Marriage is a relationship for life. In the eyes of God, when a couple come to church they become one. This is a sacrament or a gift from God. As God has joined them, this ideally should not be broken. In Genesis 2:18-25 it says, “God intended men and women to share their lives in an exclusive permanent relationship.” This idea of a permanent relationship is also repeated in the marriage vows ‘till death do us part’. Romans 7:2 say that the law binds them together until death separates them. Mathew 19:3-6 says, “Marriage is Gods idea and it is his intention that it should last for life.”
It is said that God planned marriage to be a picture of the relationship between Christ and the church. In Ephesians 5:21-33 it is clear that the relationship between husband and wife must follow Gods directions faithfully and symbolize Christ’s relationship to the church. It is thought that this comparison provides guidance through problems in marriage. This is also confirmed in Ephesians 5:23 when it says that a husbands authority over his wife is like Jesus’ over the church.
Apart from companionship God also intended marriage for pro-creation. In genesis 1:27,28 he told Adam and Eve, “Be fruitful and multiply”. This can be so integral in marriage that if sexual intercourse doesn’t occur after the ceremony then the marriage may not be seen as valid. Christians may also see having children as sharing in God’s work of creation. Some, especially Roman Catholics, believe that the main purpose of sexual intercourse is for procreation. For this reason the ‘human vitae’ condemned all forms of contraception.
God also planned for the marital relationship to be teachers to the generations to come. The married couple are to instruct the children of the future and to raise them in the ways of god. It is important for the succeeding generations.
Majority of denominations teach that marriage is a life long commitment. Although many recognise that there are circumstances where divorce is deemed a necessary evil.
The family also has many Christian teachings. Christians hold family life with high self-esteem. Jesus himself was brought up in a loving family environment. God created family life and to Christians it is seen as the basis of society.
In family life Christians teach duty and responsibility. Responsibility is shown in Timothy 8, it says ‘ If a Christian denies family who are in need they are worse than an unbeliever’. This reinforces the sense of family responsibility. Husbands and wives are to behave with respect to one another. They set an example of Christian life and teach morality to the following generation. ‘Children are taught about God in the family’ says Deuteronomy 6:4-7. Deuteronomy also says it is the parents responsibility to bring up children in the correct faith. This means it is the parent’s duty to show their children the way of Christian discipline and instruction. Children’s first impressions of Christian life are depicted in the family.
Christian teachings also state that children and parents are to respect one another. ‘ Children obey parents, and parents don’t antagonise your children’ (Ephesians 6:1-6) In Timothy 5:8 it is said that ‘families must love each other. If they don’t, they are worse than unbelievers.
The family line is also important for Christians. In Deuteronomy 24-6, it shows the importance of family lines. If a brother dies, his brother must marry his widowed wife. This is done so the family line can continue.
Love and care is exceptionally important in Christian family life. An intimate kind of love and care is based in family life. There is no burden in day-to-day family life because the Christian love is used as motivation. Christianity teaches that love and care shown within the family provides an example of how they should act towards others outside the family.
Children are very important in a Christian family. Parents are responsible for children and play a vital role in teaching their children. Christians see the family relationship between parents and children very important in a number of ways. They see children as a gift from god and so they should be treasured. This forms a special bond between them. Parents are also responsible for bringing their children up in a Christian way and this is how they learn the message of Christ. Love and care are essential in the Christian view of how parents and children should relate to one another.
The elderly are also significant in Christian family teachings. In exodus it states; If you fail to look after your elderly you could be put to death’ this shows how highly the elderly are regarded. Leviticus also says ‘ show respect for old people and honour them’ Respect is essential in Christian families.
The bible shows god as a parent in many ways. In these teachings god is portrayed as the ideal parent. God is compared to a mother who protects her chicks, a mother who comforts her child, god is also related to a loving father that welcomes home the son that has run away. This means that the way that God treats his people is how parents should bring up their children.
The Hebrew teachings on family life are very much the same. Respect is very important in the family especially for elders. Respect is taught from a very young age and children are also taught to honour their parents. Their family values are great and will rarely put an elderly member of the family into a nursing home unless the family cannot cope medically.
The Baptist church believes that all members of the family are essential to the family relationship. Not just the nuclear family. They believe God is concerned with all types of family’s. It is only the relationship within the family that is important and support within the family is priority.
Christians teach that marriage and families are very important and are needed for companionship, love, support, and friendship. They are also needed to teach us about morals and life and to introduce us to our faith. They are deemed important by everyone and should not be overlooked. Tensions and disagreements are bound to occur but with honesty, love and trust, the family and marriage relationships will continue.
B-Examine and consider how far these teachings are relevant in a modern secularised society.
These teachings aren’t as relevant in a modern secularised society. Many of the teachings in the bible aren’t adhered to and many are undermined. Because of the secular society there is no role model to the individuals. Christians use Jesus and the bible for guidance but non religious people have their own direction.
Family teachings are becoming less significant in society as people are disobedient to parents. This is directed at children and can be applied to temper tantrums of two year olds up to the disobedience of fifteen year olds. Children tend to have less respect for their parents, regardless of age. This may be because they have had no strict rules, like the bible, to stick to.
Marriage can be seen as less of a commitment. If you have no belief in god then you may not feel obliged to keep at a relationship that is difficult. Marriage is generally very expensive and couples attitudes are changing. In a secular society a couple could be married in a registry office. This is not generally seen as a religious building. Some couples may think that because there is no God watching over them there is no need for marriage and no one to prove themselves to. Many couples in modern society see marriage only as a piece of paper. They see no reason to marry if they are already totally committed and happy.
In a society today, even if a couple do not believe procreation is for God, then they may feel that family is expected in today’s society. When a couple marry or move in together, they are expected to have children. The couple may not believe that this is because they have to but in their own time they may have children and start a family.
A family tends to show our place in society compared to others. When you are placed into a family unit you are automatically grouped or categorised. In a secular society this may be important to your status. A family gives you a sense of identity. But in this way you could also loose your individuality.
In today’s modern society, there is nearly total equality in relationships. This may be between husband and wife or parents and children. People are no longer stereotyped into family roles as they were once. Men and women both work and earn equal wages and housekeeping is often done by both parties. Today even men are paid for paternity leave for a few days and are just as involved in raising children as women. Children are given a lot more responsibility and choices in the family.
Christians believe that parents are to bring up and educate their children. In today’s society aunts, granddads, cousins and friends are all responsible foe their upbringing, and in some societies children are brought up in communes or very large families.
