Marriage and the Bible - Part 39 - Spiritual Covenant vs. Cultural Contract

An interesting tension exists throughout the Bible between the ideas spiritual covenant and cultural contract.

Spiritual Covenant is based on the idea of a man and a woman becoming 'one flesh', being naked and unashamed without influence by the nature of their culture, society or legal obligations.  Center of this idea is an idea of genuine spiritual love and growth together.  It is deeper than romantic love; it is true genuine 'oneness' of spirit, mind, heart and body.  It is this idea of spiritual covenant that drives later New Testament ideas of relationships and the Christ as groom; Church as bride in union.

Cultural contracts involves marriage as a legal and cultural issues and are made for various reasons including procreation, sexual pleasure, cultural obligation, diplomacy, simple desire and a host of other reasons.  There is no expectation in such contracts other than what is stated in the contract or expected by culture.  Ultimately these are done so society will have some benchmark of when a relationship between two people moves from unmarried to married and to protect the parties involved from certain dangers of such relationships.

For the Biblical Christian, the desire should be to press toward spiritual covenant, but with a full acknowledgement that cultural contract is a part of it.  However, a couple who genuinely achieves spiritual covenant will ultimately fulfil any cultural contract but even Jesus' conversation indicates that even He shared some understanding that culture and law had some influence on determining when a couple is married.

Ultimately, God acknowledges both.  He desires covenant for mankind, but realizes that because of sin, contracts are necessary.  In truth it is because of sin and the necessity of enforcing obligations that cultural contracts are needed.  In the Law at least there is some concern for the protection and provisions for the wife and children of a union.

When it comes to marriage or husbands and wives, this tension becomes a continual thread that weaves its way through all the marriage issues that will follow.  We are always trying to bring the relationship back to Adam and Eve and yet acknowledging that we have many obstacles to do so.

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