How Christians view marriage as lifelong commitment

marriage is a lifelong commitment
Marriage is a lifelong commitment that couples should cherish for the rest of their lives. The two people who vowed should stick together in times of harsh situations. Image: Luis Tosta|Unsplash

The Bible considers marriage a divine law, a union between one man and one woman from two households. 

God made marriage the foundation of society by making it a lifelong commitment.

According to The Gospel Coalition, marriage intends to be a means through which humans might bring glory to God through faithful intimacy, reproduction, and sexual interactions.

Christians’ View on Marriage

The Christian marriage bond is a powerful representation of Christ’s love for the Church. There is a lot of symbolism in a Christian marriage. With that, the couple vows their love for one other and to God during the wedding ceremony. 

Couples symbolize their commitment to one another by exchanging rings. They vow to stick together through thick and thin. 

There are prayers made for the newlyweds, acknowledging the happiness and sorrow that lie ahead and asking God to help them through it.

According to Christianity, Anglican churches often allow marriages between anybody, regardless of religious affiliation. It is required to prove all seven possible connections to the wedding venue. 

Non-denominational churches, including the Baptist, Methodist, and United Reformed denominations, also provide marriage ceremonies. Though every marriage has ups and downs, Christians believe marriage should last until death. 

Of course, it’s sad that some marriages end in divorce. Some Christians hold that a divorce does not end the marriage in God’s eyes since the vows are binding. 

Ending a Marriage Through Divorce

When it comes to divorce, many want to know what the Bible says. The Christian understanding of marriage is that it is a vow for life. 

DivorceNet said divorce is generally frowned upon in Christian communities, but that’s not the whole story. Many people wrongly conclude that this means God hates divorce. 

Infidelity and abuse are two possible grounds for divorce in the Bible.

Catholics don’t always agree on whether or not it’s okay to get a divorce. Some believe that the Catholic Church forbids divorce.

Some argue that a person’s status as a Catholic does not change because of divorce or separation from their spouse. The real issue is remarriage after divorce without going through the correct annulment process.

Divorce is expected in Christian marriage if there is an abuse.

Image: Eric Ward|Unsplash

Commandments of Christian Marriage

It takes work to have a successful marriage. You didn’t merely get lucky in love and end up with the perfect spouse. 

There’s more to a successful union than just love; those foundations should be rock solid. You’ll find the best ideas and recommendations for making your marriage work in the Bible. It also has specific commandments that couples must adhere to for a successful marriage.

Here are some of the commandments of marriage that Christian couples should follow:

Have an Exclusive Relationship with Your Spouse

God states His desire for an intimate connection with you in the first commandment. He aspires to be the only man in your life. How fitting that is also in the marriage setting. 

If one considers Exodus 20:3, where the first commandment is stated, one might draw a parallel between this verse and the requirement of monogamy in marriage.

You Shall Have No Substitute

Several faiths have brought man-made images to the status of sacred icons. All of these items are fakes. They can all be considered replacements. 

Similarly, we should not accept replacements in marriage. 

Don’t try to find happiness in another person or another possession. Get your needs met in that connection.

Do Not Speak Ill of Your Partner

One of the essential rules of marriage is to never talk ill of your spouse with others, no matter how frustrated or furious you are with them. 

Ignoring the importance of not using God’s name in vain brings to mind the following biblical commandment. 

Sharing details about your fights or disagreements with your significant other on social media or with your extended family is not a good idea.

Spend Time with Your Spouse

Marriages that are healthy and flourishing require time spent alone together, time that is unique, private, and even lavish at times.

Marriages that don’t receive quality alone time tend to struggle. You can only develop a connection with someone if you spend time with them. 

Be Grateful for Your Partner

You may be wondering why God needs to tell us to be thankful specifically, but the truth is that there are numerous ways in which a married couple can show their appreciation for one another. 

Marriage.com shared that there are various methods to express appreciation to your partner, such as with a long kiss or hug, late-night hugs, or an active sex life.

Do Not Be Competitive with Each Other

The commandments of a happy union include the advice that husbands and wives should never compete with one another. 

You should make your marriage more mutually supportive rather than competing. You prove you are not a small person when you don’t try to one-up your significant other.

Accept Each Other’s Flaws

Per Marriage.com, accepting flaws is one of the most challenging marriage commandments to put into practice. 

Everyone knows that humans have flaws. So, placing unreasonable expectations on yourself and your partner is harmful and foolish.

We all have our own set of problems with them, so your partner should accept who we are.

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Kathleen Orenza

My faith in the Christian Church has been an integral part of who I am. From a young age, I was taught the significance of the sacraments, the beauty of prayer, and the guiding principles of love and compassion. Through the years, my faith matured, and I sought deeper connections with my beliefs. With Crossmap, it has reinforced my devotion to the Christian faith and allowed me to play a small role in spreading the love and teachings of Christ in the digital age.