Is Marriage Good for Your Health?

Marriage, scientific studies find, may in fact be good for your health.

That's right. The scientific community has, once again, succeeded in spending countless hours conducting detailed research only to discover truths that have been readily available for millennia in the Word of God.

A recent New York Times article, "Is Marriage Good for Your Health?" compiles the findings of several studies, old and new, concerning the effects that married couples have on each other. As far back as 1858, epidemiologist William Farr found evidence that caused him to remark, "Marriage is a healthy estate... The single individual is more likely to be wrecked on his voyage than the lives joined together in matrimony."

This sounds like what King Solomon wrote almost 3,000 years ago: "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up" (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).

The New York Times article also refers to recent studies whose results will sound strikingly familiar to students of the Bible. One researcher notes, "If you learn how to manage disagreement early...then you can avoid the decline in marital happiness that follows from the drip, drip of negative interactions." Her advice evokes the biblical comparison of family contentions to "a continual dripping" (Proverbs 19:13).

Another study shows that "married people are less likely to get pneumonia, have surgery, develop cancer or have heart attacks," while yet another finds that "a stressful marriage can be as bad for the heart as a regular smoking habit." Shocking? Not to the writer of Proverbs 12:4, who said, "A wife of noble character is her husband's crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones" (New International Version).

More interesting still are the studies that suggest that the health advantages afforded by marriage almost completely disappear with a divorce or remarriage. "In formerly married individuals, it was as if the marriage advantage had never existed," while "people in second marriages still had 12 percent more chronic health problems and 19 percent more mobility problems" than those still in their first marriage. Jesus Christ was serious when He gave the command, "Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate" (Mark 10:9). Such an action appears to incur natural penalties on those involved as well.

Even the findings about the effects of arguments on married couples mesh with Scripture. One study compared the heart-disease risk in couples to recordings of their arguments, only to find a curious correlation. The men and women with the highest risk of heart disease were not those who had the worst arguments, but those who failed to follow sound biblical commands.

Wives were most at risk if their husbands failed to show any signs of warmth in the midst of an argument, while husbands were most at risk if their wives gave even the appearance of trying to wrest control. In other words, the truly damaging arguments were the ones where the apostle Paul's commands—"husbands, love your wives" (Ephesians 5:25) and "wives, submit to your own husbands" (Ephesians 5:22)—were ignored. Apparently these verses are keys to having not only a successful marriage but also a healthy one.

The New York Times article observes, "With so much evidence establishing a link between marital stress and health, a new generation of research is set to explore the ways in which couples can mitigate the damaging effects of relationship stress."

And the researchers will take up that challenge. They'll spend hours and weeks and months quantifying, recording, observing. And some day they'll have all their results prepared in a nice little report detailing the best ways to avoid relationship stress.

You could wait, if you want, for that to happen. But you don't have to. The answers are already available in the same place they've been for thousands of years—the Bible. God's Word is filled with the practical wisdom we need to have fulfilling relationships with everyone from coworkers to our spouse.

Sure, humanity will eventually be able to figure a lot of things out by trial and error, but why go about things the hard way? If these studies have shown anything, it's that God knows what He's talking about. We can take advantage of the wisdom that leads to a successful marriage now and save ourselves a lot of heartache in the process. What are we waiting for?

What does the phrase "the testimony of Jesus" mean in Revelation?

What do "the testimony of Jesus" and the "spirit of prophecy" refer to in Revelation 19:10?

The phrase "the testimony of Jesus" is mentioned four times in the book of Revelation; the context in which it is used makes the meaning plain. In Revelation 1:2, it refers back to the first verse, which says that God gave Jesus Christ this special message; and Christ in turn sent it to John by an angel. In other words, what we now have as the book of Revelation is "the testimony of Jesus." The ninth verse of the first chapter uses the phrase in the same way.

Revelation 12:17 says that the true Church has this testimony and keeps the commandments of God, meaning the same as Christ said in John 15:14, "You are My friends if you do whatever I command you." The Church of God lives by Christ's instructions. The commandments of God and Christ's instructions are one and the same.

