Marriage in the Media by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin on 09/23/2006 at 11:57 AM

In this week's article, "Ruth Revisited", I think Candice did an excellent job of clarifying the biblical account of the Moabitess and appropriately applying it to singles' present-day pursuit of marriage. Sharing the account of her own path to matrimony, Candice writes of herself and husband, Steve:

Despite the fact that both of us came from intact Christian families, where marriage and children were esteemed and even held up as goals, we still had absorbed lots of contradictory cultural messages. We needed to be reminded that some of what we believed about love and romance and marriage was true, but a lot of it was simply a reflection of what we'd learned from too many hours in front of the television.

The "cultural messages" found in TV and movies often contradict what God says is true. Shows like "Friends," "Gilmore Girls" and "Grey's Anatomy," glorify the single life and show marriage as a last resort. Reading descriptions of the fall prime-time television lineup is like reading anti-marriage advertisements. The summary of "Happy Hour," a sit-com on Fox, says: "In Larry’s opinion, Brad has suffered a fate worse than death — he’s gotten engaged to the shrew TINA (Jamie Denbo), a cold and controlling fiancée who’s immune to Larry’s considerable charm."

This portrayal of marriage is prevalent. Marriage is a trap. Children are a nuisance. Live it up while you can. The problem is, as Candice points out, these messages couldn't be further from the truth.

Marriage in the Media by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin on 09/23/2006 at 11:57 AM

In this week's article, "Ruth Revisited", I think Candice did an excellent job of clarifying the biblical account of the Moabitess and appropriately applying it to singles' present-day pursuit of marriage. Sharing the account of her own path to matrimony, Candice writes of herself and husband, Steve:

Despite the fact that both of us came from intact Christian families, where marriage and children were esteemed and even held up as goals, we still had absorbed lots of contradictory cultural messages. We needed to be reminded that some of what we believed about love and romance and marriage was true, but a lot of it was simply a reflection of what we'd learned from too many hours in front of the television.

The "cultural messages" found in TV and movies often contradict what God says is true. Shows like "Friends," "Gilmore Girls" and "Grey's Anatomy," glorify the single life and show marriage as a last resort. Reading descriptions of the fall prime-time television lineup is like reading anti-marriage advertisements. The summary of "Happy Hour," a sit-com on Fox, says: "In Larry’s opinion, Brad has suffered a fate worse than death — he’s gotten engaged to the shrew TINA (Jamie Denbo), a cold and controlling fiancée who’s immune to Larry’s considerable charm."

This portrayal of marriage is prevalent. Marriage is a trap. Children are a nuisance. Live it up while you can. The problem is, as Candice points out, these messages couldn't be further from the truth.

Comments

[1. Double G (G²) said the following at 2:53 AM on Feb 6:]

1

Sad that people view marriage that way...and even more disheartnening is the fact that people actually believe that one is empowered soley in their singleness while marriage does the opposite......

But like the Word makes clear, there is no power anywhere eles but in what God has comissioned us to do....and He gave us authority to be blessed only when we choose to do like Adam and Eve and "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and have DOMINION over it.....(Genesis 1:29)

No wonder there are some many dysfunctional relationships/issues taking place among so many singles.....they're not fufilling the mandate God gave them.....Good post by the way.

[1. Double G (G²) said the following at 2:53 AM on Feb 6:]

1

Sad that people view marriage that way...and even more disheartnening is the fact that people actually believe that one is empowered soley in their singleness while marriage does the opposite......

But like the Word makes clear, there is no power anywhere eles but in what God has comissioned us to do....and He gave us authority to be blessed only when we choose to do like Adam and Eve and "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and have DOMINION over it.....(Genesis 1:29)

No wonder there are some many dysfunctional relationships/issues taking place among so many singles.....they're not fufilling the mandate God gave them.....Good post by the way.