Truth and Popularity

It is clear that the truth is never popular.

Recently, the Hallmark Channel, purveyors of simple and sweet romance movies, and of course their popular Christmas romance movies suffered under public scrutiny. The channel ran an ad for a wedding planning website that featured a same sex wedding. A group called “One Million Mom’s” asked them to reconsider showing these images on a “family friendly” channel, and at first they complied, removing the said advertisement. With predicable precision, the power elites of our culture learned of this, and Hallmark reversed their decision. The truth simply is not popular.

One thing, however is clear. Weddings are universally seen as moments of joyful celebration. A young couple, male and female, making promises of devotion and faithfulness to one another, to love, serve and share each other’s life. These images hearken back to a time before the fall, when God made male and female in His image and likeness, and blessed all humanity in this union.

What is also abundantly evident is that marriage is the setting into which God gives the gift of life. In the blessing of the union of husband and wife, God opens his hand, and gives the mysteriously wonderful gift of children. Weddings, then, from the perspective of the Bible, are celebrations of God’s gift of life.

It is in supreme arrogance then that in our own age, we have decided to redefine this truth. Marriage is not about the gift of life, as demonstrated by the anger poured out on anyone who dares say such a thing in public. Rather, marriage has been turned in on itself, as sin does to each of us, and is now defined by personal fulfillment. Instead of turning our eyes, hands, and deeds outward in acts of love and service, marriage is turned into self-interest. Such selfishness is evident in broken families, broken homes, broken lives, and, tragically, dead children.

As distressing as the loss of truth is, what remains is that Jesus loves marriage, and families, and life. He showed this love by His presence and blessing at a wedding in Cana, and He continues to shower this love and blessing upon us by His Word of forgiveness and life. Even though this world has abandoned what is good, and right, and true, Jesus has not. By His gifts, He continue to abide with you in your home, in your family, that in Him you may have the full blessing of His forgiveness and life.