Praise for Christian Marriage!

David Ayers does a masterful job of weaving together biblical texts, classical Christian wisdom, his experience, and the social science. From Rieff to Bellah, it’s all there. I especially appreciate his rejection of the therapeutic character of many contemporary relationships, Ayers’ ability to discuss marriage’s connection to health, his use of the General Social Survey and National Survey of Family Growth, his appreciation of the power of generosity, and the challenging discussion of divorce. W. Bradford Wilcox, professor of sociology, University of Virginia; director, National Marriage Project; senior fellow, Institute for Family Studies; visiting scholar, American Enterprise Institute, author of Soft Patriarchs, New Men: How Christianity Shapes Fathers and Husbands

David Ayers has done the church a favor by writing this book. Hundreds of footnotes quoting and using various confessional documents, modern research, scholars in social psychology and family practice, and recognized theologians from church history are very impressive. He delves into issues the church needs to be discussing, and you will find his insights helpful and challenging. It is a fascinating book, and I highly recommend it. Jerry O’Neill, former president and professor of pastoral theology, Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary

If you are interested in—or interested in living out—the evangelical Christian view of marriage, buy this book. It is a remarkable exploration of the meaning of marriage that will warm your heart, sharpen your intellect, and spark your imagination. Maggie Gallagher, former president of the National Organization for Marriage and of the Institute for Marriage and Family Policy; nationally syndicated columnist, co-author (with Linda Waite) of The Case for Marriage

The attack on traditional marriage in our time seems unprecedented. It certainly is unwarranted, especially when we consider how beneficial marriage is to society. Dr. David Ayers has written an excellent book in defense of biblical marriage, filled with good research, scriptural evidence, and powerful and practical conclusions.” Jerry Newcombe, senior producer, on-air host, and columnist for D. James Kennedy Ministries; coauthor (with Peter Lillback) of George Washington’s Sacred Fire

With Christian Marriage, Dr. Ayers has written his magnum opus. As a Christian sociologist, Ayers deftly assimilates the mound of data and statistics from studies related to marriage into a thoroughly biblical approach. But this is no research-heavy tome alone. Christian Marriage has a practical angle often missed in other Christian publications dealing with marriage and it’s unfortunate demise in many societies around the world. Ayers provides much needed guidance for how we can recapture the beauty and purpose of this divine institution. This book will benefit everyone: singles considering marriage, engaged couples on the verge of wedlock, parents who want to counsel their children, pastors and university professors who will preach and teach on the topic. Even after twenty-six years of marriage, I found Christian Marriage extremely helpful. Honest, forthright, comprehensive, insightful, practical, and most importantly, biblical, Christian Marriage is Dr. Ayers’s gift to us that, if heeded, will only help strengthen the institution of marriage, this glue of society so often under attack today.” Victor Kuligin, lecturer at Bible Institute of South Africa; author of Snubbing God: The High Cost of Rejecting God’s Created Order

David Ayers is a brilliant scholar who makes enormous contributions to our understanding of Christian marriage with this important book. As a distinguished sociologist, Ayers understands the cultural terrain from which our current confusion emanates. He unpacks with great wisdom, clarity, sensitivity, and profound biblical insight into that confusion, helping Christians to better understand God’s design for marriage and its proper role in a well-ordered society. Christian Marriage provides useful instruction, practical advice, pastoral counsel, relevant research, and sound biblical principles. Every Christian should read and savor this timely and trenchant book! Thomas O’Boyle, media executive, author, teacher, and former writer for The Wall Street Journal, author of At Any Cost

Christians don’t lack for books on marriage, but Christian Marriage is unlike any other book I’ve seen on the topic. Combining theology, sociology, and historical analysis, David Ayers has provided readers with a clear, thorough, and eminently practical study on God’s good design for marriage. This is a book to which I anticipate returning regularly for helpful insight on a critical subject.” —Matthew J. Hall, former dean, Boyce College; former senior vice president, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, currently Provost and Senior Vice President, Biola University

