Matchmaker Ministers Marriage Worldview
Matchmaker ministers seek to serve those who identify themselves as Christians and desire the traditional Christian understanding of marriage and family. While other worldviews exist about marriage, such as polygamy and same-sex marriage, this site’s worldview serves those who desire traditional monogamy. While posts or resources on this site may benefit those who seek other marriage worldviews, this site focuses on the challenges and opportunities for those who seek the traditional Christian view of marriage.
Christianity believes that marriage was instituted as a lifelong, loving union that benefits a husband and wife with:
- Companionship
- Protection
- Ministry Opportunity
- Stewardship
- Exclusive Sexual Oneness
- Reproductive Potential
- Personal Growth
The Institution of Marriage according to the Bible
Marriage was instituted before humans fell into sin, as described in Genesis 3. This “pre-fall” relationship is hard to comprehend, but Christians believe that this is the seed for Christian marriage. Here are some of the highlights.
Christians believe that God created a male and a female and desired that they get together to create a marriage legacy.
God made them male and female and desired that they will bring children into the world. Together, they will partner to do well, that is, “rule” over challenges of their lives for their mutual benefit and God’s glory. He blessed them and said,
Genesis 1:27-28 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
Christians believe that Adam was created first, and he was lonely. So God created his wife, Eve, to be his companion.
Genesis 2:20-23
But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
The man said,
“This is now bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called ‘woman,’
for she was taken out of man.”
Christians believe that this companionship is an exclusive sexual oneness.
Genesis 2:24
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
Marriage was talked about quite a bit before the fall of humanity into sin. Christians believe that this design still applies even though sin has created havoc and broken bonds.
Many people have given up on this worldview because of their brokenness in their own family growing up or in their lives in a failed marriage.
Many Christians believe the institution of traditional Christian marriage is valuable and needed today, even though we live in a “post-fall” world. This website acknowledges that there are broken bonds, non-binary experiences of gender, and many other experiences of human relating because of sin. This website is for those who want this Christian worldview as their point of reference.
Christian Marriage Benefits
Companionship
The Bible paints a picture of the beauty of the marriage union to alleviate the pain of loneliness. This mutual companionship is lifelong until “death do you part.” In the “prefall” world, Adam being alone was considered not good, so a suitable partner was created named Eve, who was matched to Adam as “bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh.” (Genesis 2:23).
Protection
We see the beauty of mutual protection in the Bible with the marriage union. For instance, We see how God gives strength to the husband to protect his wife. We also see in the Bible how the wife is called to protect her husband.
Peter makes sure to mention to husbands that their strength is not abusive but protective.
1 Peter 3:7 Husbands, in the same way, be considerate as you live with your wives and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
In the Old Testament, we see an example of the wife protecting her husband. Moses was failing in his responsibility. Zipporah, his wife, stepped in to save Moses.
Exodus 4:24 At a lodging place on the way, the LORD met [Moses] and was about to kill him. But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin, and touched [Moses’] feet with it.
Ministry Opportunity
Marriage is a place of ministry to each other and others.
The Apostle Paul talks about how a believing spouse is called to bring Christian influence to the unbelieving spouse if that should be the situation your find yourself in.
1 Corinthians 7:16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
We see many examples of Christian married couples throughout the history of Christianity that have served side by side for ministry. In the Bible, for example, we see two couples mentioned.
Romans 16:3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus.
Romans 16:7 Greet Andronicus and Junias, my relatives who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.
Stewardship
The Bible depicts the marriage union as a “marriage biz,” so to speak. A married couple manages a home and resources. This characteristic of married couples lives on today.
In fact, it brings up the fact that husbands are to manage their houses well.
1 Timothy 5:8 If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Wives are also depicted in the Bible to help in the stewardship of the home.
We read about the wife in Proverbs 31:18 “She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.”
Exclusive Sexual Oneness
The Bible has a pro-marriage sexual intimacy worldview apart from having children. The Song of Songs is an entire book that talks about the sexual union between a husband and wife. There are many passages about married intimacy. Here are two.
Hebrews 13:4 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.
1 Corinthians 7:3-4
The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife.
Reproductive Potential
The Bible is pro-life and pro-children. A marriage in Christ is a wonderful place to bear children and influence new image-bearers to serve Christ.
Proverbs 17:6 Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.
Genesis 1:27-28 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth.
Personal Growth
The Bible acknowledges that marriage is also made up of two individuals on a journey through life. Christian spouses are to give to their spouses what they can to bring blessing.
Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”