Marriage: For God’s Sake & the Children’s Sake (Part 14) Taken Captive: Marriage and Family Held Hostage by Men’s Philosophies and Traditions (Part 5)

How did the Church move so far, so quickly, from the clear words of Jesus on marriage, family, sin, and discipleship? For nearly the entire history of the Church, marriage was understood as a lifelong covenant. Yet within only a few generations, divorce, remarriage, sexuality, family, and even the definition of sin itself have been dramatically redefined. This message examines the stunning turning point beginning in the late 1960s and 1970s, the rise of no-fault divorce, the collapse of the “shotgun marriage,” and the changing positions of major denominations. It asks a sobering question: When religious traditions, cultural philosophies, and respected leaders contradict Jesus, who will we follow? Colossians 2:8 warns us not to be taken captive by hollow and deceptive philosophy, human tradition, and the principles of this world rather than Christ. This is not simply about what happened to marriage. It is about who has the authority to define marriage, family, sin, truth, and ultimately what it means to follow Jesus.