Negative Impact of Social Media on Christian Marriages in Nigeria

Abstract

Marriage is an old institution which has been at the core of man’s social life since creation. In the Old Testament, the origin of marriage is traceable to God in Genesis Chapters 1 and 2. Jesus also endorsed the institution of marriage in the New Testament by providing wine for the wedding at Cana in Galilee (Jhn.2). In Christianity, marriage is a covenant in which someone is not expected to jump in and jump out. Aside some couples challenges which often lead to divorce, social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and many more have also contributed negatively to this problem in Nigeria. The objective of this paper therefore, is to examine some of the challenges and the negative impact of social media in Christian marriages with a view to providing some solutions. The paper adopted historical and descriptive methods coupled with internet search and interview of some church leaders. The findings reveal that common among couple’s challenges in Nigeria are individual differences, childlessness and unemployment. Also, aside the fact that social media has made it simpler for people to stay in touch with one another, get information, learn new things, share ideas and even spread the gospel, its excessive use in Christian homes can lead to separation or divorce. To solve some of these problems, there is a need to understand God’s purpose for marriage and other essentials in husband and wife relationship. The paper recommends that Christian couples should be mindful of how they use social media chats at home and comply with the Biblical teachings of loving, trusting and embracing commitment to their marriage. In conclusion, couples in Christian homes are required to guide their eyes and heart against the temptations and distractions that social media can present to them.