Not just marrying each other
We often think of our marriage as just between the two of us as husband and wife. Certainly, there’s a place to respect appropriate boundaries and are the exclusive sacredness of our union together.
At the same time, we’re not just marrying each other. We’re marrying our parents and in -laws and friends and family. And so, when there’s an issue between two of us, it’s not just an issue between two of us. We’re contending with generations of family history and culture that shape our understanding and approach to life. And so as we’re navigating problems, conflicts between two of us, we have the voice of our parents and grandparents and youth leaders all running through our heads, and sometimes for the good and sometimes for the ill.
Marriage in the context of spiritual warfare
But while this is true, it’s still helpful to remember our marriage in the context of spiritual warfare. As the Apostle Paul reminds us, our best friends and family. is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness, in the heavenly realms. And so when we bring our own personal baggage and issues into the marriage, there’s also more going on than what meets the eye.
Marriage speaks to divine unity
And so why should evil be concerned about our marriage? Paul tells us in his letter to the Ephesians that for this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother, be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a mystery, he says, but he speaks concerning Christ and the church. There’s something about the unity of marriage that is testifying…that is pointing to the reality of Christ and the church.
Evils seeks to destroy the unity marriage reflects
And so evil seeks to steal, kill, and destroy the goodness of our marriage, because somehow our marriage speaks to these mysteries of Christ and the church.
We still have our own baggage in marriage
This is not to blame evil for all the issues that we deal with in our marriage. Certainly, we bring enough of our own baggage and shortcomings to last a lifetime. At the same time, it’s often helpful to remember there’s more going on than what meets the eye.
Marriage serves as light in a dark world
This allows us to partner together, as husband and wife, as we resist evil rather than fighting against each other. And as we do so, we can continue letting the unity of our marriage serve as light in a dark world.
