"Cyber marriage", as the name suggests, is a new mode of marriage which has its root from the new media or the internet. It is an electronic form of union in which conjugal relationship is contracted or consummated online. The practice of cyber marriage is commonplace in our world today, especially among young adults and campus students who readily have access to internet facilities. Without doubt, the internet has improved our lives in so many ways as it has created efficiency, convenience and easy access to information and people. We now have such things as e-channels, including e-learning, e-commerce, e-health, e-mail, as well as enhanced social relationships via platforms as Facebook, WhatsApp, 2Go and other social media platforms. Through the new media, our huge world has been reduced into a global village where people are now much closer than ever before.
But the internet has its negative side. Internet addiction or uninterrupted social media activities such as texting, online gaming and streaming of movies and music can lead people to be more engaged in virtual worlds than with the people around them. Cyber theft and fraud are among the evils that result from the misuse of the internet. Again, constant access to the internet has doomed many relationships throwing up such vices as cyber sex, sexting and other marriage damaging activities.
Returning to the issue of cyber marriage, we have alluded to it as a form of a marriage contracted over the internet. Let's take a look at the institution of marriage from the Bible.
Genesis 2:18-24 King James Version (KJV)
18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
19 And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.
21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Cyber marriage is fast gaining grounds as shown in a large number of people that endorse it, but what is the Christian perspective on this new-fangled form of marriage? The simple answer is that Christians should remain true to the Scripture and shun all forms of marriage relationships that dishonours God or His word. Again, mature Christians who wish to marry should pray and seek God's leading to a partner (Genesis 24:3, 4, 12-14; Isaiah 48:17; Romans 8:14). They should not resort to the internet or social media outlets in making a marriage choice; rather, they should trust in God's power and willingness to choose for them (Psalm 25:9, 15; Proverbs 3:5, 6 ).
Summarily, cyber marriage does not conform to Biblical standard but is a mockery of such. The reason is that it eschew all traditional marital practices endorsed by the Scripture such as parental consent, dowry payment and prayer. Also, it trivializes a holy institution which the Almighty God Himself set up for the happiness and fulfillment of His children. In reality, it is not only that cyber marriage is alien to the Scripture: most national laws do not even recognize or sanction it as either legally or socially binding. Many people who enter into cyber marriage do not take the time to ascertain the spiritual or emotional state of the online 'husband' or 'wife'. The reason, perhaps, is that it is a freewheeling form of union that people enter into merely to titillate their base passions or emotions and sometimes to secure a 'greener pasture'(future). Indeed, some internet sites advertise cyber marriage as 'free marriage'. This allows 'cyber couples' to freely 'divorce' at will since there are no restraining or binding factors in such marriages.
Cyber marriage promotes immorality and moral perversion in the pursuit of intimacy or emotional satisfaction. Therefore, all heaven-bound believers should steer clear of such unions which are neither Bible-based nor God-honouring. They should be reminded of this truth of the Scripture, which is that: "... the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever" (1 John 2:17).
In conclusion, believers should be disciplined in their use of the internet or social media. To the unmarried, be wary of the snare of the cyber-space in social relationship. For the married on the other hand, note that the internet, when not well-handled, has the potential to destroy family relationships. Therefore, individuals wanting to protect their relationships can take steps to make sure that online activities remain on the periphery by setting a timer for internet use or establishing certain hours that everyone is required to be offline, individuals and families can maintain positive experiences with technology.
[READ!](1 John 2: 15-17)
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Until next time, REMAIN BLESSED.