Marriage: A mutual lifelong commitment; a covenant and a Divine union.

Focus:Genesis2:23-25, Mathew5:31-32, Mathew 19: 1-6, Ephesians 5:21-33, 1Peter 3: 1-7.
         
The church teaches that marriage is a divine institution, a union, otherwise, a holy matrimony; which is intended to be a faithful, covenant of conjugal love. It is should be unique and exclusive between a man and a woman according to the plans of God. To be totally expressed , it has to be lived in fidelity by both spouses. A solemnised marriage is expected to be a lifelong union; for better for worse till death do the couple part. It is believed that Christ himself established the institution of marriage , hence the miracle at the wedding at Galilee.

In a Christian marriage, both the husband and the wife are obliged to give themselves totally to each other in love . Faithfulness and fidelity is a mandatory expectation and can never be over emphasised. A Christian marriage should always be in sanctity. Infidelity is the only situation where the scripture offers the option of annulment of a marriage. Infidelity is against the sanctity of marriage and the law of God. It breaks the union that joins every married couple to the body of Christ: the Church.

Marriage is a summary of the relationship between Christ and the Church. The relationship between God and Israel in the old testament. It is the simplest bond that unifies the Church; where two or more are gathered in Jesus name. As soon as a marriage is solemnised by the Church, it becomes a sacred union. Therefore, the home of the married couple becomes a sacred place as well; given that they are a branch of the sacred Church. The man and the woman becomes the ministers in this sacred home, where the live out the sacrament of marriage. The ultimate importance of marriage being to compliment  and help each other through the journey to the Kingdom of heaven.

Procreation in a Christian marriage is not optional. it is a mandatory part of the union according to the teaching of the Church. As well as bearing children, educating them in the law of the Lord is as mandatory. Therefore, the church may not allow any couple entering marriage with the intention of not having children. This is because, intending not to have children is against the intention of  Lord.: increase and multiply.