The last reference is in Revelation 19:10, where the angel quickly restrains John from worshipping him. Instead, the angel said, "Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

Some attempt to draw a different doctrine from this one verse. But if we allow the Bible to interpret itself, we see that the testimony of Jesus is the words of Christ in general and the revelation of this book in particular. "Prophecy" can mean foretelling the future or it can mean inspired preaching. Both meanings fit here. In other words, the angel was saying: "Don't worship me! You should only worship God! And your focus should be on preaching the word Jesus told me to give to you."

Spare Time

You have the choice how you use your "spare time." Do you know what God wants you to do? Will you use it to grow in godliness?

A U.S. citizen born in the year 1900 could have expected to live to the ripe old age of 49. If you were born in 1930 you should have lived about 59 years. Those of you born in 1945 originally had the grim prospect of death at any moment this year! Yet life expectancy increased more and more so that babies born recently can look forward to living 80 years.

Not so for the average "world citizen". Believe it or not, in several countries, even today the average life expectancy is barely over 40 years! But most likely not for you—you can expect many, many more.

Now what have you done to earn these additional years? Most likely, nothing. You probably didn't invent any new technology for greater crop yields or discover new surgical techniques, or formulate life saving medicines, or design an accident free car.

This is what happened: God has given you "spare time." Compared to your ancestors you have been granted decades of bonus living.

What will you do with these extra years? What should you do? Be sure to give the added time back to God. Ephesians 5 reminds you to "be careful how you live. Don't live like [a fool], but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do" (Eph 5:15-17 NLT).

You have the choice how you use your "spare time." Do you know what God wants you to do? Will you use it to grow in godliness? "[You] should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this [you] will be storing up [your] treasure as a good foundation for the future so that [you] may experience true (eternal) life" (1 Timothy 6:18-19 NLT).

God may be working with you. He has blessed you with the time so many others never had. Time to do great things—time to do godly things. So be sure you are putting it to good use. Honor God in all of your "spare time".

Who were the "sons of God" who married "the daughters of men" and had children who were giants in Genesis 6:2-4?

Are these "sons of God" angels, as some have concluded? Can angels reproduce?

Scholars debate and disagree over the meaning of the obscure reference to "the sons of God" in Genesis 6:1-4. Some people read into these verses the idea that it refers to angelic beings marrying women and producing a race of giants. Christ explained that is impossible, teaching that angels are neither male nor female (Luke 20:34-36)—that is, they are incapable of reproduction.

Humans are clearly the subject in Genesis 6—not angels. God said, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh" (verse 3, emphasis added throughout) and, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth" (verse 7). If angels were capable of reproducing as mankind does, their offspring would be spirit, according to the principle of "according to its kind" portrayed in Genesis 1.

The Bible labels the offspring of these marriages "giants" (Genesis 6:4), meaning simply people of giant stature. Similar people are spoken of in later times, most notably Goliath and his family.

How, then, can we understand Genesis 6:1-4? Human beings are also sons of God. We're not referring to becoming spiritual sons of God through conversion, but to the fact that all people are sons of God by creation (Luke 3:38). The attitudes and actions of these "sons of God" were so wrong that they provoked God to send the Flood.

Halley's Bible Handbook raises the possibility that these sons of God were the descendants of Seth. Seth, the Bible records, was made in the image of Adam, who was made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26; 5:1-3). Speaking of Seth's descendants, Genesis 4:26 adds, "Then men began to call on the name of the Lord," a phrase that could also be rendered, "called after the name of the Lord"—that is, the "sons of God." If so, the women, "the daughters of men" whom these "sons of God" married were the descendants of unrighteous Cain. By marrying these women, the sons of righteous Seth turned from God, leading Him to say that the entire world was then corrupt (Genesis 6:5-7, 12).

An alternative explanation is that "sons of God" in Genesis 6:2 refers to self-willed men who called themselves "sons of god," not in worship of the Creator, but of pagan deities. Their marriages were in defiance of the Creator God, as they lived contrary to His will. In light of God's characterization of society riddled with violence (verses 11 and 13), we surmise that the men forcibly took the women as wives.

Regardless of which explanation is accurate, the idea that a half-spirit, half-human race resulted from angels marrying women is impossible, according to the Bible.

Now's the Time

You've heard the old saying that time flies. Ancient civilizations used incense, water, sand and even candles to measure the passage of time.

Before the clock had a face and hands, a bell would ring out important times. In fact, the word clock is based on the Celtic term for bell.

