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Christian Pre Marriage Counseling
Pre-marriage counseling comes in many forms, and in today’s society with high divorce rates, it is perhaps more important than others. In close knit religious communities, the need for pre-marriage counseling is even higher, and is often facilitated by members of that very religious community. After all, many religions pay a great deal of attention to the roles of the married couple, and espouse strong family values. Therefore, it should not be a surprise that religions offer all forms of marriage counseling, including pre-marriage counseling.
Christian congregations can be found throughout the entire country, and indeed much of the world, and a general overview of the general christian marriage counseling system is worth examining regardless of one’s personal choice in religion. Again, remember that almost all religions share common themes when it comes to harmony and marriage, even if the details differ slightly.
The first step to understanding Christian marriage counseling is to examine their pre-marriage counseling. Before couples are married in the church, they must generally undergo several months or even a year of pre-marriage counseling. During this time they learn what is expected of them and what they can expect in return.
The purpose of Christian pre-marriage counseling is to ensure that both the future spouses enter into the covenant with their eyes wide open. Like most secular pre-marriage counseling, this will involve an exploration process to get to know and understand their future partner better, as well as to understand themselves and to ensure that both parties are indeed ready for the responsibility that marriage entails. After all, when friends or roommates move out after becoming tired of the other’s quirks it is often called taking a break. When spouses reach this same point it is called separation at best, and the long road to divorce at worst.
The difference that Christian pre-marriage counseling brings to the table is the use of relevant scripture. Having an unbiased source or party that provides rules, expectations, and solutions to common problems can be, forgive the pun, a literal godsend. Instead of leaving a pair of lovers to resolve their quarrels using their own methods and practices, showing them standards that are written in a holy book that they both profess belief in can allow for quick and effective resolutions of problems. Better yet, understanding the deep role faith plays in modern mindsets, knowing the expectations of both culture and religion can potentially head off these problems before they occur.
The process of Christian pre-marriage counseling can be especially important to those who are ‘unequally yoked’ or from different faiths. The process does not necessarily entail conversion, but that may sometimes be an expectation. Generally the process involves an understanding of the husband-wife relationship in the eyes of the church, the community, and most importantly the spouse that was raised in this community. The faith may not make the person, but it is likely to have influenced their thinking and expectations and it is important for all parties to be completely clear about expectations from the onset.
Many churches will offer their facilities for free or at discounted prices for members of the congregation that have completed their course of Christian pre-marriage counseling. The church itself has a vest interest in harmony and does not want to see members leaving due to divorce or family disputes, and therefore is likely to encourage its members to make the best possible choices. Biblical understanding of the act of marriage may not only help bring a couple closer together, it may help them understand their religion and their relationship with god better as well.
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