We live in an era where Psychology plays an integral part on the situation of marriage and related events. However, great marriages are built on a foundation of trust and not on behavioral skills. Emotional security is the cornerstone for the relationship that one wants or you simply need to feel secure in your marriage. How can we achieve that? The Bible brings us to the basics of the definition of marriage as we search for an answer.  The best definition for marriage in the Bible comes from Genesis 2:24 – For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and they will be one flesh.

Scott and I (Sue) are a couple of ordinary Christians who found ourselves in an all-too-common situation: a disappointing, miserable, and failing marriage.  We could hardly understand how we got into that state of affairs.  Twenty years along in what we thought had been a basically happy marriage, we were at an impasse.  We were full of frustration, confusion, and anger, each convinced the other was primarily at fault for landing us in our predicament.

Families are God ordained functional unit of the society.  In the Church also families form dynamic unit.  Strong families indicate a strong nation and a dynamic church.  Satan, in the last days is targeting the family life: breaking families, redefining meaning for families, and promoting sex outside marriage.  Strong families emerge when couples love one another, committed to one another and submit to one another.

In God’s plan for humanity, family is a key relationship and institution that bring health to society.  God created man, woman and established the first family.  Lord Jesus Christ also did His first miracle in the wedding that happened in the city of Cana.  Apostle John records this and states that it was ‘a miraculous sign’.

Marriage is currently being redefined, studied, and contested perhaps more than ever before in history. Both sacred and secular perspectives of marriage appear to be caught up in controversies within the church and the courts that will continue for quite some time. Over the last five years, the definition, authorization, and benefits of marriage have been heavily debated, dividing both clergy and legislators. Who would have guessed fifty years ago that something as basic to society as marriage would have become one of the hot topics of the 21st century?
Published in Emmanuel Research Review, Issue 36, March, 2008.

A young man is interested in a girl and fell in love with her.  But, some how, he is unable to communicate his intention or feelings with her.  He shares his inner longings with his friend, who devises a way to bring her to him for a lunch.  The boy and girl are alone.  Lust and passion over took his mind, he rapes the girl.  In modern parlance it could be termed as ‘Date rape’.  Then, he rejects her and also hates her with the same intensity he ‘loved’ her.  This is an adapted version of the incident recorded in the Bible.  (II Samuel 13: 1-21)  The victim of this was Tamar and the rapist was Amnon. 

THIS IS A COMPILATION OF PRACTICAL GUIDELINES FOR TEENAGERS AND YOUNG ADULTS WHO ARE WAITING PATIENTLY TO ENTER INTO ANOTHER PHASE OF THEIR LIFE. THE WRITER SUGGESTS PRAYER AS THE GREATEST SOURCE OF GUIDANCE THAN ANY OTHER IN FORMATION.

This is a compilation of guidelines for young adults who are waiting patiently to enter into another phase of their life. The write suggests prayer as the greatest source of guidance than any other information.

Divorces have increased in India and it is evident in the number of cases for divorce being filed in all courts in India.  Many people believe that it is because of the influence of Western media.  Has urbanization has broken the family lives on Indians?  How has the Church in India responded to this situation?

Recently a young man shared that he wanted to get married.  He was a Christian for some time and did not have a steady job or income.  I asked him, “Why he wanted to marry?”.  His answer was:  “My mother is getting old.  She is unable to do all her household chores, so she needs a daughter-in-law to work with her.”  Obviously, I replied, “What about having a servant?”  “We have to pay for a servant.”  Then, I replied, “You need unpaid servant for your home?”  This is a typical mindset of people, especially in India.  The misconception of wife as ‘servant’, ‘slave’, ‘sex toy’ and ‘sub-ordinate’ is dominant thinking of people.  But it is not biblical thinking.  By learning about the first couple, it is possible to understand God’s plan for family and principles that govern family life of a Christian.