How should a Christian spouse handle an adulterous affair that has resulted in a child?
Marriage is a covenant that brings a couple together both spiritually and physically. Infidelity causes a devastating blow that tears through the oneness of marriage, often resulting in irreparable damage. This can be especially true if a child is conceived through adultery. A parent’s responsibility to his child is not determined by the circumstances of…
What is Christian domestic discipline (CDD)?
A domestic discipline (DD) marriage is one in which one partner—usually the husband—is given authority over the other and has the means to back up that authority with corporal punishment, including spanking. So-called “Christian domestic discipline” occurs in a marriage when one or both partners use biblical support to rationalize an unscriptural and un-Christian lifestyle.…
Is the divorce rate among Christians truly the same as among non-Christians?
We’ve all heard the claim: “Christians are just as likely to divorce as non-Christians.” This statement is often attributed to a 2008 study by the Barna Research Group that indicated that those who identified as Christian were just as likely as non-Christians to be divorced. This study was also broken down into subcategories by religious…
Why does God hate divorce?
Malachi 2:16 is the oft-quoted passage that tells how God feels about divorce. “‘I hate divorce,’ says the Lord God of Israel.”* But this passage says much more than that. If we back up to verse 13, we read, “You cover the Lord’s altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards…
Why is sexual temptation a bigger problem for men than for women?
While women are by no means immune from sexual temptation, generally speaking, men struggle with sexual temptation to a much greater degree. Far more men commit adultery than women. In premarital relationships, men are far more likely to seek sex from their partners than women. Why is this? Why is sexual temptation a bigger problem…
What is the exception clause?
The “exception clause” is Jesus’ statement in Matthew 5:32 and 19:9 “except for marital unfaithfulness.” It gives an “exception” for remarriage after a divorce being considered adultery. Matthew 5:32 reads, “But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the…
How should a Christian treat his/her ex-wife/ex-husband?
After a divorce, ex-husbands and ex-wives rarely get along amicably and peacefully. More commonly, ex-spouses experience tension and stress or even open and aggressive conflict in their relationship because of deep-rooted emotional wounds and unforgiveness. So, how should a Christian treat his or her ex-wife or ex-husband? The answer begins with living by the principle…
What should a Christian do if he or she is married to an unbeliever?
Being married to an unbeliever can be one of the most difficult challenges in a Christian’s life. Marriage is a sacred covenant that joins two people together in one flesh (Matthew 19:5). It can be very difficult for a believer and an unbeliever to live in peaceful harmony (2 Corinthians 6:14-15). If one partner becomes…
Are there any valid reasons for divorce beyond what the Bible specifically identifies?
There is only one reason for divorce explicitly mentioned in Scripture: sexual immorality (Matthew 5:32; 19:9). Most Bible teachers also consider the abandonment of a believing spouse by an unbelieving spouse to be a reason for divorce based on the “not bound” phrase in 1 Corinthians 7:15. Are there any other valid reasons for divorce…
What does the Bible say about spousal/marital rape?
Spousal or marital rape is a form of domestic violence and sexual abuse. In spousal rape, sex is forced on one spouse by the other. While the Bible does not specifically deal with spousal rape, it has plenty to say about the husband-wife relationship and its representation of Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:32). First…