DIVORCE AND THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN NIGERIA: ISSUES AND CHALLENGES

Abstract

The phenomenon of divorce and its effects is one of the contending issues that are affecting the Nigeria contemporary Christian Church and the general society. Divorce goes against the Biblical injunction that “what God has joined together, let no one put asunder” (Mark 10: 9). This study which is descriptive, expository and historical in nature examined the phenomenon of divorce and its effects in contemporary Christian Church in Nigeria. The data is drawn from both primary and secondary sources from married couples, divorcees, priest, pastors, evangelists, lawyers, Church elders and children from divorced families. This was done to ascertain possible factors which predispose couples to divorce and the effects on the Christian Church in Nigeria. It is found that witch craft and mystic powers, introduction of money into marriage, wrong choice of a partner, alcoholism, mixed marriages, childlessness, adultery, quarrels, and inadequate/poor financial management predispose Christian couples towards divorce. The work revealed that when divorce occurs, the effects are always negative especially upon children and the Church. Christians believed that Christ's teaching on marriage and divorce is unquestionable, and therefore all Christians should embrace the teachings of Jesus Christ on marriage and divorce and use it as a model. Christ disapproved divorce and therefore all Christians should follow the footsteps of their master and embrace the institution of marriage with sacrificial Love and Total commitment with one another thereby avoiding divorce at all cost. The study also recommended that training of personnel’s be made compulsory by the Church in order to counsel intending couples before marriage and after marriage.