Bishop's comments on marriage
On Premier, London Christian Radio, today there was an interview with Bishop Michael of Rochester. A recent article of his on marriage has stirred up a lot of controversy. In the press he has been reported as criticising young couples who don't start a family when they get married. I haven't seen the original article, but Bishop Michael had some sound and challenging things to say in his radio broadcast.
The gist of his message was that our culture puts a very strong emphasis on fulfillment, without an equal emphasis on self giving. Christian marriage should reflect a different set of values. A significant factor in Christian marriage is self giving to your spouse, and to children and the wider community. His comments could be understood as challenging those couples, who have opted for careers or hobbies rather than having a family, to examine whether they are being too self indulgent and ignoring an important aspect of married life.
Are couples today too focussed on their own needs and wants rather on what they can give to others? Is that a source of difficulties within their relationship, when they want the relationship to fit in with their own agenda rather than being willing to put their partner's needs before their own?
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