I mostly want to point to Al Mohler, who says it better than I do. He’s discussing the recent news of Al and Tipper Gore announcing their separation and divorce. While I am not at all comfortable discussing their marriage, this is a “teachable moment” for Christians to discuss why marriage is a holy instituion and important.
I want to say that I affirm marriage as a holy covenant in the sight of God and witnesses, not as some contract that can be broken at a later date. The difference between covenant and contract is significant. Divorce is always a tragedy. I swore an oath to be faithful to my wife until death, not for as long as I felt like it. She swore the same to me. Perhaps living longer does provide additional challenges to marriage, but that doesn’t change the nature of what it is. Treating it like a legal contract has cheapened it and opened it to challenges. Stop it.
Marriage is a covenant. Marriage is holy. Marriage is until death. That’s the way God meant it.
