The meaning of marriage in Christianity and how this is shown through the wedding service

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Explain the meaning of marriage in Christianity and how this is expressed in the wedding service

        Christians believe that marriage is a gift given by God. Mark 10:7-8 says ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one.’ This shows that God intended man and woman to be put together and become one. It shows that marriage has been ordained by God and he intends it to be a union. Another point from the new testament that shows Christians views on marriage is in Genesis 2:18: ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him’ Christians believe that God created the woman to help fulfil man’s desire for companionship and so that together they could express their love to God and strengthen their relationship.  However the wife is not below or valued less than the man, her role in the marriage may be less praised or recognised but her value to God is the same as the mans.

        As a result of this Christians value marriage greatly, the sacred union reflects on Christ’s own union that he held with his disciples. Christians believe that a couple enter into the act of marriage because they are committed together and want to fulfil the God given union.  A marriage is not based on superficial things such as looks, sex or desire for children. Marriage is the only place where a couple should raise children. This is the purpose of marriage for Christians, God intended man to procreate: ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue I’ Marriage provides a secure and stable environment to raise children in as the couple are committed to each other, by procreating  a couple is doing the will of God. Christians also believe that marriage is the place for mutual support and encouragement and that in their love for each other, married couples will recognisees the love God has for all of us and creation.  God intended that marriage was to be a lifelong commitment. This is clear because Jesus says that ‘Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together’ This emphasises that a man and wife become one when they are married

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Christians believe that marriage is five things: It is a lifelong commitment; it is obedience to God as marriage is his will, it is about vows to one another, it is about procreation and continuing mankind and it is finally about love. The most important of these is commitment to one another. Lifelong commitment is what a marriage is based on it provides the fuel that sustains a marriage. Christians recognise and believe there will be times in a marriage where the couple may feel that the love has disappeared and they may consider looking elsewhere to provide it. However ...

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