Building on the Foundation

  David and Jonathan We have a little problem with the Bible.   How do we decide when a command that is given is based on culture and when it is a command we still have to follow? That question in itself supposes that if a command is based on the culture in which it was given, then it no longer applies to us at all. Cultural context is by far the most common reason that people think certain things no longer apply or were never meant for us.  All of the New Testament commands for women, for example, were conveniently given based on their culture alone and therefore were not meant for anyone but those people.  Women today are therefore under no restraints at all and are free to be as rebellious as they desire to be, simply because that culture was one in which Paul needed to give those instructions, but ours is not.   I jest, of course, but it does put the question I asked in a different light, and perhaps reveals the true question at the heart of the issue ...

  The Goal of Marriage An equal partnership in marriage works if your only goals are a happy union, peace, met needs, and companionship.  If marriage has no higher purpose or mission beyond a sense of community, it can still work fairly well. Most would identify a peaceful marriage where all their needs are met, or where an effort is made to meet them, as a strong and happy marriage.  People can have a marriage like this that lasts for 70 years, and it’s viewed as a success, but what defines success? Is the goal of marriage simply to be happy and get along with each other? Most people, especially Christians, would say that it absolutely is the goal of marriage to be happy, get their needs met, and all that jazz. In fact, most of the marriages in the various Churches I have associated with have exactly that goal.  A strong marriage means you’re connecting better, getting along better, and both parties are constantly yielding to each other with no one really in charge....