Readability: 2
Length: 276 pgs
Author: Andreas Köstenberger
If you are looking for a book filled with cute sayings, cliché advise, practical date night tips, how to have better sex, or the latest method of parenting children do not buy this book. If you are looking for a thorough survey of all the Bible that gives clear, straightforward answers without distracting embellishments run to get this book. Köstenberger leaves no stones unturned in the rock pile of texts dealing with marriage and family. In God, Marriage, and Family he deals with gender issues, polygamy, divorce, homosexuality, sex, adultery, fornication, covenant, fatherhood, motherhood, discipline, singleness, contraception, abortion, adoption, spiritual warfare and more. There is not a more thorough book I know of dealing with marriage and family. The book is 448 pages of wise investment. Don’t get scared only 276 pages comprise the book proper. The rest of the book made of resource suggestions, study guide, endnotes, and indices is worth the full price of the book by itself.
It is not only the world that is suffering the consequences of neglecting the Creator’s purposes for marriage and the family. The church, too, having lowered itself to the standard of the world in many ways, has become a part of the problem, and is not offering the solutions the world needs. Not that Christians are unaware of their need to be educated about God’s plan for marriage and the family. An abundance of resources and activities is available. There are specialized ministries and parachurch organizations. There are marriage seminars and retreats. There are books on marriage and the family, as well as magazines, video productions, Bible studies, and official statements focusing on marriage and the family. Yet for all the church is doing in this area, the fact remains that in the end there is shockingly little difference between the world and the church. Why is this the case? We believe the reason why all the above-mentioned efforts to build strong Christian marriages and families are ineffective to such a significant extent is found, at least in part, in the lack of commitment to seriously engage the Bible as a whole. The result is that much of the available Christian literature on the subject is seriously imbalanced.
Recommending “God, Marriage, and Family” from Mars Hill Church on Vimeo.
No Other Boast 