Article 15. MARRIAGE AND THE HOME
ARTICLE 15 MARRIAGE AND THE HOME
We believe that at the beginning of human history God instituted marriage. He ordained that a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, and that the two shall become one in love and mutual submission. It is God’s will that marriage be a holy state, monogamous, and for life. It is also fully acceptable to God to serve Christ unmarried. Marriage was instituted for the happiness of the husband and wife and for the procreation and Christian nurture of children. Christians shall marry only in the Lord, and for the sake of spiritual unity in the home they should become members of the same congregation. The Christian home ought regularly to have family worship, to seek faithfully to live according to the Word of God, and to support loyally the church in its mission. We believe it is appropriate for parents to pledge themselves to the faithful Christian nurture of their children.
Genesis 1:27-28; Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:3-9; Mark 10:2-12; Ephesians 6:1, Ephesians 6:4 Permanence of Marriage
We believe God intends marriage to be a permanent, sacred bond, terminated only by death. Remarriage after divorce constitutes adultery and comes under the wrath of God. Anyone married to and living with one divorced while the former partner is still living cannot be received into church membership.