If you missed this bit of news out of Mexico like I did, how would you feel about Mexico’s recent bill to make marriage a two-term stint? The Legislator from the leftist Party of the Democratic Revolution in Mexico has decided that ’til death do us part is just too long. Mexico sports a 50% divorce rate and the cost of divorce is thousands of dollars. Apparently the Legislator thinks that marriage should be like a lease option.
Our Pastor has begun a marriage sermon series called, “Til Death Do Us Part, 7 Truths that will Change Your Marriage” and you can download free podcasts on iTunes here.
The Pastor mentioned the recent proposal about Mexicans debating if the marriage “contract” should be changed from a life-long commitment to a 2-year contract.
At first, I thought our Pastor was kidding until I researched the subject and found several news stories and you can read this CNN article here.
What are the marriage vows for this proposed bill?
“To have and to hold for the next two years.” Can you imagine it?
Apparently at the end of the first two years, you do have the option to renew the vows if you are happy. The Church in Mexico is calling the proposal, “absurd.”
It reminds me of a lease with an option to buy. Two years hardly seems long enough to determine whether or not you have the right stuff to make a marriage work. It brings under the microscope the entire marriage issue.
“To have and to hold, from this day forward. In sickness and in health.”
Marriage is commitment. It means that you are ‘in it’ for the long run, not the temporary two-year “try it before you buy it” mentality. It means that you are ‘all in’ for the better times, the happy times and until the end of time.
I feel sorry that the Mexican people have such a high divorce rate. It breaks my heart that anyone has to go through a divorce because divorce is painful. Separating is painful. I speak from experience and now, I am enjoying a marriage that is the definition of what marriage was intended to be.
There are many scriptures regarding marriage but the one that spoke to my heart this morning was simply this,
Romans 12:10, “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”
It always comes back to Love because love has everything to do with it and you can’t put time restraints on that. I hope Mexico doesn’t pass this 2-year proposal.
Sources:
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/10/03/world/americas/mexico-2-year-marriages/
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/10/03/marriage-is-forever-mexico-city-lawmakers-say-2-years-seems-good-enough/