Introduction

Marriage is more than just a legal agreement, it’s a sacred covenant based on love, trust, and faith. It’s a commitment between two people to share their lives, honor, and cherish each other for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do they part. However, there are acts that may not seem like adultery, but actually, are considered as such by many religions. In this article, we’ll unveil the surprising acts that constitute adultery without your awareness.

The Surprising Acts

1. Emotional Affairs
   Did you know that having an emotional affair with someone other than your spouse is considered adultery? It doesn’t involve physical intimacy, but it can create emotional intimacy, which is a violation of the marriage covenant. Emotional affairs often occur when one partner shares personal and intimate details of their life with someone outside of their marriage. It’s important to remember that transparency and honesty in a marriage are keys to preventing emotional affairs from happening.

2. Pornography
   Pornography is a common problem that can affect a marriage. It’s often seen as a harmless activity, but it can weaken the bond between a couple and create a rift in their intimacy. Watching pornography is considered adultery by many religious traditions since it involves indulging in lustful desires.

3. Flirting
   Flirting with someone other than your spouse can also constitute adultery. It may seem innocent, but it’s actually a violation of the marriage covenant. Flirting creates an intimate connection, and it can give off the wrong message to the person you’re flirting with.

4. Excessive Consolation
   Have you ever sought comfort from someone other than your spouse during difficult times? This act known as excessive consolation is considered adultery since you’re seeking an emotional connection from someone other than your partner.

5. Secret Communication
   Secret communication with someone other than your spouse is considered adultery since it violates the principle of transparency and honesty between partners. This includes private messaging, phone calls, or emails that you keep hidden from your partner. Secrets are a breeding ground for mistrust and erode the foundation of a healthy and fulfilling relationship.

How to Avoid Adultery

1. Seek the Kingdom of God
   The best way to avoid adultery is to focus on your relationship with God. God is the author of marriage, and he desires for couples to honor and cherish one another. By seeking the Kingdom of God, you prioritize Him, which will help you make better decisions in your marriage.

2. Resist Temptations
   The world, flesh, and the devil are enemies of God, and adultery is committing spiritual adultery with them. Temptation for worldly ambitions is a tool used by the enemy to commit adultery. It’s essential to resist the temptation to fulfill desires and ambitions that disregard God’s principles.

3. Serve Others with Assignments from God
   Use the assignments given by God to serve others. Serving others helps you keep your priorities straight, and it’s a great way to build meaningful relationships that don’t violate your marriage covenant.

4. Follow God’s Principles
   Avoid the world system and only follow God’s principles and frameworks. Your relationship with God should inform and guide your interactions with others.

5. Spirit against Flesh
   Galatians 5:17 says that “the Spirit that dwells in us desires to envy against the flesh.” When you give into your fleshly desires, you commit adultery and compromise your relationship with your spouse. By keeping your focus on the Spirit, you’ll be able to resist temptations and honor your marriage covenant.

Conclusion

Adultery is a violation of the marriage covenant and can have devastating consequences. Many marriages have ended due to adultery, and it’s a cautionary tale of how seemingly innocent acts can lead to a place of destruction. By understanding the surprising acts that constitute adultery, you can avoid them, prioritize your marriage and build a strong foundation that honors God.

FAQs

1. What are the consequences of adultery?
   Adultery can have significant consequences, such as the end of a marriage, emotional pain, and difficulty trusting in future relationships.

2. Can adultery ever be justified?
   No, adultery can never be justified. It is a violation of the marriage covenant and compromises the trust and love between partners.

3. Is emotional cheating worse than physical cheating?
   Both emotional and physical cheating are equally harmful and can lead to the destruction of a marriage.

4. Why is pornography considered adultery by some?
   Many religious traditions consider pornography to be adultery because it involves indulging in lustful desires that violate the marriage covenant.

5. How can I repair my marriage after committing adultery?
   Repairing a marriage after committing adultery takes time and effort. It requires genuine remorse, open communication, and a willingness to rebuild trust and love between partners. Seek professional counseling to aid in the healing process.