You may know that Big Ben in London is the world's largest four-faced chiming clock. What you may not have known is that the nickname refers to the bell and not the clock tower itself!

Times have changed and now few of us look to a watch for the time. Most of us now use our cell phone to keep time.

Did you know that God has much to say about time and how we use it?

In Matthew 16:3 Jesus said: "You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times." It's a reminder to us to utilize the opportunities that we have and make the most spiritual use out of them.

There's a stark reminder in Romans 13:11 "And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed."

Time does seem to fly and it continues winding toward the ultimate conclusion of this evil world. Yet, God wants to spend an eternity of time with us so he reminds us of the kind of people He wants us to be: "Act like people with good sense and not like fools. These are evil times, so make every minute count. Don't be stupid. Instead, find out what the Lord wants you to do." (Ephesians 5:15-17 (CEV)

Take advantage of the time that God's given you. Get to know Him and His ways—because now's the time.

Why do some churches baptize for the dead?

Does Paul's statement in 1 Corinthians 15:29 suggest people should be baptized for the dead? What does the rest of the Bible say about this belief?

First let's look at what 1 Corinthians 15:29 says: "Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead?"

The meaning is not clear from this verse itself, nor is there any similar reference in the rest of the New Testament. Some people interpret this to mean that members of the Corinthian church underwent baptism for dead people who were never converted. At least one large modern denomination follows this practice, believing that baptism on behalf of unconverted people somehow helps prepare them for a future resurrection. But the Bible says nothing about such "preparation" for resurrection. A dead person doesn't need baptism by proxy in order for God to resurrect him. That's not the purpose of baptism at all.

The context of Paul's words shows his purpose to be substantiating and verifying the doctrine of the resurrection. His meaning seems to be, "Why seek baptism (for yourself) if there is no hope of your resurrection to follow?" That is, one of the reasons Christians seek baptism is for the hope of the dead—which is the resurrection. Through baptism, they have the hope that God will one day bring them back to life—to eternal life in His Kingdom.

This explanation is consistent with the rest of the Scriptures. In Romans 6 the apostle Paul likened baptism to burial after death. Baptism is the symbolic burial of the old self, performed after a person becomes aware of and "dies" to his sin (Romans 6:1-6).

An additional truth that invalidates the idea of baptism for someone else is the fact that no one can repent for anyone else. Consequently, baptism on behalf of another person—whether the person is alive or dead—could have no bearing whatsoever on that other person's spiritual standing. Nowhere does the Bible suggest that the Church should or could baptize one person on behalf of anyone else, living or dead.

Does 1 Corinthians 11 require women to wear head coverings to church?

What does the Bible teach about our personal appearance?

Some have wondered if the head covering the apostle Paul wrote about in 1 Corinthians 11:5-6 and 13 refers to women wearing hats to church. But the context clarifies that Paul was primarily referring to how women of the day wore their hair. In verse 6, shorn or shaved hair is contrasted with a woman being "covered." Verse 15 makes clear that the subject is hair: "But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering."

In respect to the broader question of personal grooming, the United Church of God encourages its members to groom themselves in socially acceptable ways. The men should appear masculine, and women should appear feminine.

Perhaps the clearest statements in the Bible on a Christian woman's personal grooming are found in 1 Peter 3:3-4 and 1 Timothy 2:9-10. Both references counsel women to concentrate upon the "grooming" of their inner character in a way that is pleasing to God, as opposed to placing undue emphasis on their outward appearance.

Personal grooming can and often does reflect one's attitude. People, men and women alike, who want to "make a statement" of rebellion through their grooming or to call attention to themselves, stand out in a crowd.

Grooming that makes a woman stand out as odd or different from culturally accepted norms of good taste detracts from a godly emphasis on her inner character.

Did Jesus Christ have brothers or sisters?

What does the Bible say about Mary being a perpetual virgin? How many siblings did Christ have?

Yes, the Bible says Jesus Christ had brothers and sisters. When the Jews of Jesus' hometown heard Him speak, they were indignant. Matthew records their contempt for Him, born of familiarity: "Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?" (Matthew 13:55-56).

Jesus' neighbors knew His family intimately. From their comments, we know that Mary had four other sons and at least two daughters (because the Bible says "sisters" instead of "sister," we know there were at least two). This also shows that Mary was not a "perpetual virgin."

