HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2012-02-23, Page 13THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012. PAGE 13. By Pastor Ernest Dow, Living
Water Christian Fellowship
(EMC), Blyth
An article in the Feb. 2, 2012 issue
of The Citizen proclaimed “The
Advantages of Living Together.”
The article asked, “Are you thinking
about moving in together? This
decision might be an opportunity to
improve your financial situation by
combining your income and
expenses and doing some long-term
planning... Living under the same
roof is much less expensive than
living alone. You can save a great
deal on the costs of electricity,
heating, telephone, internet,
groceries and automobiles.”
An appealing idea, perhaps?
Financially maybe, but not morally.
Reminds me of a plaque I saw years
back with a shapely female
silhouette in the background and the
tempting suggestion, “Save Water...
Shower Together!”
So, what’s wrong with the idea of
“shacking up” as the old folks used
to call it? Sure it may save money,
but are there not hidden spiritual and
emotional costs to such a plan?
In ancient societies, it was widely
recognized that there were benefits
to requiring a certain level of
commitment before a man and
woman became sexually involved
in a way that might produce
children.
As women are physiologically
child-bearers and traditionally
provided nurture to young children
in the home, society required a
definite commitment by young men
so they would stop and think twice
before enjoying sexual privileges;
this commitment would hopefully
encourage them to ‘stick together’
through the challenging years of
raising a family, rather than taking
the easy out of ‘cut and run’. In the
Old Testament, the demonstrable
monetary form of this commitment
is referred to as the “bride-price”
(Ex.22:16), defined by the NIV
Study Bible as “a gift, usually
substantial, given by the prospective
groom to the bride’s family as
payment for her; the custom is still
followed today in parts of the
Middle East.”
Marriage is an essential ingredient
for a stable society. In marriage a
woman and man pledge their
unconditional love and support to
each other formally, usually in a
religious setting, attended by
witnesses from both sides of the
family. It is a ‘big deal’, and rightly
so – for practically all relationships
will at some time or other be
subjected to extremes that will test
them and strain fidelity. In marriage
we commit ourselves to the other
“for better, for worse, for richer, for
poorer, in sickness and in health, to
love and to cherish, ‘til death us do
part.” Healthy families need that
kind of bedrock commitment.
On the other hand, there is a steep
price paid by couples who just
‘move in together’. John Regier, a
marriage counsellor from Colorado,
notes there are serious psychological
consequences when God’s moral
principles are violated. Years after
premarital sex, unresolved guilt can
cause one or both partners to blame
the other, which causes conflict and
leads to: rejection by one another;
lack of sympathy; lack of respect;
diminished trust or dishonesty;
deteriorating communication; loss
of spiritual interest; inability to
respond physically in marriage; and
lack of fulfilment. The wife may
become bitter and seek fulfilment in
their children, a job or fantasies,
such as romantic novels. The
husband becomes distant, reacting
negatively and seeking fulfilment in
his job, and (often) immoral
activities, such as pornography or
adultery.
Statistics also show that living
together before marriage is a bad
risk. Michael McManus (Marriage
Savers) states, “Of 100 couples who
begin living together, 40 will break
up before marriage, and of the 60
who marry, 45 will divorce. That
leaves only 15 intact marriages out
of the original 100 couples. Women
who cohabitate prior to marriage are
more likely to be abused than those
who don’t.”
Still think that living together is an
‘opportunity’?
There is also a high toll spiritually
speaking. The Bible is very clear
that sexual immorality (technically
‘fornication’ in this case) is sinful.
The author of the book of Hebrews
writes, “Marriage should be
honoured by all, and the marriage
bed kept pure, for God will judge the
adulterer and all the sexually
immoral.” (Heb 13:4) The Apostle
Paul said, “The body is not meant
for sexual immorality, but for the
Lord, and the Lord for the body...
You are not your own; you were
bought at a price. Therefore honour
God with your body.” (1Corinthians
6:13,20) Sin of any kind - including
premarital sex - separates us from
God, and needs repentance and
forgiveness.
Not only is living together an
affront to God; the apostle implies it
somehow also cheapens or
undermines ourselves. He
counselled, “Flee from sexual
immorality. All other sins a man
commits are outside his body, but he
who sins sexually, sins against his
own body.” When young men and
women pledge to save themselves
for marriage, they show that they
consider their body’s most exquisite
pleasures and functions are to be
reserved for sharing with a special
person who is prepared to commit
themselves unconditionally, publicly
and unreservedly in order to enjoy
that private privilege.
Let’s cheer on and pray for those
who do!
THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF NORTH HURON AND NORTH PERTH
CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND HOLY MASS.
OUR SUNDAY LITURGIES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
Brussels:
St. Ambrose
Saturday
6:00 p.m.
17 Flora Street
Wingham:
Sacred Heart
Sunday
9:00 a.m.
220 Carling Terrace
Listowel:
St. Joseph
Sunday
11:00 a.m.
1025 Wallace Avenue N.
Youre Invited
to come worship
with us
Sunday, February 26
Brussels Public School
at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Sunday School for children
4 to 11 years of age at 9:30 a.m.
Childcare provided for infants and
preschoolers during the sermon.
Coffee & cookies after the morning service
For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621
Steve Klumpenhower 519.887.8651 Rick Packer 519.527.0173
Chris McMichael 519.482.1644
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Sandra Cable, Worship Leader
Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca
Sunday, February 26
Ethel United Church
Worship Service and Sunday School - 9:30 a.m.
Brussels United Church
Worship Service and Sunday School - 11:00 a.m.
Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
Rev. Elwin Garland
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26
Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available
519-887-2664
10:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship
- Sunday School
getlivingwater.org
Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848
Living Water
Christian Fellowship
February 26: Mk. 2:23-3:6
10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School
at Blyth Public School,
corner of King & Mill
Tuesdays 7:30 pm - Wingham Bible Study
1st & 3rd Wednesdays 7:30 pm - Women At The Well
Evangelical Missionary Church
“What’s a Sabbath For?
Who Needs One?”
Coming Fri., March 2
to Memorial Hall:
“Courageous”!
courageousthemovie.ca
7:30 pm
Order FREE tickets -
courageous@getlivingwater.org
Worship Service & Sunday School at 11 a.m.
CORNER OF DINSLEY & MILL STREETS
MINISTER
Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M. Div.
All Welcome
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed.OFFICE: 519-523-4224
FEBRUARY 26 ~ Love is a Battlefield
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
Welcomes you to come and worship with us
Trinity, Blyth
9:15 a.m.
Church Office: 519-357-4883
St. John's, Brussels
11:15 a.m.
519-887-6862
Sunday, February 26
Rev. Perry Chuipka
www.nabcom.ca/church
You’re Invited To Join Us In Worship
Hwy. 4, Blyth 519-523-4743
www.blythcrc.ca
SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00 am
Evening Service 7:30 pm
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
119 John’s Ave., Auburn
519-526-1131
www.huronchapel.org
Rev. Mark Royall, Sr. Pastor
9:25 a.m.
Sunday School for all ages
10:30 a.m
Morning Worship Service
What To
Do When
Life Hurts
Sermon Series
continues with
The Relationship Choice!
From the Minister’s StudyWaiting for marriage should be celebrated
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