A DEFINITION OF A CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE

A Christian marriage is one in which at least one partner is a believer in Christ, who embraces the attitudes and actions prescribed by the Scriptures in their relationship with their mate.

 

A good Christian marriage is one in which Christ is manifested through the marriage relationship by at least one of the partners.

THE COVENANT OF A CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE

Christians approach marriage as a covenant, a relationship based on promises and commitment, not just feelings—though love is most certainly involved.

The concept of marriage as a covenant is rooted in the Hebrew faith, and early Christians preserved the belief as well .To speak of marriage as a covenant is to say that the partners make mutual promises about the way they will choose to live in the future, not just declarations of how they feel in the present the endeavor to live into those promises.

THE CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE PROGRAM

Processionals and seating of guest

Greening to assembled guest

Arrival bridal and the groom

Opening prayer and meditations of marriage

Bible reading

Exchange of vows

Exchange of rings

Pronouncement of marriage

Signing of the register

 

WEDDINGS RECEPTION

Entrance of the guest

Cocktail hour/ photo with and bride and groom

Dinner reception

Speeches

Cake cutting

Couple first dance

Bride and father / groom and mother dance

Dancing

Bouquet toss

Garter toss

Dancing

END THE DAY WITH A CLEAN SLATE

The Bible says in Ephesians 4:26 to not let the sun go down while you are stillangry.Make it a goal to clear the air with your spouse on a daily basis. Fortunately, most days there will not be a need to clean the slate. For those days where tensions are high make an agreement with one another that you will work out your differences before going to bed.

 

NOT 50-50

The Bible says that it is a man’s responsibility to love (Ephesians 5:25) and it is a woman’s responsibility to submit (Ephesians 5:22). If the husband will commit to love then it makes it much easier for the wife to submit. If the wife will submit, the husband will have less trouble loving her. The beautiful thing about this is that God does not say, “A man should love his wife if she will submit.” Or, “a woman should submit to her husband if he loves her.” Each spouse’s responsibility is independent of what the other one does.

When a couple looks at marriage as a 50-50 agreement then they will always play off of how the other treats them. However, when they see themarriage as their sole responsibility, then they will have a much stronger and happier marriage.

 

KEEP PERSONAL PROBLEMS PERSONAL

Don’t share your marriage problems with your co-workers. If you are seeing a marriage counselor then it is important to be open and honest. But when chatting with your friends at the water cooler or the hair salon, you need to guard your negative words about your spouse. Long after the problem is resolved your friends will remember. They weren’t part of the healing process and therefore they won’t know how to forget.

LIVE WITHIN YOUR MEANS

One of the major causes of divorce is money problems. Live with the money you have. Even though you think that expensive gift (that you can’t afford) will help endear your spouse to you, it more often than not will drive a wedge of insecurity in your relationship.

DIVORCE IS NOT AN OPTION

Never enter a marriage with the thought that you can get divorced if things don’t work out. Regardless of your interpretation of the biblical passages dealing with divorce, you should make it a personal commitment to your spouse and to God that you will not consider divorce as an option. Enter the marriage with the understanding that you are making a solemn vow before God to your spouse that you will stay together until death separates you.

GUARD YOUR HEART

Protect your eyes, ears and mind. Men, you need to learn to look away when your eyes are drawn to other women in an inappropriate way. Ladies, you may hear sweeter words from your co-worker than you do from your own husband. Remember to whom you made a promise to love—even when times are difficult.

FORGET THE PAST

Isn’t it amazing how, all of a sudden, you can remember things from the past that you thought were forgotten when an argument arises between you and your spouse? Forget the wrong that he or she has done to you in the past and focus on the present and future.

COMPLIMENT IN WORD AND ACTION

The word “compliment” can mean a couple of different things. First it can mean to say nice things to one another. It can also mean to do something that helps the other to be stronger or look better in the eyes of others. Both senses of the word compliment are important in a marriage.

LOVE ONE ANOTHER

Make a decision to love one another even if your spouse does not deserve your love.

PUT GOD FIRST