HEALTHY MARRIAGE AND FAMILY LIFE: Healthy And Happy Marriages In The Body Of Christ

It is clear that the sacred institution of marriage, ordained by God from the beginning, is under serious attack in our generation. The devil and the world system have launched relentless assaults against godly marriages, causing untold damage. For example, statistics show that 1.8 million divorces took place in China alone last year. Sadly, even the Church—God’s chosen vessel for transformation—is not exempt. In recent years, more bishops, pastors, evangelists, and ministers of the Gospel have faced marriage crises, separations, and even divorces than at any other time in history. Shockingly, large sections of the Body of Christ remain silent about this growing epidemic.

While the Church continues to conduct a high number of wedding ceremonies each weekend (with over 80% of couples marrying in the Church), we must ask ourselves: how many of those marriages go on to become truly joyful, healthy, and Christ-centered homes?

A. THE SCRIPTURAL FOUNDATION FOR MARRIAGE – Genesis 1:26–28; 2:15–25; 5:1–2

Marriage is not man’s idea—it is God’s holy institution, carefully planned and divinely established. It is meant to be a permanent covenant between one man and one woman, united as husband and wife for life. Christian marriage is a sacred union—what we call “holy matrimony” (John 2:1–11)—and it has divine purposes:

Companionship (Ecclesiastes 4:9–12)
Mutual help and support (Genesis 2:18, 24)
Pleasure and godly enjoyment (Proverbs 5:18–19; 1 Corinthians 7:1–5)
Fruitfulness and procreation (Genesis 1:28; 9:1)

Biblical Truths About Marriage:

Marriage is a sacred responsibility and must be treated with reverence and trust before God.
Biblical marriage is monogamous—a union of one man and one woman.
Marriage is a divine triangle: God at the top, with the husband and wife on either side.
It is not a contract but a covenant—a lifelong, binding spiritual agreement made before God.
It is not cohabitation or trial living—it requires God’s blessing and the approval of both families.
Marriage is not meant to be endured but enjoyed, when founded on God’s principles.
Marriage is not punishment for men or suffering for women—it is a blessing when God is truly involved.
Satan hates every godly marriage and will use every scheme to destroy it.
Pre-marital and extra-marital sex are sinful and displeasing to God.
Same-sex relationships are not in God’s original plan—God created male and female for marriage.
Divorce, separation, single parenthood, polygamy, and bigamy are all outside of God’s will for marriage.

The Church—the Body of Christ (Ephesians 3:17–18)—is designed to be filled with strong, vibrant families built on godly, healthy marriages. When marriages are strong, families are strong, and the Church becomes a powerful, unstoppable force.

B. BUILDING HEALTHY AND HAPPY HOMES IN THE CHURCH – Luke 1:5–7, 57–69

It’s not enough to have scriptural marriages—we must also cultivate healthy and joyful homes that reflect Christ’s love and grace. While perfection is not expected, truly healthy homes share some key traits:

A healthy home begins with a marriage founded in God’s will—chosen through prayer and spiritual discernment.
In a healthy home, Jesus is Lord, and both husband and wife worship Him in spirit and in truth.
The husband is kind, loving, God-fearing, faithful, and committed to being both a good husband and a father—a Joseph-generation man.
The wife is godly, devoted, submissive (in love), faithful, and nurturing—a blessing to both her husband and her children.
Children are raised in the fear of the Lord, trained through prayer, biblical instruction, godly examples, and joint parental effort.
Couples are united in love, committed to making their home a peaceful haven. They face challenges together, without division.
Their relationship is built on trust—not rumors, not interference from outsiders. They stand strong together.
Their love is tough love—resilient, sacrificial, forgiving, and unwavering through hurt, failures, and growth.

Godly homes take time, patience, sacrifice, and mutual understanding. It is a high calling—but one that glorifies God. Healthy Christian homes are the backbone of the Church, God’s dwelling place on earth. They are the training grounds where morals are taught, character is developed, and destinies are shaped. Without strong homes, families, nations, and the Church will suffer spiritually, socially, and morally.

C. WHY MANY MARRIAGES IN THE CHURCH ARE NOT HEALTHY OR HAPPY

There’s no denying that many believers in our churches today are battling marital crises. The presence of single parents, divorcees, polygamists, and even individuals engaging in ungodly sexual practices, such as homosexuality and bisexuality, is increasing. Many marriages are stressed, broken, or on the verge of collapse. Why is this happening?

Church leaders and pastors often set poor examples in their own homes.
We perform weddings but don’t emphasize building strong, godly homes.
There is a lack of deep, biblical teaching on how to discern God’s will in choosing a spouse.
Our silence has encouraged divorce, remarriage, and separation.
Pre-marital sex is often tolerated or overlooked in our churches.
Many believers choose partners based on beauty, status, tribe, or wealth—not God’s direction.
Pre-marital and post-marital counseling are often rushed, shallow, or neglected entirely.
Sermons and church programs rarely address the real issues facing families and marriages.

If we don’t change course, the Church will continue contributing to the destruction of godly homes—knowingly or unknowingly.

D. HOW TO RAISE HAPPY AND HEALTHY HOMES IN THE CHURCH

Here’s the good news: God wants to heal and bless marriages! He delights in restoring broken homes and strengthening couples. As pastors, leaders, and ministers in the Body of Christ, we must become gatekeepers and shepherds of godly marriages. The Church must become a safe place for healing, guidance, and support.

Practical Steps for Church Leaders and Members:

As a leader, maintain a growing, Christ-centered marriage—your life speaks louder than your sermons.
Continually teach that marriage is a covenant, not just a cultural tradition.
Offer regular teaching and preaching on marriage and the family.
Establish a Marriage and Family Council to guide church policies and provide counseling support.
Organize teachings and discussions around family, sexuality, and biblical relationships.
Celebrate and teach the power of love, unity, and peace in homes.
Train and deploy mentoring couples to support younger marriages.
Boldly preach against cohabitation and sexual immorality—be clear about God’s standard.
Honor long-married couples and testify to God’s faithfulness in marriage.
Develop support strategies for struggling marriages—offer restoration, not condemnation.

Marriage mentoring and biblical coaching make a real difference and can prevent many breakups. As you prayerfully submit to the Holy Spirit and lead with grace and truth, your church will begin to see a harvest of joyful, healthy, Christ-centered marriages. Many marriages are hurting—your church must become a healing center.