Marriage as martyrdom

The August 5, 2003, edition of The Mennonite magazine had an outstanding editorial by Gordon Houser on "Marriage as Martyrdom" (page 32). Here is something worth thinking about next time you're preaching on marriage:

Marriage is a kind of spiritual discipline that teaches us to surrender ourselves to God, which is at the heart of Jesus' teaching. . . . A good marriage is not only the result of daily surrender and hard work but a witness to the reality and goodness of God.

Houser also has good thoughts on the relationship of marriage to the church.