Last month a shameful attack was launched on marriage and the family. The reverance and nobility that is reserved for marriage was reduced to a billboard of fantasy promising unhappy couples that the "grass is truly greener on the other side." A quick visit to the attorney's office can have you on your way to true gratification and fulfillment. The racy billboard that was placed in a busy Chicago intersection featured a lingerie clad women openly flaunting her physical attributes and a shirtless man who could easily be the paid spokesman for the "abs of steel" franschise.
Reaction to the advertisement, sponsored by a law firm specializing in divorce, was mixed. Many found the message offensive while others just seemed to laugh or shrug off the implication. I find the message to be evidence of a growing epidemic in our nation. One in which it is no longer always the explosive issues such as infidelity and abuse that tear apart marriages as much as it is the selfish "lack of fulfillment" or "we've grown apart" excuse that seems to be gaining ground and acceptance. The idea seems to be that once you are no longer happy together, a quick divorce and on to the next relationship is a perfectly acceptable arrangement.
Another interesting aspect of the billboard was the fact that the photographs featured in the advertisement only included the bodies of the man and woman--thus dehumanizing and objectifying relationships. I wonder if the true impact of divorce had been displayed, perhaps the man's face with a look of despair or the woman's face contorted in grief and shock, would have received the same cavalier response that many expressed. Better yet, if the middle of the billboard had contained the photo of a child in tears being tugged at by both sides, would the reality of the damage divorce truly inflicts on others possibly been a wake-up call for many to begin working at the marriage and taking their commitment a little more seriously?
You and I both know that the true root of this type of attack on the marriage is quite simply sin. The sin of greed is prominently displayed in the center of the ad which features the contact information of the law firm. The sin of selfishness is displayed in the photos and slogan which are in essence saying "come on...you deserve better...you work hard...aren't you entitled to get what you deserve?"
Rather than be discouraged by this attack, it only serves to ignite in me a passion to make sure that God's design for marriage be shouted from Christian homes, churches, ministries, and godly organizations. Our vow is a covenant and when the going gets tough, we need to remember that His true unconditional love, mercy, and forgiveness is an example of how we should love one another. I am so grateful for God's grace which is extended to me--an undeserving sinner--and may I display that same grace to my spouse, in all things, always. I pray my marriage is a testimony to others and a monument to God's unfailing love.
One couple summed it up perfectly for me. They were being interviewed on the street about the billboard. The husband threw his arm around his wife and announced that they had been married for almost 50 years. "To me," he proclaimed with a huge smile, "the message should be life is short--so stay together"! Well said!
Phil 3:13-14 ....one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
Dawn Emeigh, Editor of CMM News
