Love, sex and marriage
by Harvey Yoder, Harrisonburg, Va.
Thanks for publishing Sandra Fribley's timely article "Love, Sex and Marriage" (July). Without condoning cohabitation in any way, what if congregations respectfully confronted couples who are living together as having already entered into a marital bond, as follows:
"Whenever you (a) 'leave father and mother' (form a separate social unit and become publicly recognized partners), (b) 'cleave to each other' (are an exclusive couple committed to fidelity) and (c) 'become one flesh' (are sexually intimate), we will hold you to the same standard of lifelong faithfulness we expect of legally married couples.
"While the Genesis 2:24 text quoted by both Jesus and Paul predates mandates like a marriage license or a ceremony, we nevertheless believe you should take the step of registering and solemnizing the de facto ('common law') marriage you have entered into.
"We understand you might see this step as a mere formality involving 'just a piece of paper,' but we consider it at least as important as having a baptismal certificate, a passport, a vehicle registration or a deed to a new house. But whether documented or not, we see your joining together in the manner described above as a profound and emotionally bonding form of 'marriage.' And were you to terminate your undocumented union, we would consider it a de facto divorce. We pray you will choose to have your union blessed by God and by a caring community of believers and so will be able to celebrate a truly joyful and faithful life until 'death do you part.'"
Associated Issue: Love, sex and marriage - July 2010
Associated Article: Love, sex and marriage
Current Stories
Articles
- Minister of worship
- Q&A with Marlene Kropf
- Child Safety: Let the children come
- Child Safety: Ten things you can do today to prevent child abuse and neglect
- Child Safety: A cautionary tale
- Child Safety: Many voices, one goal
- Racial healing in the church
- Continuum on becoming an antiracist, multicultural institution
- The aha moment
- Giving up veto power
- Provision
- Lead us not into temptation
News stories, digests and Meno Acontecer
- Mennonite Publishing Network and Third Way Media to integrate
- Mennonite Publishing Network executive director to retire
- Newton offices to sell part of building, consolidate workspace
- 700 gather for eighth annual Biker Sunday
- Over 2,000 visitors attend Snitz Fest
- MCC won't coordinate global efforts
- MCC calls on churches to reach out to Muslims
- Correction to Aug. 23 TMail
- Financial indicators show improvement
- Volunteers make San Antonio home
- Global Anabaptist service entities consider how best to work together
- Prison ministry nurtures sisterhood
- Why do so many not know the Bible?
- Q&A: Why read the Bible
- Youth conventions pave road for faith journeys
- ¡Bienvenidos al Meno Acontecer de Septiembre, 2010!
- La educación menonita
- Orientación de IBA en Goshen, IN
- Seminario Bíblico Anabautista Hispano ....
- 5ª Asamblea de la IMH
- Educación Continuada 7-10 Octubre, 2010
- Missio Dei
- Una petición especial
- Desde Huatabampo, Sonora
- Delegación Menonita visita Phoenix
- La pastora Esther ... Parte final.
- ¿Pittsburgh 2011? ¡Allí vamos!!!
- Los indicadores financieros de la Iglesia Menonita de EE. UU. demuestran una mejora global
- Director ejecutivo de MC USA anunció nuevo gabinete
- Reflexión pastoral por Dr. Zorrilla
- Las 10 cosas que Dios no te preguntará
- Del doctor Nuñez ... ANSIEDAD Y ESTRÉS EN ESTE SIGLO
Columns
- Holy or unholy land?
- First things first: Let's first give ourselves to God
- Does church publishing matter?
- The power of books
- To talk before or after church?
- Do we need a new hymnal?
- Living a life of gratitude
- September reviews
- What is this place?
Births and Marriages
Readers Say
- Boycott Arizona?
- Boycott Arizona? (second letter)
- Love, sex and marriage
- Love, sex and marriage (second letter)
- A prisoner says thanks
- Need a Mennonite name?
- Radio preaching
- Peace church as worship of God
- Peace church as worship of God (second article)
- Peace Church as Worship of God (third article)
- Peace Chuch as Worship of God (fourth letter)
- Where is accountability?