Once upon a time, marriage was not just a social arrangement but a sacred covenant. From Genesis onward, Scripture presents it as God’s design: “It is not good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). For centuries, the path seemed straightforward—grow up, marry the girl or boy next door, raise a family, and hopefully keep your vows “till death do us part.” That was the script—and heaven help you if you skipped a line. Fast-forward to today, however, and marriage no longer wears its golden crown. For many, it now sits on the shelf like an optional accessory, somewhere between getting a gym membership and buying that juicer you’ll use twice before it gathers dust.
The statistics confirm what families and churches have long sensed: fewer people are saying “I do,” and more are quietly whispering, “Maybe later… or never.” But while society offers endless explanations, Christians must ask deeper questions. Why has a God-ordained institution been pushed to the margins? And what does that mean for believers living in a culture where weddings no longer guarantee “forever”?
Once upon a time, marriage was not just a social arrangement but a sacred covenant. From Genesis onward, Scripture presents it as God’s design: “It is not good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). For centuries, the path seemed straightforward—grow up, marry the girl or boy next door, raise a family, and hopefully keep your vows “till death do us part.” That was the script—and heaven help you if you skipped a line. Fast-forward to today, however, and marriage no longer wears its golden crown. For many, it now sits on the shelf like an optional accessory, somewhere between getting a gym membership and buying that juicer you’ll use twice before it gathers dust.
Love Without the Covenant
Let’s begin with love. Once, marriage was the gatekeeper of intimacy. Scripture held it up as the honorable context for love, commitment, and raising children (Hebrews 13:4). Today? Couples move in together, raise children, and even open joint bank accounts without ever walking down the aisle. The world shrugs and says, “Why bother with a covenant when you can have the comfort without the contract?”
But Christians know covenant matters. Love without commitment is like Wi-Fi without a password—easy to connect, easy to disconnect. A vow before God, however, is not just paperwork. It’s a sacred promise that steadies a relationship when emotions run thin.
Economics: Love Meets Inflation
Then there’s money. Marriage is expensive—not just weddings, but the whole enterprise. Rings priced like they were crafted by archangels, receptions that rival economic summits, and a honeymoon that leaves you broke before you’ve even unpacked. For young adults still paying student loans, the “big day” can feel like an unnecessary burden.
But here’s the irony: while people delay marriage for financial reasons, many discover that a God-centered partnership is itself a source of financial stability. Ecclesiastes 4:9 reminds us, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.” In God’s design, marriage is not meant to be a joint liability but a shared strength—two lives working together instead of apart.
Women, Independence, and New Scripts
Another cultural shift comes from women rewriting the old script. No longer economically dependent, many are thriving in careers, traveling the world, and leading fulfilling lives without a husband. This independence is admirable, even biblical in some respects—think of Deborah’s leadership or Lydia’s business acumen. Yet the danger lies in equating independence with isolation. God created partnership not as a prison but as a blessing.
So when a woman who’s climbed the corporate ladder asks, “Why tether myself to someone who thinks laundry is done by elves?” the Christian response is not pressure but perspective. Marriage, rightly lived, is not a limitation of freedom but a multiplication of joy and responsibility.
Fear of Divorce
Of course, the shadow of divorce looms large. With divorce rates high, many young people look at their parents’ broken vows and think, “Why risk it?” And truth be told, divorce is painful—emotionally, financially, spiritually. Jesus Himself acknowledged its gravity when He said, “What God has joined together, let no one separate” (Mark 10:9).
Yet the fear of divorce should not erase the value of marriage. Instead, it should remind us of the seriousness of vows and the need for Christ at the center of every union. After all, marriage without God is like building a house on sand—when storms come, it crumbles.
The Rise of Alternatives
Civil partnerships, long-term cohabitation, even virtual romances carried out over FaceTime—all these alternatives compete with marriage today. They promise freedom, flexibility, and fewer rules. But Christians know that marriage is not merely a social convenience. It is a picture of Christ’s love for the Church (Ephesians 5:25). No dating app algorithm, however clever, can offer a substitute for that divine metaphor.
Cultural Shifts
Once, communities and churches applied strong pressure: “When will you marry?” Today, the pressure is weaker, especially in cities where careers and personal dreams take priority. Families still whisper, and grandmothers still drop hints during Christmas dinners, but broadly, society accepts singleness as normal.
Here the Church has a delicate balance to strike. Marriage is beautiful, but it is not the only path to fulfillment. Paul himself was single and called singleness a gift. The problem is not that some remain unmarried; it is when society devalues marriage itself, treating God’s covenant as outdated.
So, Is Marriage Dead?
Not at all. Marriage is not extinct—it’s being redefined, sometimes poorly, sometimes in healthier ways. Many still marry for love and faith, and in Christian communities, marriage remains a central sacrament. But it is no longer the universal marker of adulthood. And perhaps that is a hidden blessing. When marriage is chosen freely—not out of pressure or cultural obligation—the vows spoken may be deeper, truer, and more enduring.
The Punchline
So why are fewer people saying “I do”? Because society offers countless alternatives, inflation bites hard, and the sacred has been traded for the casual. But Christians are called to swim against the tide. In a world where marriage is compared to a landline phone—still around, but outdated—the Church must remind the world that marriage is not a gadget. It is God’s timeless design, still relevant, still powerful, still worth saying “I do.”
And if you’re single and someone asks, “When are you getting married?” perhaps the best answer is: “When God writes the script—and not a moment sooner.”
