With a Subtitle: They cantaloupe.

A brief Excerpt: Christian marriage is a holy union between a man and a woman, founded on God’s plan and love. It emphasizes covenant love, sanctification, and God’s grace.

The Author is: Jeff Hilles

Theology on the Lighter Side – Marriage is a controversial issue within the church these days. The collision occurs when one compares societal norms with God’s Word, which is really not “the Lighter Side” of things.

Christians believe that marriage is a holy covenant made by God, not just a human institution. The foundation of this idea can be found in the very act of creation: “It is not good that the man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18). God brings man and woman together and says, “The two shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). Jesus later confirms this plan by saying that what God joins together should not be broken apart (Matthew 19:6). So, marriage is seen as God’s planned way for people to be together, be faithful, and live together.

Christian marriage is based on covenant love, not on conditions. The Bible presents that a covenant should be based on a promise and loyalty. Malachi calls marriage a “covenant … before God” (Malachi 2:14). The New Testament presents marriage through the lens of the gospel. Paul says in Ephesians 5:25, “Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” This kind of love is to be similar to God’s grace, which is given freely by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Marriage also requires both the husband and wife to be humble and respectful of each other. Ephesians 5:21 says, “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

Marriage is also a setting for sanctification, a space where grace molds character. Love in marriage is characterized not merely as an emotion but as a disciplined virtue: “Love is patient, love is kind … it keeps no record of wrongs” (1 Corinthians 13:4–5). Every day, I practice forgiveness, patience, and kindness. The book of Colossians tells Christians to “bear with each other and forgive one another” (Colossians 3:13), which are important rules for the day-to-day life of marriage.

In the end, God’s sustaining grace is what makes Christian marriage work. “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12)—the husband, wife, and God are all connected. When focused on Christ, marriage transcends companionship, evolving into a testament of steadfast love that directs attention to eternal hope.