Just two months after the wedding, the marriage was over. The wife filed for divorce. And even when the divorce court judge recommended six months counseling, the wife would have nothing of it. Even when the husband offered to correct his error, the wife flatly rejected the offer. She said she couldn’t trust him anymore. The husband had committed the ultimate offense. He neglected to update the relationship status of his Facebook account to “married” after the wedding.
No. The story is not fiction. It actually happened. The incident was reported in India’s Deccan Chronicle. The newspaper article actually proceeds to mention how Facebook somehow plays a role in a growing number of divorce cases. It really is a whole new world.
I’ve been thinking a lot about commitment these past weeks. And this report once again highlights how many people’s ability to live up to their commitments seems to have deteriorated. One’s word is no longer sacred. It seems one’s failure to fulfill one’s commitments and to keep one’s promises is no longer a big deal. Even formal vows such as is given in a wedding are so easily set aside or abandoned when they become inconvenient or when they get in the way of one’s pursuit of happiness.
One area of commitment for a Christ-follower is in the matter of church membership. Vallejo International Baptist Church is celebrating its 31st anniversary this week. VIBC member, it may be worthwhile to reflect on your level of commitment to the church. When you chose to become a member, you entered into a covenant with other members with the “commitment to abide by the principles” of our Corporate Calling Statement and our Church Covenant. It might be a good idea to review these documents. And then to ask yourself, “Am I fulfilling my commitments?”
More specifically, it may be worthwhile to consider the nature of your participation in and support of the ministries of the church, as well as your role in the growth of fellow-members into maturity in Christ. Scripture reminds us: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near “ (Hebrews 10.24–25 ESV).
May we grow deeper in our commitment to Christ, through our commitment to his church.
—Keith Jainga