Christian Marriage | C. S. Lewis

Deep Dive into Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis - Christian MarriageC. S. Lewis describes the Christian concept of marriage as the union of two people into a single organism, frequently referred to as being "one flesh". This union is intended to be a total combination of two halves of the human machine, spanning spiritual, emotional, and physical levels. Because of this intended totality, the sources explain that Christianity regards marriage as a lifelong commitment. While various churches may have different views on divorce, they generally agree that it is a violent disruption similar to a surgical operation on a living body, rather than a simple dissolution of a partnership.The permanence of marriage is rooted in the virtue of justice and the keeping of promises. Lewis argues that even when the initial feeling of being in love fades, the promise made at the wedding remains a binding contract of the will. He distinguishes between "being in love," which is a temporary though glorious feeling, and "love," which is a deep unity maintained by habit and deliberate choice. While the former acts as the explosion that starts the engine of marriage, the latter is what keeps it running. Lewis suggests that those who allow the first "thrill" of a relationship to die away can discover a quieter, more lasting happiness.Regarding the structure of marriage, the sources suggest that a permanent association requires a head to provide a casting vote when disagreements occur. Lewis identifies the husband as the head, citing the need for someone to manage the family's "foreign policy" and provide a more objective perspective toward outsiders, counterbalancing a mother's natural preference for her own family. Finally, he proposes that the state should distinguish between Christian marriage and civil marriage to avoid forcing religious views on a non-Christian public.Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologianYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReformedExplainerSpotify Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1t5dz4vEgvHqUknYQfwpRI?si=e-tDRFR2Qf6By1sAcMdkdwhttps://buymeacoffee.com/edi2730