1 Corinthians 7: Again, our bodies are not our "property". In the case of the marriage relationship, we owe physical, emotional, spiritual affection to our mate. It should be a debt we are glad to pay, but it is a debt nonetheless. This keeps the home fires burning in a wandering, immoral society. God didn't make us to be stoic or ascetic on the one hand or stray dogs on the other.
A married believer should not instigate a divorce from an unbelieving spouse, but especially a believing one. If so divorced, reconciliation or celibacy are the only options as long as both are alive. If an unbelieving spouse divorces a believer, let them go peacefully.
Unmarried believers who are considering marriage need to make the decision with their eyes open -- not "blinded by love". Singleness offers greater flexibility and service to Christ with fewer distractions. As Paul says -- and I think every married disciple would agree -- when we are married we have the additional desire to please our spouse. Just reality. Marriage is not a "second class" option to singleness, but it needs to be stripped of the phony expectations of our Cinderella and the Handsome Prince way of seeing it. When we make marriage vows, we are binding ourselves to God's purpose in marriage, with attendant covenantal blessings for obedience and cursings for disobedience.
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John and Cindy
Kings Cross, London UK 2007
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