Don't Get Married? – Season Two, Episode 6

Assumptions

This episode begins with Daniel clarifying a few things that were misunderstood in Episode 4: Christians Are Bigots. We then get some updates about Daniel’s relationship and how it reflects his worldview. This is followed by a discussion of marriage. Does Kyle value it? What is the Christian vision for marriage? Is there marriage in Heaven?

Sponsors:

Assumptions is sponsored by ATB Financial’s Entrepreneur Centre (check out ATB Cares) and the Alberta Podcast Network (this week we describe the show Walk Cast). Check out the CKUA app, where you can listen to Assumptions and all the other Alberta Podcast Network shows.

Show Notes:

This episode begins with Daniel clarifying some of the things he said on Episode 4: Christians Are Bigots.

Daniel’s church is Calvary Grace Church of Calgary. Kyle visited it back in Season One: Episode 8: The Cathedral and the Cinema.

Daniel mentions Wesley Hill’s story. We interviewed Wesley on this bonus episode.

Daniel mentioned hearing Kyle’s story, which we did on Episode 3: I Am What I Am.

Kyle mentions an episode of Conversations With People Who Hate Me

The story of Jesus and the woman caught in adultery can be found in John 7:53-8:11

They went each to his own house, but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” (John 8:1-11, ESV)

Our episode where we talk more about dating is Episode 5: I’m Going To Die Alone.

Daniel described the impact of reading Timothy Keller on marriage. The quote can be found in Centre Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centred Ministry in Your City:

When we think of “sex ethics,” we usually think individualistically. What does it mean to follow the biblical sex ethic as a single Christian? It means (1) you should not have sex until you’re married, and (2) you should not marry someone who does not share a similar commitment to Christ. But does this exhaust what it means to be a light to the world in the area of sex and relationships?

Jesus urged, “Let your light shine” before the world as a city on a hill – as a counterculture (Matt 5:16). How should Christians as a community show the difference Christ makes in the area of sexuality? In our culture, appearance and money are all important criteria in mate selection. It is certainly true that most churches, even conservative ones, are basically conformed to the world in this area. What if we were community in which single men didn’t date only good-looking women but actually assessed the potential partner’s worth primarily on the basis of her character? And what if we were a community in which single women didn’t date only prosperous men but actually assessed the potential partner’s worth primarily on the basis of his character (cf. 1 Sam 16:7; 1 Peter 3:3-4)?

So it is quite possible to follow the letter of the law in individual ethics and still miss importance of showing forth God’s glory in our community’s ways and practices.

Tim Keller’s book devoted to marriage is The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God. Daniel has been heavily influenced by it, and recommends it to anyone interested in learning more about a gospel-centred Christian view on relationships and marriage.

Hebrews 9-10 talk more about how Christ is the Christian’s mediator between themselves and God.

Kyle brings up a CBC article about marriage statistics.

The article on marriage enduring in Heaven as spiritual friendship can be found here: https://alastairadversaria.com/2014/07/23/a-new-icon-of-marriage/.

For more on the Christian vision of Heaven, check out this video on the overlap of Heaven and Earth.

Credits:

Assumptions is written and produced by Daniel Melvill Jones and Kyle Marshall.

This episode edited by Kyle Marshall.

Our soundtrack comes from The Parson Red Heads.

Podcast artwork designed by Chris Taniguchi.

Photography by Josh Boak

Assumptions is available wherever podcasts are found, including Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Soundcloud, Spotify, iHeart Radio, and through the CKUA app.

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