West Main

“As long as we visualize marriage as the concern of those alone who are being married, as something that happens to them and not to the whole Church, and, therefore, to the world itself, we shall never understand the . . . meaning of marriage.” The previous quote from an author speaking on the value of marriage is a reflection on the Apostle Paul’s insight that the mystery of marriage “is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church” (Ephesians 5:32).

Typically, at least in our present North American society, marriage is looked upon as something that just concerns two individuals. Especially in the so-called “culture wars” we face today concerning gay marriage, the popular thinking says, “What does it matter to me if two men or two women love each other and want to get married? What concern is that to me?” Is marriage just an arrangement between two individuals (more if you believe in polygamy)? In other words, is marriage just a private concern of individual choice, preference, and desire? Of course, the issue of marriage just being a private matter between individuals is not just an issue for gay marriage, but is a matter even for Christian marriage.  In other words, just because a Christian man and woman are justified in the eyes of God, and the man and woman love each other, does not mean the fullest understanding and purpose of marriage is achieved.

The ultimate purpose of marriage is to be a living symbol of the Church’s love for Christ, and Christ’s love for the Church. Note how Paul says, “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25-27). A husband’s love for his wife is to emulate the sacrificial love of Christ for his body, the Church. In like manner, Paul says, “Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands” (Ephesians 5:24). A wife’s love for her husband is to reflect how the Church loves Christ.

So we see from Paul that marriage is not just about the love of two individuals, but is about the love of Christ for his Church and the Church’s love for Christ. Thus, marriage serves an evangelistic role for the world in that it gives society a living flesh and blood witness of the sacrificial love of Christ for the world. We often hear, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). The world needs to see how much Jesus sacrificially loves the world by seeing how a Christian husband sacrificially loves his Christian wife. The world needs to see how the bride of Christ, the Church, reciprocates this sacrifice by the submissive love of a Christian wife. How tragic that this sacrificial love and loving submissive response has been cheapened in many congregations to a “the husband is in charge, do what he says” mentality. We will not tolerate such satanic drivel here.

Therefore, we see that marriage is not about culture wars in our North American society, but is rather about the role and witness of the Church of Jesus Christ to declare Christ’s love for the Church and the Church’s love for Christ.

-- Terry

The Financial Peace University Class will begin March 7 and continue on Wednesday evenings for thirteen weeks.

**We will have classes for children when the seminar begins.  Please contact Denise Beeks if your children will be attending class.

Yamhill Men’s Retreat is scheduled for March 1-3. The cost is $85.00.  For more information you can go to their website at http://yamhillmensretreat.org.  To register go to http://campyamhill.org/mensretreat. Please contact Dan Beeks for travel arrangements.

Elders’ Open House  --   Sunday afternoon, March 11, from 2:00-4:00 p.m.  You are invited to visit the homes of Dan and Denise Beeks, Larry and Wydie Denn, and Ron and Sally Zielke. More information to come.  We will have maps to their homes on that Sunday for your convenience.

Attention Youth Group Parents:  There will be a Parent Meeting right after morning services in the youth room this Sunday, February 26.  All are encouraged to attend.

Camp Staff Meeting  --  We will have a Camp Staff Meeting on Monday, February 27, at 6:30 p.m. in the upstairs teen room.  Please see Brian Pannell if you have any questions or would like to volunteer to help with camp this year.

30 Hour Famine  --  Please support and pray for our teens with encouragement and prayer during this 30 hour famine.  Here are some ways you can help:

1. Pray. Ask God to bless our students as they overcome hunger.

2. Volunteer. Come join us during our Famine Weekend (March 9-10).

3. Give.  Just $30 can help feed and care for a child for a month.

For Sharon Englert who is recovering from surgery at home - she can now have visitors, but please call first before visiting...Chris Brass requests prayers for the congregation and leadership of the Fort Des Moines Church of Christ...Shayla Davis requests prayers for her mother who is traveling...For Leslie Miller as she travels this next week...Jessica Fitzsimmons asks prayers for a friend, Kathleen, whose husband died this past week...Jason Bucey requests your prayers for his mother who had three heart stents put in this past week and for his brother who struggles with alcoholism...Jackie Riley is at Medford Rehab following her stroke - she has use of her right arm now - please pray that her right leg will begin working again so that she can walk...Katherine Martin is getting better from bronchitis - she is in Avamere at Three Fountains, Room 21B...The surgery for Jesse Page has been postponed until February 27 at Ashland Hospital...For Connie and Lucas Ivey who have been sick this past week - please pray for their quick healing...Colleen Godfrey requests prayers for a friend who is in a difficult job situation and for the safety of her and her family...For our President and all of our military men, women and families.