Reflections on the Purposes of Marriage
I was privileged this past May to officiate a wedding, my third such occasion. I am so grateful to the happy couple who asked me, who I consider dear friends. After introducing the service and singing some great hymns of the faith, I preached a homily that was meant to instruct, encourage, and inspire, before leading them in the exchanging of vows and rings. In this post, I share an adaptation of my homily, which reflected on four...
Recommended Books (Summer 2024)
As summer begins to draw toward its conclusion, we would like to share some good reads we discovered over the past few months. These selections represent a wide array of topics that we think will interest you. Some selections will be great for personal reading, others for family time. Most of all, we think they will broaden your understanding of God’s creation and His work in it because they have had that result in our lives. Please...
Bonds and Chains: First Wave Feminism and the Institution of Marriage
In August 2023, I posted an essay that explored the biblical characteristics of marriage, focusing on the institution’s theological context, civic role, and hierarchical structure as revealed in Scripture. The description of marriage I offered differs significantly from the one assumed in modern Western culture. Yet Western Civilization was deeply shaped by the Christian worldview of the institution. So, how have our families,...
A Pastor’s Guide to Wedding Rehearsals
One of the great joys of pastoral ministry is presiding over wedding ceremonies. One of the great headaches of pastoring can be presiding over wedding rehearsals. Well, maybe you do not have to be in pastoral ministry for wedding rehearsals to cause a headache. I have been part of many weddings either as the officiant or as a member of the wedding party, and I have learned that rehearsals are stressful from both ends. They can drag on...
Biblical Marriage
For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. (Ephesians 5:31–33; KJV) Throughout history, Satan and sin have consistently worked to undermine the institution...
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