Abstinence focused approach hinders a more biblical approach to Marriage

I love books, posts, articles, etc. that flesh out positions that I hold and things I try to communicate.  I wish I had more time to write but I don't right now so when an article like The Case for Early Marriage by Mark Regnerus comes out I am very thankful for the authors hard work.

No doubt, Regnerus will be misunderstood and threatening to a strong stream of "misguided" Evangelical thinking on the approach to sexual behavior and marriage but most of what he says is spot on and desperately needs to be stated.  This issue of abstinence, the age of marriage, and our attitudes toward the covenant of marriage is another great example of how often our "Biblical Positions" are more often shaped by cultural norms than scriptural truth. 

This article is filled with lots of important thoughts on sex, dating, marriage, and the role of the church in helping restore the sacramental covenant nature of marriage among the people of God.  If you are a youth worker, parent of a teenager or twenty something, a pastor, a single person, married person, aw heck, if you are a human being and follower of Jesus who can read you should read THIS.

Comments

[Zach Van Dyke]

Thanks for posting this article, Mike.

As a youth pastor, I'm so sick of sex. I really am. I am sick of "how far is too far?", oral sex being the new "kissing" and I am without question sick of the Jonas brothers and their rings!!! But this article re-engaged me in the conversation.

The greatest act of grace in my life (besides God taking on flesh and becoming my sin so that I could become His righteousness) is Him giving me my wife. I fell in love with her in 5th grade and married her at twenty. Although we both fantasize about being single from time to time, we've been able to experience marriage in way that many in our culture today don't. Thanks for the reminder. I needed to read that today!

So glad it's all about grace.
Zach

[Mike]

You are welcome Zach and thanks for sharing a little of your story. My wife and I got married at the age of 18 during Christmas break my first year of college. That was almost 34 years ago and we are still madly in love.

Peace,

Mike