The Fundamentals of Christian Marriage

by Kristyne McDaniel

Understanding the fundamentals of Christian marriage can be complicated, but it is important to take a look at the history of the union for a man and a woman in order to discover a basis within Christianity. According to the book of Genesis, marriage was ordained by God as a union between a man and a woman. There is some debate as to whether this is a reference to an actual marriage or just a command for God for people to procreate and fill the earth. It has, regardless, been adapted to stand as the Christian marriage example.

According to many involved in Christian marriage family therapy, a Christian marriage represents the connection of Jesus Christ to the Church. This is in accordance to Paul of Tarsus who, in Ephesians, noted the connection from the Old Testament point of view that marriage was a parallel between a connection to man and God. This type of union, often called a covenant by Christians, is of signature importance to the Christian tradition and stands as an example of God's faithfulness to the people. Those involved in Christian marriage and family therapy impress this notion upon those that seek out the therapy and infer that Christian marriage is a gift from God and something to be cherished and supported.

With this basis in mind, many times a Christian marriage begins with a form of counseling. Many Christians take part in a form of marriage family counseling in which a pastor or priest verses them in the traditions of marriage and in the importance of their vows. Christians believe that this serves as a good basis for a marriage and as a traditional foundation so that the values of the marriage can be placed at a level of great importance. Christian marriage family counseling encourages the couple to go to God in prayer during trials and to seek other Christian help to form a prayer network, enabling the couple to operate under an umbrella of a Christian relationship and those fundamentals at the outset of their marriage.

A Christian marriage, based on tradition, takes place in a church, presided over by a minister or a priest who performs the marriage ceremony. In most cases, the priest or pastor also signs the marriage record as a suitable and legal witness. The significance of this type of ceremony is that the pastor or priest is a legal witness and is also a spiritual witness that can call the marriage to accountability under God.

Many aspects of Christian marriage, while based on tradition and structure, are designed to place a significant amount of importance on marriage as a union and as a promise kept between two people. The reality of Christian marriages are to serve God through the union and to maintain a continuously loving relationship between a man and a woman. The definition of marriage, while under popular debate, will continue to amplify the notion that Christian marriage is honorable to God and is given a very high order of status among the lives of Christians.