A past and present generation has found many times that co-habitation has failed in producing what they desired—intimacy. A future generation needs, even wants role models that will show them the value of lasting, relational oneness.
The time is right to compare and to contrast how our post-Christian culture seeks to derive meaning and value from marriage, and how the Bible portrays it for the welfare and happiness of human life and culture.
Jesus told Peter, “Do you love me? Then feed my sheep.” In our day, part of that “feeding” necessitates cleansing and bandaging the wounds that many of God’s people have received from the butchering and abuse of harassment from within the church.
Many church leavers are not interested in entertainment either. They simply want spiritual food that’s strikes their interest, their curiosity and their human need.
When it comes to burnout, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, especially when volunteerism is examined from a particular program’s present value and impact, rather than “we’ve always done it this way before.”
Jesus' example of identifying with people must serve as our model if we ever hope to turn the tide favorably back towards the church and her incarnational place in society.