An estimated two billion people tuned in to watch William Mountbatten-Windsor and Catherine (Kate) Middleton exchange vows and become the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Because of technology, this is a far greater amount of viewers than the seventy-five million who watched Charles' Mountbatten-Windsor and Diana Spencer, Prince William's mother and father. April 29th truly was a momentous occasion as Prince William, second in the line of succession behind his father, married the woman of his dreams and Kate Middleton became the wife of a future king, which for most people is only found in fictional, children's stories.
The amount of people watching the wedding was numerous, but it was not the only thing that was excessive.The flowers, wedding garments, guests, money, security, were enough to skyrocket the cost of the wedding to around $100,000,000.00. Most people would dream of just having a $5,000.00 wedding; but in this case, the largeness of the event was enough to send many London Natives on "holiday," as they would call it. They tried to escape it. After all, the soon-to-be couple have their own official website and the "official wedding app" you can purchase for $4.99 for your smartphone). I would want to escape too. Can you imagine the traffic?
Okay. Go ahead and ask the question? I was asked all day on April 29th, 2011, even at Walmart. Did you watch the Royal Wedding? My answer. No. If I did, I would first have to turn in my "man-card." Just kidding. Now, I know that someone reading this will consider me a killjoy or a anti-royal commoner; but my heart was in the right place. I just was not interested; and it was not because of the cost or personalities of the couple. It was because of what I learned about them a couple days earlier.
So we all know the stereotype celebrity gossiper who feeds off of wardrobe malfunctions and bad-hair days. Right? The scratchy voice, Hollywood "wannabes," who have nothing better to do than talk about what pin someone was wearing on their hat during the Oscars? Well, here they were on Fox News gushing about how mature Kate Middleton was, age 29, because she waited to get married until she was older. After all, Diana Spencer married Prince Charles and she was only nineteen. The whole world knew she was being taken advantage of by Charles, who obviously has his issues with other women. The adjectives used describing Kate were mature and wise ; and the truth be told, because I did not want to be taken advantage of also, I looked over to my wife and mother who were also watching and said, "They're right. That is commendable." It was at this moment, I was told some information that made me decide not to watch the wedding.
Here it is. Caution! Spoiler ahead! Prince William and Kate Middleton had already been living together. Talk about purity, right? So everyone talks about the fact that they did not kiss at the wedding altar. Who cares? It was not like it was their first one. In truth, since their engagement they have been living together in Anglesey, Wales; and cohabited in the same house with others during their college years at the University of St. Andrews. Hence, I changed my opinion. I decided not to watch.
Before you get too critical, I wish them best. Truthfully, studies show a high percentage of couples who "test-drive" before marriage, end up in a divorce. Considering his father and mother divorced after fifteen years and his uncle, Prince Andrew, divorced Sarah Ferguson after ten years, William may later be inclined to follow in their footsteps, or may follow some wrong advice. We truly need to pray for William and Kate, that their marriage would be concrete in the Lord.
In 2002, USA Today did a study on individuals who have indulged in pre-marital sex. In 2002, from those interviewed from ages 15-64, 95% claim that they experienced sex before they were married. Can you imagine what it is now? This study was done over nine years ago. Now we have the explosion of the internet, smartphones, and other devices, which though amoral, can and do bridge the gap between its user and pre-marital sex. With this in mind, I would like to share a few principles from the Bible.
1) We were created as sexual people. In Genesis Ch. 2:21-25, the Bible reads, "And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; and the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother , and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. After Adam and the rest of Creation was finished, "God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good..." This is found in Gen. 1:31. Because God is pure and holy, we can conclude from these verses that Adam was a sexual person and that was just the way God wanted him to be. He said it "was very good." When Eve was formed from Adam's rib, she was brought to him which then ensued a sexual relationship. This is what God wanted.
Some religious leaders teach that intercourse is a result of the Fall of Man in Genesis Ch. 3. They draw this opinion from Eve having children after her and her husband were expelled from the Garden. To me, this is a faulty conclusion because God had already told Adam and Eve in Genesis 1:28 to "be fruitful, and multiply." Sexuality is a part of nature and is not an evil thing. It is only Satan who tries to deceive and make us believe that it is forbidden.
2) God approves of sexual relationships only through the vehicle of marriage, and that between a man and woman. God presided over the marriage of Adam and Eve. The Bible, in multiple places in Scripture, condemns sexual sins such as fornication, adultery, sodomy, lust, and others. The only sexuality that God blesses is that found within the boundaries of marriage.
This tactic of Satan is not something new. He has always tried to portray God as withholding something beneficial from us. Though not dealing with a sexual sin in this specific case, he used that same tactic on Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis Ch. 3). He wants you to believe that you have to "test" a experience with someone. Unfortunately, those who "test" become unhappy and become everything opposite of what they thought they would get from pre-marital sex. This attack challenges God's goodness and sovereignty. The truth is that God knows you better than you know yourself. He knows who will be best for you.
Additionally, God wants us to enjoy a sexual relationship. It just needs to be with your marriage partner. For example, the whole Book of Song of Solomon describes a intimate relationship between a man and his wife; but also, as it is found in Proverbs 5:15-19, "Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets. Let them be only thine own, and not strangers' with thee. Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love. The truth is that God wants us to enjoy sex, but only when in the bonds of marriage.
3) God has "Royal Weddings" planned for His children. The Bible reads in John 1:12, "But as many as received him, to them gave he the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." As a Christian, I am a child of the King of Kings. This means that I am a prince of God and for all others that are Christians, princes and princesses, He has a royal wedding planned for you. Undoubtedly, some probably wished that they could be part of something so extravagant as the British Royal Wedding. Don't feel that way. God has already picked someone out for you before the beginning of time. You just have to wait patiently for God's best.