Ayers has done a service for Christian institutions everywhere by presenting this well-crafted treatise on marriage and the family. This book presents an orthodox biblical view and is supported by scholarly research; it is a valuable work for anyone seeking resources for premarital counseling, church classes, or college and seminary courses. Although articles and narrow, topical books have been written on these issues, it is rare to find a comprehensive and trustworthy volume like this. The time is now for the church to provide compelling answers to the troubling issues surrounding marriage, and Ayers’ book is much needed. Robert Daniels, associate professor of sociology, Bethel College (IN)

I am grateful to Professor Ayers for providing a sociologically grounded— yet biblically informed—book for those of us who teach undergraduate sociology courses in marriage and the family on Catholic and Christian campuses. It is much needed. In the past I have had to create readers for my courses in marriage and the family in order to provide the needed data and theory on dating and mate selection, single-parent families, divorce outcomes, and the demographics surrounding all aspects of marriage and the family. This new book will surely facilitate course design for faculty. But more importantly, students will appreciate the engaging narrative, which, while filled with sociological data and theories, will capture their attention—and their hearts. —Anne Hendershott, professor of sociology and director of the Veritas Center for Ethics in Public Life at Franciscan University, author of The Politics of Deviance

This book comes as an excellent complement to the many fine books on marriage. One of the many helpful things that strikes me about Dr. Ayers’ work is the overwhelming sociological evidence for the negative consequences when one steps outside God’s created order for marriage, family, and overall happiness. One does not need the cosmological argument for the existence of God. I highly recommend this book as an excellent resource on the subject of marriage. Robert G. Hall, co-pastor (retired), The Bronx Household of Faith; former part-time instructor in practical theology, Westminster Seminary-Philadelphiam, author of I Believe: A Guide to the Christian Faith in the Apostle’s Creed

I’ve known Dr. Ayers for over twenty years, and I know that this book has been a labor of love for him for much of that time. It is close to his heart, his mind, his soul. I am thrilled with the final product. This is a beautiful work on the beautiful—and biblical and natural—order of Christian marriage. It is a testimony to marriage and family in the way that the laws of nature and of nature’s God intended from the beginning, from its literal genesis. Sadly, this book will be attacked by intolerant people from the political-cultural left and the LBGTQ movement. That is a shame, a regrettable reflection of the anger and animosity that fuels too many of those in that movement. In truth, this is a book that goes way beyond so-called gay issues. Dr. Ayers spends far more time on matters such as divorce, single-parent families, marital infidelity, pre-marital sex, dating, procreation, and problems almost exclusively of a heterosexual nature. And most important, all of this information is backed up by hard data—as this book is as much a sociological analysis as a biblical one. Equally notable, it is also an ecumenical analysis, tackling a variety of faiths in the Judeo-Christian tradition and accessible and applicable to Protestants and Catholics alike. Kudos to Dr. Ayers for having the knowledge, the insight, the experience, the wisdom, and the courage to write this important book that couldn’t be more badly needed in our culture today. Paul Kengor, senior director, The Institute for Faith & Freedom and professor of political science, Grove City College; bestselling author of over a dozen books, including Takedown: How the Left Has Sabotaged Family and Marriage

Marriage is an institution established by God to help men and women flourish. Well-ordered marriages produce well-ordered lives, communities, and cultures, while disordered marriages create disorder for everyone. As a culture, our understanding of marriage is disordered, and the church must rely upon wise guides as we seek to reaffirm God’s design for marriage. Dr. Ayers is such a guide who bring to his scholarship strong biblical fidelity, sound theological insight, and the greatest of pastoral sensitivity. Christian Marriage helps the church to understand, maintain, and promote God’s design for marriage in an age of confusion. Nathanael Devlin, Senior Pastor, Beverly Heights Presbyterian Church