["Whether young or old, male or female, low-income or not, those who said that they were more religious reported higher average levels of commitment to their partners, higher levels of marital satisfaction, less thinking and talking about divorce and lower levels of negative interaction. These patterns held true when controlling for such important variables as income, education, and age at first marriage." These positive factors translated into actual lowered risk of divorce among active believers.]
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=3465...I have heard it said by some... "Why should we get married, Christians get divorced as much as nonbelievers" ...and I guess if you hear that statement enough times, you are more likely to believe it yourself! The fact remains there are many things that are said about Christianity to marginalize it, but a closer look gets to the heart of the issue...
and that is fewer people recognize God's authority.
Logically it matters little if someone fails at something, if you yourself are required to do it. If you say to your boss that you cannot, let's say sweep the floor, because the previous worker failed to do it properly; the failure on the part of the other has little to do with your responsibility, and your accountability. The only bearing on the matter is the authority of the one requiring a certain action. If God is my Lord, then any request is valid and worthy of my obedience... and if He is not... then it matters little if I follow His requests.
This is why Jesus said...
"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?" (Luke6:46)
...but this isn't really the case, it is not the failure of Christians to stay married, rather the accusation that their marriages fail the same or more than those without faith. Interestingly, the opposite is true... practicing Christians' divorce rate is substantially less than that of their unbelieving counterparts. The truth is that those with an active faith in Christ enjoy not only more stable relationships but more fulfilling as well. Any relationship is not without it's struggles and testing, but having Jesus as the Mediator (not only between us and God) between each other, gives a marriage boundaries and certain expectations that are fair and achievable.
It is no wonder that the article...
"FIRST-PERSON: The Christian divorce rate myth (what you've heard is wrong) Posted on Feb 15, 2011 | by Glenn T. Stanton" ...was the most read story from the Baptist Press in 2011, it has the "meat" people are looking for in relational studies. It also gives the Christian some facts to counter the barrage of attacks levied against their faith and practice. The more media-driven our society becomes, the more we should be questioning their assumptions. It seems that mostly, attention is given to the negative anyway... regardless how great Christianity is for the mass majority, there are those exceptions that gain attention. One can be rest assured that succeed or fail, the Christian Faith is the most satisfying in or out of a relationship... for now and eternity!
For some great practical advice on living out our faith in our relationships...
Check out these videos on "Christ-Centered Relationships"
Christ-Centered Relationship Pt 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihRmM0aVA...Christ-Centered Relationship Pt 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gankzqrIi...Christ-Centered Relationship Pt 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3YNawuui...Or check this video out with Mark Driscoll "How To Not Marry a Coward"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGFc54JWH..."Return To Intimacy"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwjN7bDdB...