The sad reality exists that divorce rates among Christians are almost as high as divorce rates among those who profess no faith. Why are Christian homes being torn apart and the sacred covenant of marriage held in such low esteem that believers are ending their union rather than staying together?

Satan hates the institution of marriage. As a picture of Christ and His Bride, the enemy of Christ despises anything that testifies of the Lord Jesus. Our enemy will use any leverage to destroy harmony in our marriages and drive a wedge between husbands and wives. What are some of his chief tactics to undermine and destroy a Christian marriage?

Financial Pressure

Financial pressure will come at one time or another to every marriage. It is a part of life. Wealthy couples face different kinds of financial pressures than poor couples face, but the pressure is real and present in either case. Unwise investments, credit card debt, mortgages, business partnerships, student loans, and unexpected expenses will arise in any marriage. Couples will either face these challenges together and grow more united through the difficulty, or else they will allow these pressures to drive wedges between them and permit disagreements to fester into open rifts that will lead most likely to the tragedy of divorce.

Moral Failure

We reap what we sow. Seeds of moral failure, however small and seemingly insignificant, have the potential to destroy a once happy marriage. A little taste of pornography, a flashed smile at a secretary or coworker, a conversation with a “friend” that is unguarded, a moment spent behind closed doors—all these little slips can lead to ruin and devastation. Every couple that values marriage harmony should strive to guard against the slightest hint of moral failure, keeping each other accountable before the Lord to remain steadfastly loyal to one another, not giving Satan the destroyer any opportunity to take advantage of a moment of weakness.

Division over Children

So-called gray divorce is becoming a common problem in many Christian homes. Gray divorce is the term for divorce between couples who are growing gray-haired. We have all experienced the shock of hearing that friends whose marriage seemed strong were suddenly separated or divorced after the children were almost adults and off to college or starting their own careers. Sometimes these parents remained together solely for the sake of their minor children. Or, sometimes a couple may have disagreed regarding the goals for their children, or had selfish ambitions for a favorite son or daughter, or had other differences in their perspectives for child-rearing. The division over their children led to disunity between the husband and wife and eventually resulted in misery for everyone else in the family.

Misplaced Priorities

In some cases, divorce is simply an outgrowth of misplaced priorities. A husband may focus more on his job or a hobby, such as golf, fishing, or hunting, that takes his time and attention away from his wife and children. A wife may have a circle of friends or a myriad of activities that pull her affections away from her husband and her children. Little by little, day by day, bonds of harmony are severed and cords of love are frayed until they snap.

May God help us all to remember that our marriages reflect the marriage of Christ and His Church! We would be wise to be alert to the schemes of the devil and to prudently avoid anything that would tarnish His reputation.