Do you feel like the church has elevated marriage over singleness? Insinuating, if not articulating, that life begins when you betroth yourself to another?

Or has the meteoric rise of divorce–even within the allegedly marriage-fortifying context of the church–sullied an earlier, more positive, view of marriage? Does the incidence of divorce and the precarious state of marriage insinuate that life might, in a sense, end when you say “I do”?

I’d like to wrap up our discussion of Tripp’s book on change and counsel by having you help us create a realistic-as-possible profile of someone in the church whose desire to be married has caused them to be so preoccupied with finding a mate, that one of two moods has emerged: either so despondent at the slight prospects of a marriage in the near-term, or so reckless in their pursuit of a mate. Specifically, I’d like you to envision how someone with either outlook would manifest that outlook in their day to day living.

Tripp outlines, with a sturdy foundation in 2 Peter 1, four simple principles in the “do” part of change and counseling another toward change. Anything I’ve tried to relate from his book has screamed for some real-world examples of how his principles would apply in a given setting. This week, I’d like to take the hypothetical profile you create and then have you employ what Tripp has to say about helping someone–someone who’s preoccupation with marriage has led them to make choices at cross-purposes with what it means to be a child of God. Those kinds of choices incongruent with our identity, I think you will agree, are often so subtle we don’t even notice.

This won’t be some veiled criticism against those who desire to be married. Nor will it be subtle devaluation of marriage. It will be a valiant, perhaps even quixotic, attempt to teach us how to counsel someone with a relevant struggle with an appeal to our identity, our responsibility (and its limits), and loving accountability.

And if you have some reading time available prior to Sunday, you might download this very interesting essay on a biblical theology of singleness and marriage composed by Barry Danylak, a Ph.D candidate at Cambridge University. It’s provoked a number of responses and reviews. Here’s one, and here’s another.

if a multinational corporation thinks offering “full life service” is a priority, why not a Presbyterian church?

see any downsides?

The CNN article linked from a previous post has gone AWOL. But the topic endures, this time with specific reference to the need for a whole network of close relationships if you ever plan to be married. Culture has laid upon marriage responsibilities no two people were ever meant to bear. Here’s more language in that direction.

not a bad article:

with great and surprised pleasure do I share the following email:

Greetings in His name. I am keeping well by God’s grace. Sorry I could not reply very promptly.I am in Madurai , about 300 milies down south of Chennai.

My internship is going on very well. I am teaching, preaching and doing Evangelism. Thank you for your prayers.

More over I am happy to inform you that I am getting married this summer

following are the information regarding the same.

Believing in God’s perfect timing and faithful plan my self Daniels and Annie Together with our parents

Mrs. & Rev. Aruldoss Gnanamuthu
And
Mrs. & Mr. Sam Chandradekaran

Want to inform you to celebrate with us as we commit our lives to one another before God in Marriage On Saturday the 15th of July Two thousand and six at four in the evening at the Church of South India , Palani.

Thank you once again for your prayers and love. Looking foward to see you. Convey my love and regards to everyone there.

with kind regards

Daniels
India.