Living a metaphor

In church today, the preacher gave Ephesians 6:1-4 a real workout, as a runup to Father's day, I suppose.

But he has an interesting take on it. He says this:

Marriage exists primarily for one reason. To illustrate for the world just how Christ loves the Church. Forget the idea in Genesis that "it's not good for man to be alone", because we know that singleness is not condemned by God, rather encouraged in the New Testament as a means to greater devotion and service to the Kingdom of God. Marriage is not a mandate.

But IF you marry, acting out the parable of Christ and the Church IS a mandate. In other words, any girl who embraces Christianity should NOT marry unless she is explicitly desirous of modeling with her husband how the Church responds to the love and leadership of Christ. And no believing boy should marry a girl unless he specifically wants to model for the world the love of Christ toward her, sacrificing himself for her good.

Now I have to ask you, gentle reader: who, at the tender age of 18 or even 26, thinks like this? Is that why kids marry? To be a living parable, first and foremost to be a lifelong witness to Christ in their actions toward each other? If you know any young couple who married explicitly for that reason above all others... I'd love to meet them.

Then, he went on to make the second point, just as astounding:

Childrearing exists primarily for one reason. To make and grow new disciples of Christ, new worshippers of God. Forget the idea in Genesis that Adam and Eve were to "be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth", because we know that childlessness is not condemned by God, but rather encouraged in the New Testament as one way to have fewer earthly concerns and have more availability to serve God and His Kingdom. Making babies is not a mandate.

But, IF we make (or adopt) babies, raising them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, training them up to follow God, IS a mandate. So, no young couple (or single person) should even consider having children unless they are desiring first and foremost to raise new young disciples of Christ, new followers of Him.

And who, dear reader, thinks this way? What young couple thinks: "Gee honey, don't you think the Kingdom of God could use a few more members? How about if we go get busy and make a half-dozen or so ourselves? You know of course that we will be the way our little anklebiters learn about God well before they can know Him directly. But we are ready to represent God to them, right?"

I mean, who wants to make decisions like getting married and having children so that you can live out a metaphor, however noble?

But that's what the man said today, and I can see where he gets it. Just seems awfully radical to me. Not to mention a lot for people under 30 to grasp, much less live out. Heck, even when you're way older than that you still make decisions based on self-interest, and rarely on pure altruism. Who is he kidding?

At least the hymns today were routine, without challenge or depth.

Ha.

Take a look at the lyrics to these if you dare to try to comprehend and then live them:

O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus
How Deep the Father's Love for Us
Be Thou My Vision

Worship music was all over the map today, with Spanish songs from Mexico, to songs in Maninka from Africa, to traditional Welsh melodies, to 8th century Irish hymns. And yeah, one or two from LA and Nashville, too. :)

Whew.. I feel like I've had a workout without leaving my chair..