Marriage (Christianity)

The solemn vows taken by a couple in the presence of a priest or minister (who represents Christ) endow the marriage relationship with a spiritual dimension; the blessing of God and the request that he will use his power to bind the pair together more completely as the years go by give the marriage a permanence and a possibility for development that could not arise if the vows were made simply to each other. Feelings are notoriously changeable, and more than simply feelings of love for each other is essential for a successful partnership.

Further, marriage is not just a bond between two people; it is a metaphor for the union of Christ with the Church. Thus it is that God is an essential part of the marriage, and where the couple view their relationship in this light, the stresses and strains of marriage are diminished and the marriage stands as a symbol of mystical union with God. Bringing the care (charity) of the Christian into marriage also implies forgiveness, so that for this reason, and because the union is one which is deeper and more spiritual than an ordinary human relationship, divorce should be unthinkable.

Such an ideal is not easy to live up to, but the promise "until death do us part" has a strengthening effect on a relationship. Nurturing the relationship through difficulties has the effect of developing and maturing the partners in a way that a self-oriented approach could never do.

Additionally, the complementary rather than similar aspects of the male and female make-up - despite the feminine traits present in the most masculine man and the masculine traits in the most feminine women - are fully celebrated in a Christian marriage, which cannot condone a "unisex" attitude. There are many New Testament references in which the relationship is clearly one of complementing rather than mirroring each other - "wives, respect your husbands ... husbands, love your wives", for example.

Despite considerable pressure, the main-line church does not condone homosexual relationships or any sexual attitude that might inhibit spiritual growth. However, it is pointed out (Geddes MacGregor) that such sins pale into insignificance when compared with malice, hatred, cruelty and greed.