Biblical Marriage Under Fire

Biblical Marriage Under Attack

On the lighter side of life:

From the book: Wacky Laws, Weird Decisions and Strange Statues, Main Street publishers.

Marriage and Family laws:

a. It’s against the law for children under the age of seven to go to college in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

b. Although there are no R and X ratings for Ma Bell, in Blue earth, Minnesota, it’s against the law for children under 12 to talk on the telephone unless accompanied by a parent.

c. Kids in Kalispell, Montana, must have a note from the doctor in order to buy a lollipop or candy bar while church services are in session.

d. At the Paiute Indian Reservation in California, a mother-in-law is prohibited from spending more than 30 days a year visiting her kids (pages 9, 10).

e. Kissing on the lips in Riverside, California, is in violation of a local health ordinance, unless both parties wipe their lips with carbonized rose water.

g. A kiss in Halethorpe, Maryland, cannot last longer than a second.

h. Kissing a stranger in Cedar Rapids, Iowa is illegal.

i. Any man who constantly kisses “human beings” is forbidden to have a moustache if he lives in Indiana (pages 31, 32).

j. If a lady in Dixie, Idaho, berates her husband in public and a crowd gathers, the husband is subject to a fine.

k. It is illegal to remarry the same man four times in Kentucky.

l. A man in Tennessee is forbidden to divorce his wife unless he leaves her ten pounds of dried beans, five pounds of dried apples, a side of meat and ample yarn to knit herself stockings for a year.

m. A husband cannot kick his wife out of bed in Lebanon, Tennessee, even if her feet are cold; however, a wife can kick her husband out of bed without provocation.

n. You will be in violation of the law in Chillicothe, Missouri, if you throw rice at the bride and groom.

o. Dunlap, West Virginia, has rendered it illegal to tear up a marriage certificate (pages 33, 34).

Divorce Court:

a. Marshfield, Wisconsin: When the couple married, he promised to pay her $1 for each kiss as long as they remained married. She sued him for divorce and asked the court for an award of $3,000 in back payments.

b. Pendleton, Oregon: She sued him for divorce because he never gave her Christmas presents. He claimed to be confident that Santa would bring them.

c. Canon City, Colorado: She sued him on the grounds that he forced her to hide under the dashboard of his automobile whenever he passed a girlfriend.

d. Price, Utah: he petitioned the court for a divorce because she insisted on hanging the pictures of her four ex-husbands over the bed.

e. Crawford, Indiana a woman sued for divorce because she claimed her husband had a habit of bringing friends into their bathroom while she was in the tub (pages 61-63).

Video Illustration from Illustrate Vol. 2 – Marriage Man

Thesis: Marriage is under attack today from secular society and we as Christians must expose the fruitless deeds of darkness and fight for the preservation of the Biblical marriage and family unit.

Scripture Text: Ephesians 5

1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

3But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7Therefore do not be partners with them.

8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10and find out what pleases the Lord. 11Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:

“Wake up, O sleeper,

rise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you.”

15Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.