April 7th-8th Marriage Conference:

Not Your Typical Conference

By Dan Ford

For any Christian couple who is interested in improving their marriage, there is no shortage of contemporary resources. A whole cottage industry of Christian-based ministries has sprung up featuring media shows, websites, blogs, books, and brochures all offering advice on how to improve one’s marital lot in life, or at least, how to continue to tolerate one’s choice of a spouse. To be sure, all of these well-meaning marriage ministries target a genuine need. Contemporary marriages are in genuine need of the kind of help that they cannot find amid today’s caustic cultural setting – a setting obsessed with destructive influences that focus on failure. As the attack on the institution of marriage continues, most ministries try to respond with the best available alternative resources. They market a careful media mix of sound biblical advice expertly blended with the latest psychological theory. With this approach, we find our modern-day examples of multi-stepped programs to build a happier marriage. But with this approach, we also find that the best of intentions are simply blended with the most inadequate of human remedies.

Beyond a plethora of marital ministries, there is certainly no shortage of marriage conferences that make similar attempts to assist struggling couples. They, too, offer an abundance of expert psychological insights as well as practical advice intended to help spouses be more humane to ‘that special someone’ with whom they’d pledged their lives’ devotions. And ‘the icing on the cake’ is for the conferences to rekindle those old affections that had originally driven them to cut their cake together in the first place. These conferences, or encounters, indeed make use of many biblical principles in a Christian sense. Spouses are encouraged to be more selfless, to be more aware of their loved one’s expectations, and to be more considerate of each other’s genuine needs. As marital techniques, all of these are good – most couples come away from any given conference encouraged to try their best at implementing a newly acquired toolbox of practical techniques that is chock-full of inspiring manuals with the latest, expert advice. Rightly used, these tools can be personally effective, at least for a while – until the same old selfish cares and personal needs creep in to overwhelm the best of intentions.

A Fresh Look at Marriage

“So then,” many are beginning to ask, “what is a successful marriage beyond being trained in techniques that can keep individuals contented with each other?” Still, others are asking, “What is the purpose of marriage itself?” Or, better yet, “What is marriage?” Can a generation of Christians weaned amid the American culture of the last several decades assume that they even know? Whatever marriage is, most are aware that the institution itself has been under serious attack for some time, and that each individual marriage remains under ever-increasing cultural bombardment from every side. Many Christians are therefore beginning to ask more foundational questions.

It is time to pause long enough to take another look at the subject of marriage from the viewpoint of the One who created it. After all, the Lord is the One who originated the institution, the One whose honor each marriage is to reflect, and the One who Himself enjoins marriage as the single covenant which rests at the foundation of all human society. To be sure, many conferences draw upon Scripture as practical helps and even refer to the Lord Himself as having put forth certain guidelines for success, but far too often they bypass the foundational precepts. The core issues should be addressed from God’s point of view, as elder of Reformation Christian Assembly of St. Louis, Jim Zes, noted: “If Christians can understand what Scripture – what God – has to say about marriage, we will have stronger families, stronger churches, and a better nation.” The questions that then remain at the center of every marital union are: “What did God institute?” “What was His purpose?” and “What does He expect from each and every biblical marriage?”

Addressing the Heart of the Issue

With that in mind, Reformation Christian Assembly has invited some notable speakers to address the central issues of biblical marriage. On April 7th and 8th they will sponsor their 2006 Marriage Conference, held at the beautiful Crowne Plaza Hotel in Clayton. With a straightforward style, Dr. R.C. Sproul, Jr. will present his confident passion for the essentials of a biblical union. As a widely-read author and the director of the Highlands Study Center in Virginia, Dr. Sproul, Jr. approaches marriage as a covenantal institution from the viewpoint of its primary purpose which he calls “The Family’s Chief End.” He then addresses the biblical family offices, in which he describes the calling of the man as “The Role of the Covenant Husband,” and the calling of the woman as “The Role of the Covenant Wife.” With such a covenantal approach, couples will be challenged to view their own marriages from the vantage of God’s foremost principles, and only then be properly positioned to enjoy the advantage of His biblical best for them.

Scott Brown is a gifted speaker and director of the National Center for Family-Integrated Churches, as well as an elder and pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in North Carolina. Scott has a heart for the ‘big issues’ of marriage, particularly the biblical roles of husbands and wives. He will speak on the issues of the heart unity required in The Shared Dominion Mission of Marriage, as well as cover the biblical warnings of a hardness of heart. Mr. Brown will also cover what he calls “The Sanctifying Purpose of Marriage,” in which he will address how couples grow in God with one another. Scott’s wife, Deborah, will speak on “God’s Role for Womanhood in Marriage,” which will provide a hearty alternative to the destructive roles imposed upon women by contemporary culture and modern education. All of this and more will come together in what she calls “The Biblical Grid for Womanhood.”

Conference Details

In all, this conference will be a great value. In fact, the April 7th and 8th Marriage Conference is viewed somewhat as a missionary endeavor by those with a heart to return to God’s own precepts of marriage. Husbands and wives may further enjoy their time away together considering God’s truths on marriage by staying overnight at the Crowne Plaza, if they desire. To make reservations at the hotel, call (314) 726-5400. Rooms are available at conference rates of $89, $99, and $119. The marriage conference is priced affordably at $45.00 per couple, which includes Saturday lunch. For information and to make reservations, call (314) 402-5332, or visit the Reformation Christian Assembly 2006 Marriage Conference website at www.MarriageConference2006.com.