The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Kristina C. during the 2009-2010 League.
Mission: Research - The Sanctity of Marriage
In Merriam-Webster's 1997 dictionary it defines sanctity as godliness or cleanliness. It describes marriage as the state of being married, a wedding ceremony or attendant festivities, and a close union. Finally, Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines union as an act or instance of uniting two or more things into one, combination, or junction. Therefore, sanctity of marriage is a Godly union of two people. They are no longer two, but one. Let us take a closer look at God's view of marriage.
In a marriage, both the husband and the wife have responsibilities to fulfill. 1 Corinthians 7:32-34 says, "An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs – how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world – how he can please his wife – and his interests divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world – how she can please her husband." God is clearly showing that when two are joined, they become one and need to work together as a team just as Matthew 19:5 explains when it talks about a man leaving his father and mother to become united as one with his wife. Ephesians 5:22-26a also says,"Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and give himself up for her to make her holy." God gave men the incredible responsibility of being the head of the household and in the same way, requires women to submit to their husbands. Both are required to love one another as Christ loved us.
In this Bible study, one of the most evident concepts was that God does not approve of divorce. Today, in the United States, 50% of all marriages end in divorce. 1 Corinthians 7:10-11 states, "To the married, I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried of else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife." God created man and woman to be together without separating. Corinthians goes on to say in verse 39 that "A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives." God commands spouses to stay together and remain faithful; therefore, divorce is a sin in God's eyes.
Finally, God instructs us not to commit adultery. When two are married, He not only wants them to remain together, but also He wants them to remain pure, both physically and emotionally. Many people know that physically committing adultery is wrong, but God also says that you can also commit adultery in your heart. Matthew 5:27-28 says, "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery'. But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
A marriage commitment means that you will spend your life with that person. Not only is adultery wrong is society, it is also dishonors God. However, God promises to judge the adulterer in Hebrews 13:4: “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage be kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral."
