The Marriage Apocalypse?

CNN recently shared an interview with several millennials (people born between 1980 and 2000) titled, “Ready for the marriage apocalypse?” The interview focused on their goals and future plans. While other subjects came up, the interview fixated on marriage and the fact that some of these millennials saw it as unnecessary, undesirable, and even irresponsible. Why would they view such a wonderful union in such a distorted way, you ask? Just think about what they have lived through! Current divorce rates are staggering, and after seeing the fallout that follows divorce (child support and custody battles, parents manipulating their children for personal gain, etc.) it is easy to see how a generation would want to steer clear of that horror show.

Is this the marriage apocalypse? I hope not, as marriage is the only way the human race can persist under God (Mt. 19:4-6; 1 Cor. 7:2). However, we are being presented with an opportunity to radically  reexamine what marriage ought to be. This generation has seen the problems that arise when two people marry without truly committing their lives to each other and God. They have seen, and often experienced, the emotional and psychological damage of divorce. The generations who have gone before have often presented a mangled and distorted view of what marriage was designed to be. When God designed and created it, marriage was very good (Gen. 1:31). But like so many things God created, we have abused it and turned it into something painful. If marriage is to persist, it must return to God’s design.

• God designed marriage to be between one man and one woman, and it is to last for the rest of their lives (Mt. 19:4-6).
• God designed marriage to provide companionship and aid (Gen. 2:18; 1 Pet. 3:7).
• God designed marriage with sexual fulfillment for the man and woman in mind (1 Cor. 7:2-5)
• God designed marriage to produce children (Gen. 1:28)
• God designed marriage with spiritual growth and eternal life in mind (1 Cor. 7:16)

For many millennials, marriage has been seen through selfish eyes. What do I get from this relationship? How does my economic or social status rise based on my husband/wife? Is she a gold digger? Is he a dead-beat? We have seen the effects of such selfish motivations, haven’t we? They produce a “marriage apocalypse”.

Some in this new generation are realizing these self-centered goals do not end in marriage at all! They know a self-centered life will never produce a healthy marriage, and so they abandon marriage altogether.

Let me offer a different solution: Instead of abandoning marriage altogether, reexamine it, and let God show you its purpose. When you do, your understanding of marriage may be changed forever.