Biblical faith has always held up marriage as the standard for family life and the foundation of society. From Genesis, where God placed Adam and Eve into a permanent relationship, to the New Testament, where marriage is compared to the relationship of Christ and his church, the Scriptures are redolent with marital imagery, instructions, and encouragement. But as Western culture has strayed from its biblical roots, particularly in recent decades, people have wandered from the biblical ideal and attempted to make their own social arrangements. One of these arrangements, cohabitation, known popularly as "shacking up," has received widespread acceptance. But does it work, either sociologically or morally?
Table of Contents
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 2:18–25; Malachi 2:13–16; Matthew 19:3–12; 1 Corinthians 6:12–20; Colossians 3:18–4:1
• Identify the Current Issue
• Discover the Eternal Principles
—Teaching point one: God created men and women to be in intimate relationship.
—Teaching point two:Personal intimacy goes hand in hand with spiritual intimacy.
—Teaching point three:God's intent for marriage is lifelong faithfulness.
—Teaching point four:Our sexual identity should follow our Christian identity.
—Teaching point five:Marriage helps men and women to relate to one another in Christ-honoring ways.
• Apply Your Findings
• Additional Resources
ARTICLE FROM CHRISTIANITY TODAY
• "The Science of Shacking Up," interview with Glenn Stanton
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