What about marriage and eternity?

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When Jesus responds to the Sadducees conundrum and the Levirate marriage, he insists that in “the age to come”, there is no more giving and receiving in marriage (Luke 20:27-40).  This may leave us with a few pastoral questions and implications. First of all, there was the immediate pastoral implication for people in that context. … Continue reading What about marriage and eternity?

Is C4M right to insist that religious marriages must be preceded by or include a civil/legal agreement?

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The Coalition For Marriage have put forward a proposal requiring there to be a civil ceremony prior to or during a religious ceremony and to forbid religious ceremonies from taking place without the legal bits being in place.  Now, I must admit that my first reaction was surprise that the Coalition For Marriage was still… Continue reading Is C4M right to insist that religious marriages must be preceded by or include a civil/legal agreement?

Separating the legal bit of the wedding from the celebration

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The Times observes that people are increasingly separating the legal civil registration of marriage from the celebration, sometimes with a significant period of time in between.  Steve Kneale picks up on this here and argues that it is s good thing and will help The Church get a better and more Biblical view of marriage. … Continue reading Separating the legal bit of the wedding from the celebration

Are equality and authority in competition?

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I recently saw a comment relating to the debate on complementarian marriage that it is not possible to have permanent authority over someone and be equal to them?  Is that right?  On the surface it seems obviously true, especially from a post modern perspective. However, I just want to get us to push our thinking… Continue reading Are equality and authority in competition?

Concluding my interactions with Andrew Bartlett and his book “Men and Women in Christ”

I’ve decided that this is as good a place as any to conclude the debate/conversation I’ve been having with Andrew Bartlett.  It’s not a conversation that continue indefinitely and I am at a stage where I need to give my time to other matters that are more my priority here on Faithroots, specifically I’ve got… Continue reading Concluding my interactions with Andrew Bartlett and his book “Men and Women in Christ”

Headship and submission, sacrificial love and entrusting to

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A lot of the debate about complementarianism in marriage focuses on two questions. I have argued that yes, Ephesians 5:21 does describe mutual submission and that this flows into Paul’s instructions for marriage. So, my approach is that husbands and wives do submit to one an other in marriage, within the context of the husband’s… Continue reading Headship and submission, sacrificial love and entrusting to

Marriage at work in Ephesians

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In my detailed engagement with Andrew Bartlett’s book, “Men and Women in Christ, we’ve got to the bit where he engages with Ephesians 5 and Colossians 3.  You will probably have picked up that I think he should have made this his starting point   Now, you might think that maybe this reflects my own bias,… Continue reading Marriage at work in Ephesians

Church leadership should reflect not mitigate the home

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I’m a complementarian in regard to church leadership because I believe two things, first that this label best describes the pattern for relationships between husbands and wives in the home.  Secondly, that the local church is mean to function as an extended family. Let me expand on that a little.  First, complementarianism is based on… Continue reading Church leadership should reflect not mitigate the home