But marriage is an agreement between two equal partners who come together to make promises to each other as the basis for their love. And the marriage vows aren't something extraneous to the relationship, but define the very meaning of love. Love is to be faithful, trusting, open, forgiving, humble, kind, self-giving. There isn't any other kind of love. For a marriage to be a marriage, it has to be a union of committed, mutual loving.
Vulnerability is what it's all about.
Those who want revision often think this New Testament view of marriage is for some ideal world, not the real world of the 21st century where people live longer, complicated lives. But there never was an ideal world. The biblical teaching on marriage was given to people who were every bit as selfish, preoccupied, and lustful as we are today. The wedding vows before God recognize that and create a space for a faithful relationship which can grow closer with the years and offer stability to the next generation. Perhaps the real issue for the 21st century is an attitude problem.