Chapter 2 of this book serves a few purposes; the first purpose is to evaluate the Scriptural analogies related to marriage (for example, Christ and the church). On this point, Thomas says: "Isaiah uses marital imagery to stress how God rejoices in his people: 'As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.' (Isaiah 62:5b)" (p. 29). The second purpose is to ask pointed questions that will help us view marriage in a God-centered way. Thomas asks this key question of the reader:
"Will we approach marriage from a God-centered view or a man-centered view? In a man-centered view, we will maintain our marriage as long as our earthly comforts, desires and expectations are met. In a God-centered view, we preserve our marriage because it brings glory to God and points a sinful world to a reconciling Creator." (p. 32).Thomas uses two passages that I found to be incredibly challenging and encouraging, the first, an oft-quoted passage from Ephesians 5:25-27: "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless." The second, 2 Corinthians 5:9, "So we make it our goal to please him.".
The implications of those passages are staggering. Not only are we to love our wives, but our job, through love, is to "make her holy"! Our call in marriage is to come alongside our spouse, joining with them to make them pure (without stain), holy and blameless.
Why?
"...if the marriages are heavily watered with an unwavering commitment to please God above everything else ... our marriages can be platforms for evangelism" (p. 36 & 37). Evangelism? Our marriages can be a platform for evangelism? Thomas argues, rightly I think, that "in a society where relationships are discarded with a frightening regularity, Christians can command attention simply by staying married. And when asked why, we can offer the platform of God's message of reconciliation...".
As always, there is much more that could have been written on this chapter, but I'll leave you with those thoughts to meditate on. I'll take just a moment to note that these reflections are just a small slice of a bigger pie. I'd encourage all couples - married, and soon-to-be married, to pick up this book for further study. At the back of the book there are discussion and reflection questions for you and your spouse, as well.
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