Big insight today:
- Babylon is based on contracts: defines the relationship between the parties but is unforgiving, merciless, graceless
- God is based on covenants: defines the relationship to what is true and righteous, and 'the way' of repentance to deal with failure, being loving in nature
Nearly all marriages are contracts anchored in mind/body as "enhanced mutual service agreements". It starts with infatuation, but they grow spiritually at different rates and directions. The parties are unhappy and they frequently divorce based on actual or perceived violations of the contract.
A marital relationship based on a covenant has both parties committed to worship the same thing, and to purge their lives of that which is false or immoral. They are heading towards the same place, and naturally find themselves in closer alignment. There is no contract.
A "Christian marriage" as commonly performed is just a Babylonian contract with songs and prayers in front of a costumed man.