My wife Charlene and I often speak to adult groups about our work with married couples, even though our day jobs center around directing the LifeQuest Couples Coaching ministry. I am the research guy of the team, and in my digging deeper, I am alarmed about how the institution of marriage is being redefined. For over 60 years progressive “culture doctors” have been trying to redefine marriage to make other non-traditional relationships more acceptable. The enemy in our midst goes by several names. Regardless of what we call him, “Smashing monogamy” has been one of the major goals since the 1960s and 1970s.

Case in point: We recently met with an immigrant couple from the Czech Republic. They are first-generation Christians who, at about age 16, experienced the fall of the Berlin Wall, some 30 years ago in November 1989. After that time missionaries moved into Eastern Europe and people openly heard the Gospel for the first time in generations.

All of the Soviet-occupied territories were a spiritual desert. Our new friends, looking for something more in their lives than Soviet-style socialism could offer, quickly embraced the love, promise, and hope of Christ. They became missionaries to their own families. But, two generations later, Christians living in monogamous, loving marriages are unusual.

What occurred was the successful efforts of an intentional and focused effort by communists to crush monogamous marriages, family, and religion, the bulwarks of Christian culture. Their intent was to install their own brand of religion, allegiance to the State. We are seeing a similar influence here in America with its current flirtation with the idea of socialism. But, it is cleverly disguised under the cloak of equality and social justice.

In our work, we see how covenant Christian marriage has a powerful impact on marriage partners and their families and compels me to talk even more fervently about this topic. In fact, I believe the Church holds a powerful light to cast away the growing darkness progressives want to bring to what they see as an ever-evolving culture. Not long ago western culture was loosely held together by a web of Judeo/Christian ethics. That underlying network of familiar values is fading quickly. Let me say it again. I believe the Church offers the light of covenant marriage in a darkening culture.

Recently I attended a Christmas music program at my home church. I took in the sight of the young families there, many with younger kids wearing their choir robes, excited about having a part in such a lavish presentation. White faces, black faces, brown faces, Asiatic faces all around. Then I looked at the parents who have chosen this path for their children. Praise God these young adults are making wise decisions for themselves and their families. They are taking light to a darkening world.

In the following months, I will write more extensively about Godly covenant marriage and why it is so important to couples, families and our society. I encourage your comments and thoughts as we learn how to speak to groups more effectively about this topic.

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