Marriage Reformation Blog

Over 50′s Shacking Up!

neilwestbrook — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 22:37:38 +0000

I just read an article that I can’t believe. . . sorta!

Did you know that people over 50 make up the fastest growing “heterosexual unmarried-partner households”???

1.8 million Americans over 50 are shacking up! This an increase of over 50% from 2000 to 2006!

In other words cohabitation is not only increasing among 20s and 30s it is growing the fastest with people over 50!!!

Why? Reasons cited include estate planning, alimony and palimony, social security, survivors’ annuities, and college financial aid.

You can read the article at Forbes.com. You will have to register and then search for “retirement and remarriage”.

Does your church have a marriage puppet ministry?

neilwestbrook — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 22:22:31 +0000

Puppet ministries are still effective. . . with children. But marriage puppet ministries have not been very effective over the past. . . oh. . . 50 years! Does your church have a marriage puppet ministry? Here are some ways you can identify a marriage puppet ministry:

1. The Pastor has never turned away any couple who wanted to get married.

2. The Pastor actually fears that not marrying certain couples because of who their parents or grandparents are, in the church or community, may get him or her fired!

3. You frequently pimp out your sanctuary for people, Christian or not, to “get married” in. In other words you charge them a fee to use the sanctuary or other space.

4. Your church has a “wedding policy” but does not have a “theology of marriage” or written declaration about the meaning of marriage.

A marriage puppet ministry means that the Pastor and sometimes members of the congregation are having their strings pulled by other people or power structures. The greatest puppet master of all may be the nation-state. The best proof of this is the fact that Christian couples who are ready to get divorced do so through the secular judicial system and not through the church who, in fact, never really married them in the first place!

Remarriage Waiting Period

neilwestbrook — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 12:01:37 +0000

Did you know that some states require a waiting period after someone has been divorced before they can remarry?

Just google “remarriage waiting period” to find out about your state.

What about the Church? Should the Church require a “remarriage waiting period” for those who have gone through a divorce? What about people who have gone through a legal divorce that may have been scripturally unfounded or unjustified by Christian standards (if anyone can determine what those are)? Should their divorce be recognized by the Church? If a couple professes to be Christian then should the Church hold a divorce ceremony for them if they are getting divorced? How might a remarriage waiting period impact marriage positively?

What are your thoughts?

divorce and remarriage resources

neilwestbrook — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 12:22:07 +0000

How much thoughtful consideration and study have you given to divorce and remarriage?

What does the Bible have to say about divorce and remarriage?

What opportunities or obstacles do divorce and remarriage issues present to the Church?

Here’s a list of great articles and web links from Christianity Today that offer some answers to some of these questions:

click here

Top 10 Marriage Myths

neilwestbrook — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 10:52:52 +0000

So what are the Top 10 Marriage Myths?

Before you click on the link to find out. . . write down your top 10 list!

Click here for the list. (PDF)

Church Attendance and Divorce Rates

neilwestbrook — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 10:51:36 +0000

Are married Christians who go to church frequently less likely to get a divorce?

Click here for more.

The Wedding Factor

neilwestbrook — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 10:42:35 +0000

What opportunity do ministers have to influence a marriage?

Consider the wedding factor:

80 – 85% of all weddings in America are held in a church or synagogue.

Rejection Ratio

neilwestbrook — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 12:21:32 +0000

Perhaps the greatest negative impact of the erosion of marriage is on children.

Click here for chart.

Pimping Clergy

neilwestbrook — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 01:29:19 +0000

Can you believe this?

click here for the link

They even provide software for couples to write their own vows.

Here’s another site.

My favorite line: “We have no creedal dogma.”

God help us.

Coming soon!

neilwestbrook — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 10:27:12 +0000

Welcome to the Marriage Reformation Blog!

This blog will launch some time in October 2007.

Join us as we discuss current issues and staggering statistics regarding the future of marriage.