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To the Editor:
June is the most popular month for weddings and everyone likes to see the wedding pictures in the Elizabethton Star. The Bible encourages marriage. “Who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor of the Lord.” (Proverbs 18:22) Marriage is God’s invention (Matthew 19). God pronounces all his inventions “good” in Genesis 1. Every good gift is from God and marriage is a good gift from God (James 1). Marriage was created and blessed by God.
Studies show those calling themselves Christians have the same divorce rate as those not calling themselves Christians. However, studies show those calling themselves Christians who also attend church have a much lower divorce rate. It’s important and beneficial for couples to attend church together. Church attendance improves their marriage and benefits their children. Sociologist Christopher Ellison found that “men who attend religious services several times a week are 72 percent less likely to abuse their wife or girlfriend than men from comparable backgrounds who do not attend services.”                                                                                                                                       
Benjamin Franklin said, “keep your eyes wide open before marriage and half closed after marriage.” Many say George Washington and Martha Washington had 41 years of a great marriage because he constantly assured her of his love and she gave him respect. Men want respect and women want love. The Bible commands to only marry another Christian. One great philosopher was asked by one of his students if he should get married. The philosopher said, by all means get married. If you find a good wife you will be happy. If not you will be a philosopher!”
Associate Professor of Sociology Brad Wilcox said, “Marriage is a clear path to a better life. It always has been and we have plenty of data to confirm it.” Marriage has a positive effect on the behavior, emotional health, and financial well-being of adults, especially men according to Wilcox. Men who get married work harder and earn on average 20 percent more money than their single peers. Married men go to bars less and church more. Nobel Prize-winning economist George Akerlof said, “men settle down when they get married; if they fail to get married they fail to settle down.” There’s evidence employers prefer and promote men who are married. Married men volunteer to work more hours and are seen as more dedicated and responsible workers and are rewarded with more opportunities to advance. Married men benefit from the encouragement and advice of their wives, who have an interest in their success. Despite all the benefits of marriage, the institution of marriage is in decline. In 1960, 72 percent of all adults ages 18 and older were married. Today, it’s only 49 percent. In 1960, the average age at which men married was 23. Today it’s 29. The consequences of this are negative across the income spectrum, but they are especially negative for those in the lower and middle classes. The federal government’s war on poverty in the 1960’s and 1970’s was also a war on marriage. To get the most welfare benefits the federal government encouraged people to not marry. So millions decided to live together. This also resulted in more abuse of children. A live-in who is not the biological father is 40 times more likely to abuse the children. The federal government is encouraging young adults to get student loans and get in debt which also hurts the marriage rate. 
It’s wrong to put your spouse or anyone else ahead of Jesus. All people will let you down including your spouse. Only Jesus will never leave you, nor forsake you. Only Jesus loved you enough to die for your sins so He could be with you forever. King Jesus pledged Himself to His bride (the church) on the night before His Crucifixion. I have seen beautiful weddings but they will all pale in comparison to the beautiful cosmic royal wedding for Christians soon to come. Don’t miss it for the world!

D.D. Nave
Elizabethton