.
In the midst of swirling cultural beliefs regarding marriage, sexuality, and legal issues regarding both, we at Christ Community Church sense the importance to clearly put forth what we understand to be God’s direction. Throughout history there have been varying degrees of separation and disagreement between what the Church has taught and what has been acceptable in the culture to which the Church ministers. The issues of marriage and sexuality are ones in which the separation has been growing wider. We hold to the faithful witness of God throughout the Old and New Testaments regarding these topics, and affirm what we believe as described below. While this is not an exhaustive statement on marriage and sexuality, it covers what at this time seem to be the issues that most need clarification.
Marriage is a gift of God. Even though both believers and non-believers get married, and though human governments both endorse and define it, marriage is not a man-made institution. From the Creation, marriage was a part of God’s plan for people.1 The marriage of a man and woman was created by God for the mutual comfort of each other, for the full expression of love between them, for the well-being of society, for the establishment and protection of the family, for bringing up continuous generations who love God, and ideally for the world to see a reflection of Jesus’ love for His church. God, in His infinite wisdom, established marriage as the fundamental relationship in the family.
God calls some people to a life of singleness. Marriage, while being a gift of God, is not for everyone. Being single is not a life of solitude or loneliness, nor is it a second-class status in the Church. Unmarried people are not deprived or lacking. In fact, Paul’s instructions indicate an unmarried person has more to give to the building of Christ’s kingdom.2
Marriage is designed for a lifetime. Much has been, and will continue to be, written about Jesus’ teachings concerning divorce and remarriage. Who is permitted to divorce? Under what circumstances? If they have Biblical grounds for divorce, can they later remarry? Godly people have lined up with different positions. But what is undeniable is that God intends for a man and woman who marry to maintain their covenant with each other for life. God stands solidly against divorce.3 We understand Scripture to direct that while there are Biblical grounds that make divorce permissible in certain cases, divorce is not mandated.
One of the great banners of the grace of Jesus is when married couples work through their difficulties and allow God to heal and rebuild their marriage. Again, since marriage is designed to be a reflection of Jesus’ love for His Church, difficult and sacrificial reconciliation is often required. People entering into marriage do so at great personal sacrifice. Reconciliation requires letting go, even when it is difficult to do so. But when true Biblical reconciliation happens, God gets great honor.
As marriage is designed for life, we strongly encourage anyone who is considering marriage to go through Biblical, substantive and thorough pre-marital counseling. As a church staff, we will not perform the marriage of a man and woman who have not undergone such counseling, whether it be done by us or those we approve.
Biblical marriage is between a man and a woman. The witness of Scripture from beginning to end is that marriage is a covenant designed between a man and woman. While governments may have defined marriage as between any two consenting adults, Scripture so clearly portrays this covenant as between a man and a woman.4
Marriage is a gift for all mankind. Marriage is a common grace, not restricted only to followers of Christ. As such, we would affirm and encourage the marriages of people who are not followers of Jesus. While wording of vows would be different, God’s grace and mystery wrapped in the union of a man and woman is one way in which His grace can reach those who do not currently know Him.
The wedding of a believer to a non-believer is Biblically unacceptable. Scripture points to the abhorrence of the marital joining between those who have trusted Christ and those who have not.5 However, if one of two non-believers currently in a marriage comes to have faith in Christ, God calls that new believer to remain in the marriage.6 The call for followers of God to marry within the faith began in the Old Testament, and has continued into the New.
Sexual intimacy is legitimate only within the bounds of marriage. Culture does not set our standard here. Throughout Scripture, proper sexuality is expressed within marriage. As people who live within a culture which currently devalues and even belittles sexual purity and faithfulness, followers of Jesus carry a unique and prized standard which is desperately needed in our world.
We recognize that marriage, as God designed it, is hard work. We take vows in a wedding ceremony because commitment is needed. If marriage were easy and untested, we wouldn’t need to make promises of our future behavior. But marriage is not always easy. Therefore, we encourage married people to regularly pursue teaching, help, retreats, and other ways to grow mutually in their faith. It is a great gift of God, and like other gifts, He asks us to steward our marriage relationship well.
1. Genesis 1:26-28, Matthew 19:4-6
2. 1 Corinthians 7:25-28
3. Malachi 2:13-16 – While there are occasions which Scripture permits divorce, God’s testament throughout Scripture is in favor of a man and a woman to stay married through life.
4. While this document’s purpose is not to fully discuss our position on homosexuality, we view same-gender sexual relationships as one of many symptoms of living in a sexually broken world (see Romans 1:18-32). As fallen people, we all are “broken” physically, emotionally, spiritually, relationally, and yes, sexually. Active homosexuality is a sin, as is heterosexual sex outside of marriage. As such, a same-gender marriage would be condoning and encouraging a sinful behavior. For more detailed reading on same-sex attraction, same-sex intimacy, and our broken sexuality, see Washed and Waiting by Wesley Hill and chapter 16, “Homosexuality” in The Moral Vision of the New Testament by Richard Hays. Both of these materials describe in depth a compassionate, Biblically based, and culturally relevant position on how God’s people should accurately view the issue of homosexuality and same-sex attraction.
5. 2 Corinthians 6:14-15
6. See Paul’s instructions in 1 Corinthians 7.
