Marriage should be entered with enduring vows

James A. Marples, Longview, Texas
Lifestyle Editor

December 01, 2006 10:19 am

— I read the Clinton Herald article by Scott T Holland: “Who’s doing the most to attack marriage?”
I found the points he raised quite insightful. One element that could have been accentuated more is the fact that the examples he cited (Britney Spears, Tom Cruise and others) have been a party to multiple divorces. Somehow, our contemporary society views serial marriage and divorce and re-marriage as perfectly fine. Yet, there is a stigma on polygamy.
The Old Testament outlines several examples of monogamous and polygamous marriages. The polygamous marriages are specifically polygny (a husband with several wives).
The Bible also says that those people who wish to stay unmarried may remain single. It is said that Holy Matrimony is an honorable institution ordained by almighty God. Too often, Hollywood stars and common folk have eliminated the sanctity of sacred covenants which allow a religious marriage to rise to Holy Matrimony as being a sacrament.
These days, the term “marriage” has been corrupted to include any union.
The successful Biblical marriages shared one thing in common: They were obligations and vows by which the participants made serious, solemn and enduring promises to each other as ordained by almighty God.