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Marriage: sex in the service of GodTwo sleepy peopleMARRIAGE Several years ago I heard Christopher Ash deliver three talks on this theme. His material I found fresh and immediately applicable, so when this book reached my house I whooped with joy and got reading straightaway. Marriage is an extremely thorough and readable work which examines not so much the 'how' but more the 'what' and 'why' of marriage. It will prove an invaluable aid for anyone involved in marriage preparation, preservation and restoration. In it Christopher Ash argues for a radically biblical understanding of marriage's purpose - as sex in the service of God. In his introduction, Ash analyses contemporary sexual behaviour and attitudes, illustrating the 'churning of partners' with distressing statistics. He quickly moves from secular immorality, to the disturbing way in which Christian behaviour is aping the world's. Through discussion of Christian literature, scholarly and popular, Ash shows how pagan thinking has deeply affected Protestant attitudes to marriage. We now have a paradigm for marriage as 'self-fulfilment through sex', the only antidote to loneliness. (You only have to look back at any marriage guide on your shelves and see how true this is!) The destructive results of this are obvious; frustration at failed (too high) expectations, the acceptance of serial monogamy and cohabitation, selfish insularity and the denigration of singleness amongst others. In part two, Ash lays the foundations for a right understanding of God's purposes in marriage in creation and kingdom ethics. Profound theology is explained with a light touch; we see how marriage has been built into creation order, not to answer Adam's lack of companionship (he did have God as his friend after all!) but to enable Adam to fulfil God's mandate of filling and ordering the world. Thus, in its inception, marriage has a God-glorifying role which is productive and outward looking. Ash shows how this role stands in these last days looking at key Pauline and gospel texts which have been used to distort Christian teaching on sex. In part three, Christopher Ash builds on this foundation by discussing the traditional reasons for marriage outlined in every marriage service; procreation, companionship and prevention of immorality. First is a fascinating examination of the links between sexual immorality and idolatry in both testaments, then follow discussions of child rearing and intimacy. Ash shows how the two 'goods' are separated from each other by both Protestant and Catholic churches in an unnatural way, and argues instead for their place together as subsidiary 'goods' under the greater good of serving God. Childlessness, passion, mixed marriages, family planning are discussed alongside exegesis of significant texts. In some cases application is teased out, in other areas the reader is left to think through the implications of the author's argument. The objection that this task-orientated approach to marriage only applies more pressure to over conscientious people, that it smacks of works, rather than grace, is not addressed - I would have been interested to read Ash's thoughts! The impact of this teaching on how we perceive singleness is another significant area I was left mulling over. Having set out his stall for a service mode to marriage, the remainder of the book is taken up with unpacking a comprehensive definition of marriage. 'Marriage is the voluntary sexual and public social union of one man and woman from different families. This union is patterned upon the union of Christ with his people his bride, the Christ with his church. Intrinsic to this union is God's calling to lifelong faithfulness.' A chapter is given to each phrase, in which the relevant Scriptures are discussed. The result is a stimulating and engrossing read. Puzzling parts of Scripture are expounded, for example polygamy and laws of affinity, and the precise nature of marriage as covenant is discussed. There is a great amount of detail given, and some academic debate described. However, this should not bog down anyone who is used to reading commentaries, and, throughout, Ash's concerns are clearly expressed. I found his emphasis on the public and social dimension of marriage helpful, and his chapter on 'God's Pattern for Marriage', which covers headship and submission, is the most lucid exposition of the key texts I have read. This book deserves to be widely read and enjoyed. Its scope is broad and its message significant for our times, offering real hope for the future of marriage. Sarah Allen, Chiswick© Evangelicals Now - December 2003 |