Marriage: Its Foundation, Theology, and Mission in a Changing World

by Curt Hamner (Editor), John Trent (Editor)

Never has the sacred covenant of marriage been more maligned than it is today.

It can be difficult to know how to respond to a culture that is becoming more and more antagonistic to biblical beliefs about marriage. And this is a topic worth getting right. Marriage was given to us as a picture of the triune God in relationship with his people, which means what we believe about marriage is indissolubly tied to what we believe about God and his creating and saving purposes. Therefore, it is more important now than ever that we think theologically and carefully about what marriage is and how we live faithfully in it.

Marriage: Its Foundation, Theology, and Mission in a Changing World is the much-needed work on marriage for this generation and the next. Rooted in a Scriptural understanding of marriage, it thoughtfully engages the issues surrounding marriage being debated today and lays the groundwork for the crucial conversations of our day. Each section contains chapters from trusted theologians as well as experienced practitioners who work with couples daily. Rediscover the beauty of God’s design for marriage and be strengthened to stand firm amidst any challenges the world may bring

Genres: Marriage

448 pages, Hardcover

Published November 6, 2018

About the author

Curt Hamner is a pastor and cofounder along with his wife, Rhonda of Between Two Trees (betweentwotrees.org), a marriage ministry designed to resource couples and communities with tools and coaching to pursue God's design for marriage. Curt is also the founder of Bed and Breakfast with a Purpose Retreats and a mentor with The Master's Program a three-year marketplace leadership coaching ministry.

Together Curt and Rhonda speak at conferences and retreats throughout the US and around the world, with messages grounded in a biblical theology of marriage, recent research and practical tools for couples to nurture and grow their relationship. Their premier work is with young couples and second half couples. They host DreamMaster Retreats across the country for second half couples working together on vision and strategic plans for the years after career and family.

Curt is a graduate of Dallas Seminary and served with Chuck Swindoll at the church they pastored in Fullerton CA. The Hamners have 3 adult children and 5 grandchildren and live in the mountains of Southern California.

Reviews

[Michael Philliber · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Marriage: Its Foundation, Theology, and Mission in a Changing World" methodically hikes it's way through the thorny bushes and briers to blaze a clear trail for others to follow. This 448 page hardback, edited by Curt Hammer, John Trent, Rebekah Byrd, Eric Johnson and Erik Thoennes, guides pastors, parents, partners and parishioners down many expected trails, but also takes surprising turns that pick up scenic views of a greater landscape just over the rise.

"Marriage" is a Christian book packed full with sixteen chapters and eighteen "Continuing Insight" précis all written by different contributors: men, women, theologians, pastors, counselors, psychologists, older, and younger, to name a sample of the variety of authors. The chapters move at different paces, depending on the subject and the writer's style. And the four sections, Foundation, Description, Challenges, and Mission, spread out to engage with plenty of subjects. Truly, "this work isn't meant to provide a sprint through a theology of marriage but rather, a deeper dive than many have ever taken before into just why marriage is so important and wonderful as God's creation" (20).

Many of the authors stay on familiar turf, giving muscle and breadth to those subjects. Other writers happily go into areas least expected, such as marriage and natural law, how marriage is an important part of the mission of God, and marriage-divorce-remarriage. Of all the good chapters, the one I found especially surprising and significant was "Reclaiming Beauty Amidst Brokenness" by Andrew J. Schutzer. This chapter is primarily focused on safety, sexual abuse, shame. There were many helpful insights on the topics, as well as the damage of sexual abuse, and a good many recommendations and encouragements for those married to survivors of child sexual abuse. But underneath this chapter's theme are some deep perceptions, such as the "biblical notion of "self" is always a relationally embedded self, rooted in an extended web of relationships...The biblical person is always a being-in-relationship" (232). I will be referring back to this chapter for quite some time.

"Marriage" is almost a textbook of information, digestion, and application. College and seminary libraries need to snag a copy. Pastors, elders, and counselors will find this a must. It is a volume that will also make a delightful gift for that favorite seminarian in your life. If you can't tell, I'll say it clearly: you need this book, for yourself and significant others in your life!

I am very appreciative that Moody Publishers sent me the book used for this review when I requested it. This review is freely given and freely expressed. The publisher made no demands on me whatsoever, except that I put forth an honest review, which has been given heretofore.

[Jimmy Reagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first picked up this book that professes to address marriage in its foundation, theology, and mission in a changing world and scanned the table of contents I thought—what a hodgepodge. Then, after closing the book at its end I thought—it worked! Somehow a book with 5 editors and dozens of authors came out with a unified, big-picture presentation of the Lord’s intention for marriage.

Section 1 contains four chapters on foundational issues. Looking back to the Trinity and its relation to marriage turns out to be the perfect starting place. Just read and you will see. From there, we look at Jesus in particular and the idea of commitment. Marriage gets such deep spade work here that how its presented in Scripture, the mistake of cohabitation, and the “high calling” of marriage along with the dignity of singleness all are unearthed. All these subjects will reappear later, but you’ll be better prepared because of this foundational view.

Section 2 addresses what it calls “description”. It’s almost like another pass at what Section 1 brought out, now with yet more depth. I have no idea how this section somehow presents theological understanding, addresses current societal derailments, and provides help for the challenges of marriage that all married Christians face at varying levels. Embodiment (you’ll enjoy knowing what that means), both the beauty and design of marriage, the biblical necessity of gender, and help with intimacy show up here.