In conclusion, what would have made the wedding on April 29th even more special? If both individuals were pure and waited for each other. Anything less is just selfishness and pride against God. Wait for God's best. If it in His will for you to be married, He will provide someone for you. Just wait and prepare yourself for the royal wedding He has planned for you.
In Christ,
Pastor Jon
Philippians 2:15
Okay. Go ahead and ask the question? I was asked all day on April 29th, 2011, even at Walmart. Did you watch the Royal Wedding? My answer. No. If I did, I would first have to turn in my "man-card." Just kidding. Now, I know that someone reading this will consider me a killjoy or a anti-royal commoner; but my heart was in the right place. I just was not interested; and it was not because of the cost or personalities of the couple. It was because of what I learned about them a couple days earlier.
So we all know the stereotype celebrity gossiper who feeds off of wardrobe malfunctions and bad-hair days. Right? The scratchy voice, Hollywood "wannabes," who have nothing better to do than talk about what pin someone was wearing on their hat during the Oscars? Well, here they were on Fox News gushing about how mature Kate Middleton was, age 29, because she waited to get married until she was older. After all, Diana Spencer married Prince Charles and she was only nineteen. The whole world knew she was being taken advantage of by Charles, who obviously has his issues with other women. The adjectives used describing Kate were mature and wise ; and the truth be told, because I did not want to be taken advantage of also, I looked over to my wife and mother who were also watching and said, "They're right. That is commendable." It was at this moment, I was told some information that made me decide not to watch the wedding.
Here it is. Caution! Spoiler ahead! Prince William and Kate Middleton had already been living together. Talk about purity, right? So everyone talks about the fact that they did not kiss at the wedding altar. Who cares? It was not like it was their first one. In truth, since their engagement they have been living together in Anglesey, Wales; and cohabited in the same house with others during their college years at the University of St. Andrews. Hence, I changed my opinion. I decided not to watch.
Before you get too critical, I wish them best. Truthfully, studies show a high percentage of couples who "test-drive" before marriage, end up in a divorce. Considering his father and mother divorced after fifteen years and his uncle, Prince Andrew, divorced Sarah Ferguson after ten years, William may later be inclined to follow in their footsteps, or may follow some wrong advice. We truly need to pray for William and Kate, that their marriage would be concrete in the Lord.
In 2002, USA Today did a study on individuals who have indulged in pre-marital sex. In 2002, from those interviewed from ages 15-64, 95% claim that they experienced sex before they were married. Can you imagine what it is now? This study was done over nine years ago. Now we have the explosion of the internet, smartphones, and other devices, which though amoral, can and do bridge the gap between its user and pre-marital sex. With this in mind, I would like to share a few principles from the Bible.
1) We were created as sexual people. In Genesis Ch. 2:21-25, the Bible reads, "And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; and the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother , and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. After Adam and the rest of Creation was finished, "God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good..." This is found in Gen. 1:31. Because God is pure and holy, we can conclude from these verses that Adam was a sexual person and that was just the way God wanted him to be. He said it "was very good." When Eve was formed from Adam's rib, she was brought to him which then ensued a sexual relationship. This is what God wanted.
Some religious leaders teach that intercourse is a result of the Fall of Man in Genesis Ch. 3. They draw this opinion from Eve having children after her and her husband were expelled from the Garden. To me, this is a faulty conclusion because God had already told Adam and Eve in Genesis 1:28 to "be fruitful, and multiply." Sexuality is a part of nature and is not an evil thing. It is only Satan who tries to deceive and make us believe that it is forbidden.
2) God approves of sexual relationships only through the vehicle of marriage, and that between a man and woman. God presided over the marriage of Adam and Eve. The Bible, in multiple places in Scripture, condemns sexual sins such as fornication, adultery, sodomy, lust, and others. The only sexuality that God blesses is that found within the boundaries of marriage.
This tactic of Satan is not something new. He has always tried to portray God as withholding something beneficial from us. Though not dealing with a sexual sin in this specific case, he used that same tactic on Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis Ch. 3). He wants you to believe that you have to "test" a experience with someone. Unfortunately, those who "test" become unhappy and become everything opposite of what they thought they would get from pre-marital sex. This attack challenges God's goodness and sovereignty. The truth is that God knows you better than you know yourself. He knows who will be best for you.
Additionally, God wants us to enjoy a sexual relationship. It just needs to be with your marriage partner. For example, the whole Book of Song of Solomon describes a intimate relationship between a man and his wife; but also, as it is found in Proverbs 5:15-19, "Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets. Let them be only thine own, and not strangers' with thee. Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love. The truth is that God wants us to enjoy sex, but only when in the bonds of marriage.
3) God has "Royal Weddings" planned for His children. The Bible reads in John 1:12, "But as many as received him, to them gave he the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." As a Christian, I am a child of the King of Kings. This means that I am a prince of God and for all others that are Christians, princes and princesses, He has a royal wedding planned for you. Undoubtedly, some probably wished that they could be part of something so extravagant as the British Royal Wedding. Don't feel that way. God has already picked someone out for you before the beginning of time. You just have to wait patiently for God's best.
In conclusion, what would have made the wedding on April 29th even more special? If both individuals were pure and waited for each other. Anything less is just selfishness and pride against God. Wait for God's best. If it in His will for you to be married, He will provide someone for you. Just wait and prepare yourself for the royal wedding He has planned for you.
In Christ,
Pastor Jon
Philippians 2:15
It's sad that today's society it is commendable to live immorally together long as their not married...
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