So, what is marriage today?

I feel moved today to share a few thoughts on the state of matrimony in 2025. I don't suggest I'm an expert, but having been married for almost 43 years, I feel qualified to share my views. There's a good deal of talk today about family values and traditional Christian marriage, as contained in biblical scripture. The following scrap of scripture comes immediately to mind. Years ago, Ephesians 5:22-24 was often contained in marriage vows. It says, "Wives, obey your husbands as you obey the Lord. The husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the church." Good luck with that. In The United States of America, in the year of our Lord 2025, this scripture is rarely if ever contained in marriage vows, and I'm going to guess it's even more rarely practiced.  Without this verse as its capstone, biblical marriage no longer exists. Add to this the fact that, while sex was once expected to be enjoyed only within the confines of marriage, today most consider sex little more than a socially acceptable pastime to be enjoyed between two consenting adults whenever the opportunity arises.  More and more, monogamy is an outdated concept. So much for Biblical marriage.

So, what is marriage today? Marriage today is one part relationship and one part partnership. For the relationship to thrive within a modern marriage, it's essential that each partner consider their partnership to be fair and equitable, with each partner sharing an equal part of the household responsibility. Ideally, each partner would perform those essential tasks at which they were best suited, thereby making the best use of each mate's abilities and maximizing the couple's potential. If this can be accomplished in communion with each individual's faith, so much the better, but today, most do not consider faith a prerequisite. Partnerships provide legal advantages, and a thriving partnership is conducive to a rewarding relationship. Under the very best of circumstances, modern marriage is challenging; statistics suggest more than half fail. Of those that survive, more often than not, they do so because they are bolstered by the couple's faith and the constant, dependable, and unwavering expression of love and mutual respect by each partner. Good luck! And may God Bless. 

Shannon Thomas Casebeer