Does Isaiah 45:7 imply that God creates evil?

Where does evil come from? Why does God allow evil and tragedy in the world?

Isaiah 45:7 in the King James Version says, "I make peace, and create evil." One of the fundamental rules about understanding the Bible accurately is to read a difficult-to-understand verse in its immediate context, as well as in the broader context of the rest of the Scripture. Another rule is to consider other possible translations of the verse.

Many Hebrew words have a broad range of meanings. While the Hebrew word translated "evil" in the King James Version usually refers to unethical or immoral activity, it can also mean times of distress (Amos 6:3) and is sometimes contrasted with shalom (peace). The New International Version renders the passage, "I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster." Similarly, the New Living Translation offers, "I am the one who creates the light and makes the darkness. I am the one who sends good times and bad times." Tanakh, The Holy Scriptures: The New JPS Translation According to the Traditional Hebrew Text confirms this understanding with, "I form light and create darkness, I make weal and create woe—I the Lord do all these things."

Barnes' Notes, a Bible commentary, has this helpful additional comment: "The parallelism here shows that this is not to be understood in the sense of all evil, but of that which is the opposite of peace and prosperity. That is, God directs judgments, disappointments, trials, and calamities; he has power to suffer the mad passions of people to rage, and to afflict nations with war; he presides over adverse as well as prosperous events. The passage does not prove that God is the author of moral evil, or sin, and such a sentiment is abhorrent to the general strain of the Bible, and to all just views of the character of a holy God" (notes on Isaiah 45:7).

Although God allows moral evil and sin, He does not create this kind of evil. The rest of the Bible is replete with evidence of His goodness and His marvelous plans for mankind. James 1:17 assures us that "every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" (NIV).

Satan is responsible for much of the evil of this present world. And unfortunately, people have brought many evil things on themselves by their own actions.

What did Jesus Christ mean, "Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul"?

Who is able to destroy both soul and body? What does Matthew 10:28 teach about our soul?

Matthew 10:28 says, "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."

The word "soul" in this context implies "the capacity to live." That is, another human being may be able to take away our life, but we still have the capacity to live again. God can always bring us back to life in the resurrection. So, though we naturally fear people who can cause our physical death, Jesus was giving us the true, eternal perspective. We should not fear man, but God.

Why? God has the authority to deny bringing us back to life—destroying the capacity to live ever again. "Hell" in this verse refers to the gehenna garbage heap fire burning in the valley outside of Jerusalem. It's symbolic of what the Bible calls "the lake of fire." If we die "the second death" in the lake of fire, there remains no hope of a resurrection (Revelation 21:8).

If we fear—reverence and obey—God, we don't need to fear men.

Superstition

The Nina was floundering in a storm. The panicked sailors began to pray for deliverance. They bargained with God that if they were saved one of the crew would make a pilgrimage to a shrine. They drew lots and Christopher Columbus was chosen.

The storm raged on and the praying became frantic. In a last ditch effort the men decided that if they made it to land all of them would walk shirtless to the first shrine they found.

Have you ever tried to bargain with God? Most of us have at one time or another.

Herein is an important difference between faith and superstition. Superstition is when we believe that if we say the right words, do the proper ritual, make a big enough sacrifice then God is required to do as we ask. Faith is the assurance that God has your best interest in His heart. Faith leads you to obedience because you trust God.

Next time you find yourself trying to play poker with God, ask yourself, "Do I trust Him, or am I being superstitious?"

Shadows

Helen Keller was a remarkable person. She fought blindness and deafness from a young age. Her courage is a powerful example for us all. Helen wrote, "Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow." The observations of this wise blind woman have deep meaning. If we concentrate on the positives of life (count your blessings, as some would say), then we will not slip into the feelings of discontent that "shadows" can bring.

There are shadows in life just as the sun causes each object to have a shadow. The shadow is not the real thing; it is only a dark reflection of the real object. It is interesting that a shadow is dark—showing a loss or blockage of light. The sunlight warms us and provides clarity of vision.

Focus on the things that are cheerful and bright, and the problems we all face will be easier to handle. It is not wise to ignore problems—they do not go away. But when we realize how fortunate we are, we enter a position where we can make decisions with the frame of mind that includes hope, faith and all things that are positive (Philippians 4:8).