Arkansas State press., 1942-10-30

thew ~ Sc. John Ais
GOLDEN TERMINATING Is honor.
able in an.--HehreWs l3i
The home is not just one Of the
institutions of our social order, II is
a part of Gods plan for man. 1t
thus holds a position of greater inn
portanee than institutions of society.
and should take first place in our
thinking.
Home and the life which centers
in ii has lost much Of its meaning
and value In recent decades. II is
appropriate and timely to study for
four weeks in our Sunday schools
the foundation principles of the
home and TO learn how we may
hinder or help II In its influence,
Teachers will wish to make much
Of this vital series
We begin right when we inquire
what the Bible teaches about mar
riage, and we find the instruction
plentiful and to the point, Concern
ing marriage we learn of
I. Its Origin-Ordained by God
tGen. 2:l8-24.
Nations and states have marriage
laws. and certain civil requirements
must be met. But true marriage
from the Christian viewpoint is far
more than a civil contract. II is an
ordinance which God Himself or
dained from the beginning for the
welfare Of man.
As Adam gave names to the ami
mails (which incidentally, tells OF
his INTEL sence and ability they
passed before him. II became evil
dent to him that there was no true
fellowship between man and beast,
that there must be a help meet
for man. one of his own kind, with
his capacities OF personal being,
God quickly and adequately meets
every real need of man. so He ere
ated out of Adams own flesh one who
was to be his true companion. III
man is the head, she is the crown"
said Matthew Henry The man
was dust refined, but the woman was
dust doubly refined. one move fur
Their from the earth She was not |
taken out of his head TO top him, |
not out of his feet to be trampled |
upon by him, but out of his side to
be equal with him, under his arm TO
be protected, and near his heart to
be beloved"
So God ordainea marriage but |
down through the ages man has
seen fit to tamper with Gods holy |
arrangements, adjusting them to
suit himself. so we need to be re-
minded of the truth.
II. Its Control-Not Subject to
Man tMatt, 10; 3-6).
Because Of the hardness of mans
heart Moses permitted divorce
mark 1914, 50, but God did not
intend II from the beginning The
Jewish rabbis had so stretched the
Interpretation of that act of Moses
that a wife could be divorced for
almost any reason. The same was
true among heather nations.
Our Lord makes il very clear that
man has no authority to determine
such matters at all. that the union
of life in true marriage is by the
act of God, and that no man has
power to sunder such relationship
The whole trend of thought on
marriage has been away from its
sacredness as a divine institution,
and we need to return to a proper
appreciation Of it as such. All too
often, marriages are mere civil
agreements, hastily made before
Justice of peace, We need to en-
courage our young people to rec
ognize
III. Its Dignity-Sanctioned by
Christ (John 2:l-5l.
The wedding ceremony tells us
that marriage lis an honorable
estate, instituted by God in the time
of mans iunocency, confirmed by the
teaching .~Ad hallowed by the pres
ence of our blessed Lord, and
likened by ST. Paul TO the holy
union that exists between Christ and
the Church; and therefore is not by
any to be entered into unadvisedly.
but reverently, discreetly and in the
fear of God"
At the very beginning Of His pub
lie ministry Jesus performed His
first miracle as His share Of we'd
ding feast 1t is true that He does
share every occasion Of JOY and sor.
row Of His people, but it seems to
be significant that this first occa-
sion for His mira uous power was
q wedding.
He was there to rejoice with and
TO bless those who had exchanged
their vows in marriage. Should He
not be the unseer guest at every
wedding? Whether In the home or
in the church; whether the occa.
sion be a simple or an elaborate
one; whether a host Of friends at
tend or only the witnesses-always
and everywhere Jesus Christ should
be recognized as the One who stards
by TO bless. and to unite the two
lives for His own glory
This means that the cc-emony
should be Christian one, with
prayer a vital part Of it, and the
will Of God paramount. Then in.
deed. God may and will Join togeth.
pr uat which no. man can put
tpnder