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Text Box: I write this on the week that there is a royal wedding on the other side of the Atlantic. The media has given heavy coverage to the biggest wedding event in the world since Prince William’s parents were married. As much as I have not invested much time in following all the details of this ‘fairy tale’ wedding, I would like to weigh in with a few thought from a minister’s perspective. Last year I officiated at 6 weddings and spent time doing pre-marital counseling with the couples. In many ways William and Kate’s romance and wedding reflect the values of today. For one thing, they have been living together for a few years before they committed to marriage. For many in western culture, the choice to live together before marriage seems like the wise thing to do. At the risk of sounding old fashion, my Bible tells me that sex outside of the marriage bond is sin. It even makes it to the 10 Commandments where the 7th Commandment says, “You shall not commit adultery.” (Ex 20:14) This command is not just for the married person who steps out on their spouse, it covers all forms of sexual sin including sex before marriage. Some would object to my way of reading the Bible by saying that times have changed. Young people are expected to be sexually active and try out marriage before getting tied down Just because our society changes values, does not make the new values right. I would argue that societies new values are not working out too well for the majority of our culture. Our ‘live together before marriage’ values has not produced better marriages, happier children or a stronger society. We live in a time when there have never been more single adults in America and fewer people who are actually in life

Text Box: affirming relationships. Society’s old fashion values did a better job at producing happy families. Some may be thinking that I am expecting the impossible if I expect our society to return to 1950s values of considering sex before marriage as taboo. It may be true that we cannot turn back the clock, but the Bible calls believers to a higher standard. An unfortunate angle on the royal wedding is that if William becomes king, he will be the head of the church of England. Unfortunately, much of that church has been swimming in the same cultural waters as others in society without faith. The challenge for those of us who follow Jesus, is to live Christian values in a world that is less and less Christian. Here are some thoughts about that in the context of our community of faith. First, we are to judge right and wrong without being judgmental. If we are not breaking the 7th Commandment, chances are we struggle with a few of the other 9 Commandments. A healthy church is not made up of people who never made mistakes, but of people who have experienced God’s grace as they move towards greater health and holiness. Second, we need to teach and support our young people so they make healthy and God-honoring choices in dating and marriage. God’s way is still the best and most fulfilling. Third, God honors those who do what is right and there are consequences to sin. We are called to build a community of the faithful who show our world that there is a better way to live than what our society offers. May we be faithful in living our faith in the realm of sexual ethics. -Pastor Rick

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Text Box: Gospel News