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Christianity Today, March (Web-only), 2008 |

Speaking Out

Better Together?

Only in holy matrimony, not in cohabitation.

Mike McManus | posted 3/13/2008 09:33AM

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Indeed, men and women enter into cohabitation for radically different reasons. Men cohabit for easy availability of sex and shared living expenses. Women do so as a step toward marriage. What few understand is that cohabitation increases the odds that they will never marry—or that they will divorce, if they do marry. You can't practice permanence.

As we note in our new book, Living Together: Myths, Risks & Answers, we now know unequivocally that cohabitation doesn't work. Churches — the gatekeepers of weddings — can delay no longer. They must educate, equip, and elevate marriage to the position of honor it deserves. Organized religion has unwittingly contributed to America's high divorce and rising cohabitation rates. But it can become the architect of a new culture that honors marriage once again.

Mike McManus is a syndicated columnist and the president of Marriage Savers.

Related Elsewhere:

Other articles about marriage and family are available in our full-coverage section.

Living Together is available from ChristianBook.com and other retailers.

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March (Web-only) 2008, Vol. 52

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Displaying 1 - 3 of 11 comments.

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MM	Posted: March 18, 2008 2:34 PM


Obviously the so called Christians who choose to cohabitate, do not know the Word of God at all. They are part of the world system who have infiltrated the church. In the name of political correctness, we must not try to offend anyone regardless of where their eternal soul may go. Is that spiritually sound?

sweet babyblue

Posted: March 18, 2008 10:29 AM


not all people want to marry

Belinda

Posted: March 16, 2008 5:38 PM

serious words, I am a woman who had lived common law with my husband prior to getting married and found it spiritually devastating, even now as I read the article I became reflective on that time of my life where I did not have a peaceful moment always thinking what if my savior returns and sees me living in this way.(He saw every move I made) Gods grace and mercy are most wonderful and with the confession of my sin He is faithful and just to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I know that God wants us to speak about these things in love to not only our brothers and sisters in Christ but to all those entering into Holy Matrimony, just dating or seeking a roommate These are very practical lessons in life. I was such an immature Christian at the time with many issues I was not spiritually strong by any means and was very suspect of anyone's advice especially anyone who was not able to relate to my situation. What a sensible topic

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