The Benefit Of Understanding The Purpose Of Marriage

A Chinese couple who recently married has struggled with living together after marriage. Even their honeymoon was botched by arguments and fights. A little over a month since the marriage they got into another argument and decided it would be a good thing to drink some alcohol to take the edge off and calm down. Below is what happened next.

"At about 10 p.m., Luo watched her husband get into bed without cleaning or washing his feet. In a fit of anger and intoxication, she set fire to the sheet he was sleeping in," the report said.

"When he awoke, the two began fighting before a very drunk Wang collapsed. As fire engulfed the bedroom. Luo escaped to the living room, leaving her other half to burn," it added.

You can read more here.

Some questions:
-What is the purpose of marriage?
-What do you think would have saved this man's life and marriage?
-Do you think a proper understanding of the purpose/intent of marriage is makes all the difference in the marriage relationship?
-What of religion? Does it play a role in marriage?
-Should this matter in marriage?

Luther on Love & Marriage

Justin Taylor wrote some on the views Martin Luther held concerning marriage and love and the impact those views (and actions) had on his culture and how it permeates even our own today.

Here is an excerpt:

...Luther wrote, "If I can manage it, before I die I will still marry my Katie to spite the devil." Perhaps not the most romantic line in history, but Luther was well on his way to turning in his membership card to the "Bachelor to the Rapture" Club!

Luther didn't believe in long engagements. In fact, he had one of the shortest engagements in history — he proposed to Katherine and they were married that very same day (June 13, 1523). Their marriage not only shocked their friends, but eventually led to the transformation of church and culture.

You can read the rest here.

Some questions:
-Given the mindset of Luther and of Katherine, do you think they would have married save for the providence of God?
-Is it a good thing to look outside of our current culture for wisdom on marriage and love? Do you find yourself gravitating towards the "latest and greatest" author on the subject when you read within the topic?
-What are some things you pulled from reading the article? Was it helpful?

Right To Know: Should Adoptees Have It?

A married couple have had their union annulled - after discovering they were twins.
The twins were separated at birth and not told they had any siblings. They were adopted by different families, and - amazingly - as adults they met, fell in love and married.
The High Court ruled the marriage had never been valid and annulled it.

You can read more here.

Some questions:
-Should those who have been given over for adoption be allowed access to their birth records and given knowledge of their siblings?
-Can you imagine the finding out that you married your sibling? Ughh... (shiver)

Einstein: Good With Physics, Bad With Marriage

Challies wrote on a wedding he recently attended in which the pastor quoted the below during the wedding ceremony. I added it to the sidebar but thought it worth highlighting here.

With his marriage disintegrating and already participating in extra-marital affairs, Einstein made a last-ditch effort to keep his marriage somewhat intact, even if only for the sake of the children. This is the contract he sent to his wife:
A. You will make sure that my clothes and laundry are kept in good order; that I will receive my three meals regularly in my room; that my bedroom and study are kept neat, and especially that my desk is left for my use only.
B. You will renounce all personal relations with me insofar as they are not completely necessary for social reasons. Specifically, you will forego my sitting at home with you;
my going out of traveling with you.
C. You will obey the following points in your relations with me: you will not expect any intimacy from me, nor will you reproach me in any way; you will stop talking to me if I request it; you will leave my bedroom or study immediately without protest if I request it.
D. You will undertake not to belittle me in front of our children, either through words or behavior.

You can read more here.

Some questions:
-What of this man who was a genius in some regards but resorted to a miserable disdain towards his wife?
-How does one keep from cultivating such disdain in one's heart?
-His wife eventually agreed to the contract; why do you think she agreed?
-How should a believing Christian handle such a contract if it is handed to them by their spouse?

Death & Weddings

This past weekend I was at the wedding of a longtime friend of mine who was finally getting married. This wedding took place the day after the funeral of one of our mutual friends who died of heart failure. The night of the wedding, after the reception, one of the groomsmen and his girlfriend were heading back to Kansas City, MO (7 hour drive) and the girlfriend fell asleep at the wheel and he was already out. She was injured and he died. The bride and groom left their honeymoon early to go to the funeral. (This makes 4 dead friends in 7 years).

Some questions:
-How does this affect the couple knowing it was their wedding they were driving back from?
-How do you celebrate your anniversaries knowing that one friend was buried the day before and one friend died the night of?
-Do we take our time here for granted?