Ministry in a ‘Till Love Do Us Part’ Culture
Fox News.com (July 29, 2005) reported a major shift in our
culture’s view of marriage. They observed that the traditional “till
death do us part” vow was being eroded by vows such as “For as long as
our love endures.” This trend to center the marriage
commitment on the couple’s unreliable feelings rather than their deep
conviction of the value of a lifetime pledge underscored a major cultural slide
away from absolutes into our present post-modern drift. This
subtle but persuasive shift can impact us all in our understanding of
commitments in life and even our missionary call. If, as the
culture suggests, ministry is rooted in the vacillating and capricious whelm of
our emotional state, we’d all be adrift subject to every wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind (James
1:4-6). Thankfully, God reached out to us and He will sustain
us. Rom. 5:10 NIV “For if, while we were God’s
enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more,
having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” His
love draws us out of the sea of cultural uncertainty into a life of hope, based
on God’s power to sustain our commitments. Heb. 6:19 “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and
secure.” There is two ways we can live our lives, i.e. by
feelings or by faith. Because of the changing nature of feelings,
this path leads to a “Till Love Do us Part” level of commitment. The
other way is God’s way. His love draws us apart from this world and
anchors our lives and ministry in His unchanging nature. Two paths, two
choices: “Till love Do Us Part” or “His Love Draws Us Apart.” You
choose, but know this: Only God’s way will stand the test of time.
