What makes a marriage Christian? That is the question and one I always just assumed I knew the answer to. Obviously, one would think that both people in the marriage would have to be Christians and then that’s it, you have a Christian marriage. But the more I actually think about it, the more I believe there is a lot more to it than that.

So what is a marriage? According to Webster’s Dictionary marriage is “the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law.” The Word of God defines marriage, I believe, as “And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” Matthew 19:5-6.

What does it mean to be a Christian? It is to be Christ-like. It is to put one’s trust in the Lord. It is to put one’s life in the Lord’s hands. It is to have a personal relationship with the Lord.It is this personal relationship with the Lord that I believe to be the most important aspect to having a Christian marriage. I lot of people go to Church and declare themselves a Christian without the faith and salvation that I believe much occur to become a Christian. It is only through faith and salvation that one can have a personal relationship with the Lord. If you have a personal relationship with Lord, a Christian marriage will be easier to achieve.

As Matthew19:5-6 says above, when two people are married they are joined as “one flesh“. I believe the couple must have a personal relationship with the Lord, just as they do individually. Maintaining a personal relationship with the Lord is different for everyone, but for me that includes consulting the Lord in prayer before any decision, no matter how big or small, faithfully serving the Lord in whatever capacity He decides, putting the Lord first in the marriage, trusting the Lord with everything.

So, what makes a marriage Christian? My answer is by having a personal relationship with the Lord.

Marriage Monday is hosted by E-mom. Please visit her blog to see what others have to say about a Christian marriage.