Valentine's Day and The Image of Love
Valentine's Day and The Image of Love
A recent poll by The Barna Group asked young people their impression of Christianity, and the top most agreed upon response is that Christians are anti-homosexual. Nothing about holiness or charity or idealism; we are against gays. On the one hand this may reveal the tendency of a comfortable, lackadaisical church to be judgmental. On the other hand the Bible says that when people seek to deny the Creator and be anti-God, as our culture is doing with increasing enthusiasm, they will also jealously seek to distort His image. (Romans 1:22-27) And apart from Jesus Christ the fullest image of God is the marriage relationship between a man and a woman. "God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."
So this Valentines Day let us lift up the grace of God in Christ and talk of the precious sacredness and holiness of His love. Let us be known first not for hating sin but for exalting the Lord. And when people ask you whether you believe in gay rights, tell them you believe in Jesus. If they tell you Christians are hypocrites and hatemongers, ask them whether they think Jesus was a hypocrite and a hatemonger. Tell them of the cross and of the one who lay down His life so that we could live again. Tell them that the whole of creation is an expression of His joy, including the creative act of sex. Tell them that the union between a husband and wife is beautiful, but that it is only a dim reflection of the promise of heaven. (Ephesians 5:22-33; Revelation 21:1-4)
Please see our following Special Focus for articles and resources that address love and marriage.
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Marriage Reminders
Jerry Solomon
The communication and responsibilities in marriage, as well as those little extras, are discussed in this article.
Making a Good Marriage: There's Only One Way
Steve Garber, PhD
There is only one way into a good marriage, and that is through the vision and virtues of friendship.
Marriage: God's Showcase of Covenant-Keeping Grace (Off-site Link)
John Piper
In this sermon, pastor and author John Piper shows that marriage is created by God and displays God's grace and power.
Male and Female Complementarity and the Image of God (Off-site Link)
Bruce Ware
What does it mean that man as male and female has been created in the image and likeness of God? This article focuses on the image of God, what it might mean that male and female are created in the image of God, and does this understanding make a difference in our lives.
Men and Women in the Image of God
John M. Frame
This presentation discusses the differences between men and women through an examination of Biblical passages.
Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus
Ray and Sue Bohlin
A man and woman discuss the differences between, well, men and women. Inspiration for this discussion was provided by more than the recent bestseller from which this article takes its name.