St. Paul Church of God in Christ-MayMessage of the Month

June– MARRIAGE as/in MINISTRY MONTH

Marriage is primarily a social contract between the partners to form a mutually binding, affirming and interdependent union. Although the method for persons to enter into marriage has shifted over time, the essence of the marital union remains the socially recognized union of the partners. This union is formed by the intimate association of the distinct minds, bodies and spirits of the partners into a relationship that can be expressed succinctly by the phase, “We are better together.” This union rests on the affirmation and devotion of the partners to support and celebrate each other while accepting the demands of dealing with differences both profound and commonplace. This requires compromise to address and resolving conflicting views and values. Love is also hard work!

Christian marriage is so much more than the legal right or even the social sanction for persons to live together and form families. Such a marriage at its core is actually an expression and demonstration of sacrifice. Scripture about “The Lamb Slain before the foundation of the world.” This means God Ordained and Planned for our Redemption or Rescue from sin before the first humans were created. This is a divine example to show the depth of commitment that should unite the partners in the bond of matrimony. This is the model for everyone, but especially for the disciples of The Christ, Jesus.

The vows of marriage are sacred promises but the vows are just some eloquent and vain words unless the vows are practiced. This means that neither a church or civil ceremony--with or without the giving and exchanging of rings--creates a marriage! (The rings are a powerful symbol of the marital union. When do the partners form a marriage? The marital rituals are (or should be) formal announcements of the intent of couples to create a marriage. Their good intentions or public announcements will require a lifetime of work to for the union to develop into a marriage. There is a huge unmet need for more people to understand the unglamorous, non-sexy and non-sensual hard work involved in forming and developing a marriage. We need to seek, listen and obey God’s Call to love and serve one another beginning in the home and spreading to the church and ultimately to the whole world. This is possible only when we hear and heed God’s Commands for our lives.

One sentences from Scripture neatly sums up the Christian marriage and ministry, “Submit to one another out of reverence for (The) Christ.” Ephesians 5:21

God Bless. Pastor Jay


		June– MARRIAGE as/in MINISTRY MONTH Marriage is primarily a social contract between the partners to form a mutually binding, affirming and interdependent union. Although the method for persons to enter into marriage has shifted over time, the essence of the marital union remains the socially recognized union of the partners. This union is formed by the intimate association of the distinct minds, bodies and spirits of the partners into a relationship that can be expressed succinctly by the phase, “We are better together.” This union rests on the affirmation and devotion of the partners to support and celebrate each other while accepting the demands of dealing with differences both profound and commonplace. This requires compromise to address and resolving conflicting views and values. Love is also hard work! Christian marriage is so much more than the legal right or even the social sanction for persons to live together and form families. Such a marriage at its core is actually an expression and demonstration of sacrifice. Scripture about “The Lamb Slain before the foundation of the world.” This means God Ordained and Planned for our Redemption or Rescue from sin before the first humans were created. This is a divine example to show the depth of commitment that should unite the partners in the bond of matrimony. This is the model for everyone, but especially for the disciples of The Christ, Jesus. The vows of marriage are sacred promises but the vows are just some eloquent and vain words unless the vows are practiced. This means that neither a church or civil ceremony--with or without the giving and exchanging of rings--creates a marriage! (The rings are a powerful symbol of the marital union. When do the partners form a marriage? The marital rituals are (or should be) formal announcements of the intent of couples to create a marriage. Their good intentions or public announcements will require a lifetime of work to for the union to develop into a marriage. There is a huge unmet need for more people to understand the unglamorous, non-sexy and non-sensual hard work involved in forming and developing a marriage. We need to seek, listen and obey God’s Call to love and serve one another beginning in the home and spreading to the church and ultimately to the whole world. This is possible only when we hear and heed God’s Commands for our lives. One sentences from Scripture neatly sums up the Christian marriage and ministry, “Submit to one another out of reverence for (The) Christ.” Ephesians 5:21 God Bless. Pastor Jay