Causes of Infidelity in Christian Marriage

People give a variety of reasons for having affairs. And while none of their reasons are acceptable, if your spouse has ever cheated on you, one of the first questions you want answered is "why?" You know the answer won't ease your pain but you hope their answers will help you to make sense of the situation.

So, why do men cheat? Further, why do women cheat? Believe it or not, we feel that there is only one reason why Christians fall into adultery. But before we reveal our opinion, let's first take a look at three of the most common causes of infidelity cited by couples overall:

Lack of Sexual Intimacy

When there are unresolved issues in a marriage, one or both partners can eventually lose their desire for sexually intimacy. Naturally, when sex stops, sexual frustration sets in. Sexual frustration can also occur when one spouse has a significantly lower sex drive than the other spouse.

But in either case, turning your back on your spouse sexually can open the door for Satan and lead to cheating in marriage.

Unhealthy Communication

Relationships begin and evolve because of communication. When communication between spouses becomes unhealthy, minsunderstandings and resentment can quickly cause emotional disconnect. Unhealthy communication can take the form of yelling, screaming, criticism, or even "the silent treatment."

Unhealthy communication can lead to feelings of worthlessness, rejection, bitterness, and cause your spouse to seek out others to talk to. Venting to a friend of the opposite sex can sometimes evolve into infidelity in marriage.

Disillusioned with Marriage

Sometimes couples get married with unrealistic expectations or illusions of what married life will be like. However, when reality sets in, it's typically not as thrilling or enchanting as they had invisioned.

At such point, they begin to experience feelings of discontentment and start comparing their spouse and their relationship to others, which usually leads to more dissatisfaction. Once they have convinced themselves that getting married was a mistake, it is at that point they find themselves attracted to others of the opposite sex.

Causes of Infidelity
Why Christians Cheat

Although the reasons above are often used as excuses for cheating, we believe the ultimate reason why men and women commit adultery is because of a poor relationship with Jesus Christ. You see, marriage can never be done as designed without the help of the designer.

If a person's relationship with Christ is weak, so is his or her ability to resist temptation. A solid relationship with Christ means living by the Word, praying constantly, and following the leading of the Spirit.

The above spiritual disciplines can equip you to overcome such things as unhealthy communication, unreasonable expectations, regret, and any other deficits. For the desire of Christ is to satisfy His people with good things (Psalm 84:11), that includes a healthy marriage.

Life Lessons From a Former Adulteress
Written by, Wanda Collins:
Someone who's literally "been there and done that!"