I would love to think that divorce doesn't apply to Chrsitians but the fact is they're just as guilty. Divorce is more popular than ever in the Christian community and it's sad- just go to the family forums and see how many people have stated they are divorced or divorcing. Its the coldness of the world creeping into the church. That is why when you marry you must be very mature or sure. Lets face it teens today are so babied they dont mature until their much older because they've gotten whatever they wanted.
Also your part about teens and young adults supporting themselves: I would LOVE to pay $200 a month to live somewhere!!!!! Try $600 for a basic place not counting utilities. Oh and food here has gone up, try $100 a week. Austraila must be the place to go to afford a living
I think your right on the point that teens are less mature than they used to be, grow up slower, heck I know I was an idiot when I was 17-18, will probably think the same thing of myself now in a few years.
Do you mean $600 a week or 600 a month btw? $600 a month is very manageable on one income, $100 a week for food?... What are you buying? I'm pretty sure you could cut that down if you were desperate.
As for divorce being 'popular' among christian circles, I'd question whether the christians getting divorces are well... christians, rather than just saying they are or being christian by culture. I'd be hesitant to rely on statistics as so many people just give themselves the christian tag in the censis and on surveys without knowing a thing about jesus, I know I used to. I think I'd agree that it is higher than it used to be, but as to being popular I don't really think so.
That being said, your pretty right snail, we are being desensitised to affairs and that sort of thing through the world and it's sad. As christians though it's our job to resist that & stick together and reinforce each other
As for this
I think a lot of time Christians want to marry young so they can have sex.
I have been saying that for years. Then they find out its not all it's cracked up to be.... and they also find out they dont want to be with eachother for the rest of their lives.
I think this is correct, it is a major motivator for getting married, however... I'm not sure this is a bad thing (it is biblical) - provided that we get married in the right manner, and not to the first person who calls themself a christian & flings themselves at you.
I heard a very good sermon on marriage about a week after I became a christian, remembered it oddly, it isn't who you marry but how you marry. The things that were stressed (big time stressed) in this sermon was about marrying in the right manner - Always keeping God as the centre of marriage, this means picking a mature christian to marry, the most mature christian you can find.
Personally, I have to agree, if god is kept at the centre of the marriage then it will last! It really about making sure you have enough life experience so you know how to tough out the hard bits of the marriage, it's about being spiritually mature in the marriage - so you can stick it out, relying upon Jesus. There's a few lovely quotes in proverbs I think something along the lines of 'a strand of three cords is not easily broken' and 'one can be attacked and defeated, two can stand back and fight, three is even better...
It doesn't matter if you marry at 16, 21, 30, 40 or 85, (go grandpa!) if both people are committed christians & remain that way, then the marriage will last.