Christian Marriage

Parent: Mere Christianity: Leaders' Notes Series

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Chapter 6: "Christian Marriage"

[Note: Many will try to criticize Lewis' authorship of this chapter on the basis that he had never been married at this point. That would be an ad hominim attack (attack on his character), with no relevance to the topic.]

• The Christian view of marriage is based on Christ's words that a man and a woman, in marriage, are a single organism, "one flesh."
• This is viewed as a fact, not a sentiment. Analogous to a lock and key, a violin and a bow.
• This union goes beyond sex, to a total combination of the two.
• The scriptures do not in anyway disdain sexual pleasure. It only clarifies the context of sex to be within marriage.
• Christianity regards divorce as "something like cutting up a living body."
• Although different Churches have different doctrines surrounding divorce, "They are all agreed that it is more like having both your legs cut off than it is like dissolving a business partnership or even deserting a regiment."
• Anyone who enters into marriage without the intent for it to be permanent is a deceiver.