Choosing Obedience over Options by Steve Watters on Oct 3, 2006 at 10:18 AM

Earlier today, I was reading through an article in the Sun-Sentinel (from South Florida) about twentysomethings waiting longer to marry. It went through the typical laundry list of reasons why: divorce, the economy, cohabitation, etc. It appeared the writer was fairly sympathetic with all these reasons since she offered numerous points that seemed to support the wisdom of delay.

But then she threw in something that didn't quite fit. After stating that "today's 20-somethings see having more time to establish themselves and find the right mate as a positive thing that will make them stronger individuals and stronger marriage partners in the long run" She points out that on the other hand, "in the absence of set rules on when to marry, and fluctuating norms on relationships, some admit confusion while trying to navigate this period of their lives."

That sets up the following portion of the article:

Some young adults have responded to this anything-goes culture by reverting to more traditional values. Joshua Kolkana of West Palm Beach is only 25, but has already been married for three years. He and his wife are both Christians who waited to have sex until they were married.

"There is a peace that comes from knowing, `Yes, this is what the Lord intends for us,'" said Kolkana, a high school pastor at the Palm Beach Gardens campus of Christ Fellowship. "Our society's whole mentality has become that we are our own gods, so `I'm going to do whatever brings me the greatest pleasure.' For us, it was more an act of obedience than, `Is this the wisest thing?'"

I have to wonder what readers of the Sun-Sentinel thought about the term "obedience" in the midst of an article about when people get married. What does obedience have to do with it all? Haven't we heard that today's marriage delay is mostly about not finding the right person or not being able to afford to marry? Could it be that some couples have found each other and could find a way to afford marriage, but are struggling with obedience -- especially in the area of saving sex for marriage? Could it be that some twentysomethings are raiding marriage for all of its benefits but hiding behind the "wisdom" of delay to avoid it's requirements?