A telephone surveyor called the office this week and one of his questions was, “Are you single, married or cohabiting?” Beyond the fact that such a question to a preacher is amusing (or maybe it’s not these days) is the reality that our society is in full acceptance of “cohabiting” as a conventional living arrangement (whether temporary or permanent). Much is implied by the question: cohabiters are not considered single; some are enjoying some privileges of marriage without being married; the term “cohabiting” is general enough to include a male-and-female cohabiting or even a male-and-male or female-and-female; providing that option in the question ensures that no one is offended by the question (except for Christians, of course).
Our society might be in full acceptance of cohabitation and parading the idea that “marriage” is a thing of the past and not necessary in our “advanced culture,” but such notions find no acceptance in God’s eyes. May we etch Hebrews 13:4 into our souls, “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.”