| September 10, 2000 |
Vol. III, No. 19
|
Overlooking the important Biblical discussion of divorce, which seems to be particularly plentiful at the moment, a central truth that we need to teach is that marriage is a permanent alliance. And that is clearly the teaching of Jesus in Matt. 19:1-12. In the marriage contract, the two become “one flesh” and “what God that joined together, let not man put asunder” (vs. 6). Because of “the hardness of your hearts” Moses allowed divorce, “but from the beginning it was not so” (vs. 7).
I can think of no point at which our society more seriously challenges Biblical norms than on marriage. And this is a particular weakness of our culture in the modern world. Arab society, while polygamous, has a tremendous respect for the sanctity of marriage. In Hindu India, marriage is the most solemn event in life and divorce is almost unknown.
In India, marriages are still made by parents. That is neither shocking nor disagreeable to the young people. Many young Indians told me they would not want to assume such an awesome, life-time responsibility. The American concept of romantic marriage seems frivolous to them and the American way of divorce seems scandalous.
Such customs seem curious to us -- but that is entirely a cultural judgment. Obviously we are not going to adopt the Indian system. But Christians must understand the perilous weaknesses in the romantic marriage concept which is the product of recent western history and which lies behind our reckless approval of divorce.
Let me make two obvious points. First, marriage among Christians simply must not be based on physical beauty, and we must teach our children not to be corrupted by the norms of western society. Christian women must be taught that they are beautiful as they are righteous, 1 Peter 3:1-5. My sons must be taught that if they are to select their own wives (as opposed to letting me make the choice), they must acquire a taste for those moral qualities more important than physical beauty. And it seems to me that I see more wholesome Christian girls than I do boys with good values.
Second, all of us in this perverted society need to try to put sex in its proper perspective. Sex is a natural and healthy part of our physical being. But the sex drive, like other natural drives, is controllable. Indeed, it is properly controlled within the institution of marriage. But sex is not central to marriage -- no more than eating is central to existence. Healthy marriages can only be constructed on this understanding.
Finally, we could be compelled by circumstances to abstain from sex. That may be the only answer in many cases of modern society. Unthinkable as it seems in modern America, every society has recognized the need for spiritual celibacy. Millions of priests, nuns, gurus, sadhus, and other “holy” men and women attest to the capability of humans to be celibate. In 1 Cor. 7, the apostle Paul recommended it under the prevailing circumstances. In Matt. 19, Jesus advised that becoming a “eunuch” was preferable to promiscuous divorce and that, while physically difficult for man, celibacy was a state that some accepted for spiritual reasons.
We must constantly fight being captured by our culture. We must stress our counterculture beliefs: marriage is for keeps; beauty is more than a pretty face; salvation is more important than anything -- even sex.
--David Edwin Harrell via The Contender, 1978.
In Matthew 17:1-9, the Bible says, "Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James and John his brother, brought them up on a high mountain by themselves, and was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, 'Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.' While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!' And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them saying, 'Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead."'
This passage records one of the most interesting and unusual events in all of Bible history. We also need to note the parallel accounts in Mark 9:2-10 and Luke 9:28-36. Almost 40 years later, Simon Peter briefly mentions this incident in his second epistle: "We... were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.' And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain" (2 Peter 1:16-18).
Although Jesus had previously told the apostles of His upcoming death on the cross, they had not yet accepted it as reality. Luke tells us that Moses and Elijah spoke about Jesus' "decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem" (Luke 9:31). As they descended the mountain, Jesus instructed the apostles not to tell anyone what they had seen until after His resurrection. Mark tells us they left the mountain "questioning what the rising from the dead meant." They just could not bring themselves to believe that Jesus would soon be crucified. But even the Old Testament prophets had foretold Christ's death. Moses, who had been dead for centuries knew about it, and Elijah, who had not died, but had ascended to heaven bodily, understood.
This passage brings to memory Jesus' words to Martha in John 11:25-26, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die." Moses had died, yet he lived. Elijah believed and never died. Many Christians throughout the centuries have fallen asleep in Jesus. Some will be alive on earth when Christ returns. All will maintain their own identity and personality, even as Moses and Elijah did throughout the centuries.
--CRJ