Citizen Project

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chron. 7:14

Marriage and Family

Our Perspective

The Scriptures affirm the value of marriage beginning with the creation story: “Therefore a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24).

Further, we believe that a healthy marriage forms the ideal foundation for family life, yet we also appreciate the devoted single parents who provide the best possible home and upbringing for their children. A family provides some of the most highly prized of all human relationships, contributing to stable and enduring societies throughout history and around the world.

We recognize that reality falls short of the ideal for many people. The deepest desires and values for our marriage and family relationships face many challenges: divorce, domestic violence, poverty, abortion, lack of parenting skills and separation from the support of extended family.

  Learn about our couples/marriage classes and events.

  Learn about our parenting/family resources.

• What is the appropriate role of law and government in creating a society that highly regards marriage and family?
• What is the appropriate role of the church in creating a society that highly regards marriage and family?

Principles From Scripture

“Honor your father and mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12)

“Chasten your son while there is hope, and do not set your heart on his destruction.” (Proverbs 19:18)

“Train up children in the way they should go, and when they are old they will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother’ (this is the first commandment with a promise), ‘that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.’ Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:1-4)

“Wives, submit to your husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and he is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for her, that he might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that he might present her to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the Church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.” (Ephesians 5:22-30)

“Jesus replied, ‘But at the beginning of creation God made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.’” (Mark 10:6-9)

• Position Paper on the Sanctity of Marriage
• Position Paper on Divorce and Remarriage

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