Section 3 gives four helpful chapters on our brokenness in marriage. Again, there’s counsel on repairing that brokenness and restoring the beauty of marriage with even an in-depth discussion of marriage and divorce in Scripture. Section 4 presents four final chapters on mission and marriage. There’s even encouragement and guidance for churches to assist people with marriage.

As I said before, this book far exceeds my initial expectations. In addition to reading it through, it will serve as an excellent resource for a wide array of subjects that intersect with marriage that can be consulted as needed. It’s an attractive hardback that will bless Christians if it gets the large readership that it deserves.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

[Karen Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

You see 5 editors, on the cover. You turn the pages to the contributors’ page and find that 38 experts contributed to the 16 chapters which were divided into four sections. You take a deep sigh, close the cover, and turn to the back cover.

“What we believe about marriage reflects what we believe about God.”

Interesting perspective. I had never thought about marriage in this way.

I am so glad that I opened the book again and began to read. This book explores the depth, the intimacy, and the beauty of marriage from God’s perspective.

Marriage: Its Foundation, Theology, and Mission in a Changing World is a much-needed book that digs deeply into the soil of today’s marriages, pulls up the weeds, turns them over and upside down, and asks “Why?”

The contributors ask the “Why?” of marriage, beginning with the first section, the foundation of marriage in the Garden of Eden. Our Creator is a union of three Persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and He created and gave life to Adam and Eve – life in His image. Adam and Eve became one flesh and gave life, a kind of trinity that continues from one generation to the next.

“Personal union is the ground of all human being” (p. 29).

The second section describes marriage in terms of differences, beauty and design, gender, and holy sexuality from both neurological and scriptural perspectives. Beth Felker Jones continues the discussion in Chapter 5, “Presenting our bodies to God is at the heart of our spiritual lives” (p. 136), a reminder of Romans 12:1.

The third section discusses the challenges of shame, brokenness, failure, and divorce and remarriage. These challenges are real, and they point out the differences between God’s love and our love.

“Mature, agape love is both self-generated and other-focused” (p. 274).

The final section discusses the mission of marriage. Have you considered that your marriage has a mission? As image bearers of God, we represent Him, “so that He can be known and worshiped throughout all the earth” (p. 361). The writers indicate that Genesis 1:28 and 2:15 tell us that we have four roles as rulers over creation. I am not sure why they did not include being fruitful and multiplying as one of the roles.

Subdue the earth.
Rule the earth.
Work the garden.
Keep the garden.

“He is calling those who are married to focus on eternity and to live a life of distinction as a married couple dedicated to glorifying God, intent on service in His kingdom” (p. 374).

What if couples adjusted their focus from themselves and onto our Eternal God, our Creator, the One who gave it all to have a relationship with His image bearers?

The book isn’t like so many marriage helps books today that give you “1 + 2 + 3 = 6 Ways to Get an Ideal Marriage.”

The theologians, pastors, professors, and counselors address the foundational principles of marriage, sometimes in a textbook-like manner. This book is one that I will refer to many times.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review.

[Reyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before we were married, my husband and I knew we wanted to help families. We knew it because there was this deep desire God placed inside our hearts. God does that for a reason. We knew how painful and broken people are when they come from broken families. It may seem an irony that broken people try to help broken people, but that is how many times the Lord wants to do it, so the glory remains His, forever.

We never imagined being able to help other couples by teaching and counseling. We still learning, we still depending on God's grace to do so. We will depend on Him forever. This book is a blessing in so many ways. First, the authors care about the Bible and about what God thinks about marriage. We can not deny that we live in an era where the importance of it seems to fade for many.

This book, with 448 pages and a very small font, won't be a book that you finish very fast. Inside, you will find theology, cultural and practical actual issues about marriage. Some of the topics are singleness (yes, you read that right), forgiveness, healing, gender, divorce, remarriage, the mission of God, the community in the body of Christ, biblical counseling, and many more.

If you read it you will perceive the great job five editors did, putting together gracefully more than 40 authors. It amazes me and I'd love to know more about their process to accomplish this.

When I read the dedication my eyes got teary: "With the hope o setting forth the glory of Christian marriage as it was from the beginning, the editors dedicate this book to the generations to come, our children and our children's children and their generations, "for a time we cannot see". Those words are some of the same Crawford W. Loritts Jr. uses in one of the last chapters. He made me cry.

We also want to invest in a time we will not see. That is our prayer. God, find our hearts faithful to do this, to live it our, your plans and your design for families, marriages and parents for your glory, so many more may know you.

I like to read from professors and experts, you learn a lot doing so. The fact that the book took more than 4 years to be written and more than 40 authors, and their own styles make it more relevant and deep. Obviously, you won't agree with all of them but that makes it more interesting.

We have read lots of books in this topic and it is so refreshing to see how many other angles we may explore, it will take us a while digesting everything. We plan to add some topics to our marriage courses. Probably this book will be considered a must-read for those interested in biblical guidance in everything about marriage, calling the reader to action, full of bravery and grace. I recommend this for pastors, leaders, and counselors. But can be enjoyed by any person, the language and terms are very accessible.

[Brad Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

A healthy and lifelong marriage is the very best foundation to build a family on. Furthermore, if marriage is THAT important, we should work hard to understand it’s roots, it’s origin, and it’s purpose. This book seeks to stretch our thinking and to challenge us in that direction of understanding.
With so many well-respected people contributing to this work, it feels more like a conversation than a textbook. For me, this is a book I will read in small sections then take time to process and ponder all of the deep and meaningful implications that come out of it. I am already a different person because of this book. Now, it is my charge to take this deeper understanding and make my marriage better — so much better that it’s benefits spill over onto every other marriage within my sphere.
Is this book THAT good? I believe it is.