Marriage failure stems from deep spiritual causes, primarily the breakdown of faithfulness to God's teaching on the permanency of marriage. Unfaithfulness, hypocrisy, and violence are key sins that profane the marriage covenant. Unfaithfulness manifests as treachery, where one spouse deceives or breaks vows, dishonoring the sacred agreement of marriage. Hypocrisy occurs when individuals commit sins against the marriage, yet seek God's blessing without true repentance or change of heart, profaning the covenant with insincere actions. Violence, not limited to physical abuse, includes any mistreatment—whether verbal, attitudinal, or through actions like adultery—that harms the spouse and destroys trust, staining the purity of the marriage bond. Hostility and hardness of heart further contribute to the defilement of marriages, often leading to irretrievable damage. God abhors divorce due to the destructiveness and pain it causes, viewing it as an act of violence in a relationship meant for tenderness and love. Despite allowing divorce in cases of serious defilement, God's original intent remains a lifelong union, reflecting His desire for permanence in the sacred bond of marriage.

Marriage failure in the United States has been a growing concern over the past several decades, marked by various societal shifts. The erosion of family values began with influences like the sexual freedom movement of the early 1960s, characterized by premarital cohabitation, adultery, and the spread of venereal diseases. The easing of divorce laws, allowing for no-fault divorces in many states, further contributed to marital breakdown. Feminism shifted dynamics by encouraging women to pursue equality outside the home, while abortion diminished the consequences of illicit sexual behavior. The emergence of AIDS in the early 1980s and the increasing visibility of homosexuality added to the challenges, alongside the proliferation of other sexually transmitted diseases. More recently, the concept of homosexual marriage has been introduced, which is seen as contradictory to the fundamental idea of marriage. Beyond societal factors, inherent difficulties in marriage arise from the complexities of uniting two distinct individuals. Communication problems often surface, such as a husband being too preoccupied with work to listen to his wife. Financial struggles, whether due to scarcity or abundance, create tension. Interference from in-laws can meddle in the relationship, and issues with children, such as favoritism or neglect, can cause division between spouses. Each partner brings unique sins and weaknesses that must be navigated, adding to the challenges of maintaining a successful marriage. Even in favorable times, marriage remains a difficult endeavor, with the odds often seeming stacked against those who are married or aspire to be.

Marriage failure is often rooted in a variety of societal and personal influences that undermine the sanctity and stability of the marital bond. Premarital cohabitation, widely practiced as a means to test compatibility, is associated with an increased risk of divorce, lower marriage quality, poorer communication, and higher incidences of domestic violence. This approach, driven by lust rather than patience or decency, often overwhelms moral considerations, leading to decisions that prioritize immediate desire over long-term commitment. The pervasive influence of mass media exacerbates these issues by using sexual allure to promote materialism and glorify fleeting pleasures, thus eroding the value of fidelity within marriage. This cultural emphasis on hedonism, where pleasure becomes the primary life goal, intertwines with sexual immorality, further degrading the marriage relationship by equating trivial choices with the profound decision of choosing a spouse. Additionally, a new moral code centered on self-fulfillment and situational ethics poses a significant threat to marital stability. This philosophy, which prioritizes personal circumstances over established norms, fosters a relativistic view where actions are justified if they seem harmless in the moment. However, such decisions often lead to unforeseen negative consequences, including guilt and broken families, as individuals lack the foresight to predict the true impact of their choices. The sexual instinct, distorted by cultural overstimulation, frequently operates against reason, clouding judgment in critical moments and leading to premarital sex or adultery. This emotional and physical drive often overrides rational decision-making, contributing to marital discord. Moreover, marriages based solely on physical attraction are inherently weak, likely resulting in indifference, divorce, or infidelity when the initial allure fades without deeper emotional or intellectual bonds to sustain the relationship. Inadequate understanding of marriage as a divine institution also contributes to its failure. Without a firm grasp of its sacred purpose and value, couples face serious challenges. Marriages lacking a union of body, soul, and spirit struggle to achieve the depth intended by God, often leading to joyless and unfulfilling relationships. Furthermore, marrying someone who does not share the same spiritual beliefs can result in a compartmentalized life, where the most meaningful aspects cannot be shared, leading to substantial unhappiness. Finally, the lack of mutual submission, love, and respect within marriage, as well as failure to fulfill roles with understanding and nobility, creates discord. When husbands and wives do not prioritize each other's needs or treat each other with consideration, the bond weakens. This is compounded when external pressures or personal failings, such as allowing children to dominate family decisions or letting love grow cold, are not addressed through submission to God's guidance, resulting in marriages that fall short of their potential for blessing and happiness.

Any given doctrine must be built layer by layer, combining and comparing scriptures rather than allowing a single scripture to determine the doctrine. When we understand that porneia includes all the hideous perverted sexual sins that go beyond ordinary adultery- including bestiality, pedophilia, homosexuality, incest, and every other imaginable sexual perversion, we understand that Jesus gave a greater latitude and flexibility in these divorce decisions than we had earlier assumed (based exclusively upon adulterous 'fraud'). Any violence against the marriage contract (stemming from unconversion) would constitute grounds for divorce, and would permit the converted partner to remarry. Mutual access to the tree of life (God's Holy Spirit) gives marriage the best (actually the only) chance to succeed.