Cohabitation was once considered deviant and unlawful by

society, as it was considered to be a proclamation of premarital

sex. (Gault-Sherman & Draper, 2012). As attitudes toward
cohabitation have become progressively acceptable, it has
become increasingly prevalent in today’s culture. (Gault-
Sherman & Draper, 2012). As a result, there has been a decline in
the number of couples that are choosing marriage. Research
indicates the likelihood of divorce is increased when a couple
lives together prior to marriage, increasing 166% if the wife had
premarital sex and cohabited with another man before her
husband. (Alvare, 2004). There is evidence that despite the rise in
numbers of couples cohabiting, Americans desire more. “[T]hey
do not merely aspire to parenthood; they do not aspire to a brief
or even life-long cohabiting relationship. They aspire to
marriage, and the intrinsic permanence of marriage...Pursuing
marital happiness today, then, seems to require a greater
unification in law, policy, and culture of messages about sex and
marriage” (Alvare, 2004).
Churches and religious organizations often approach the topic of
cohabitation from a judgmental standpoint, and immediately
condemn the behavior. Cohabiting couples who reach out to the
church for guidance or seek premarital counseling need healing
and restoration, not condemnation. Consideration needs to be
given to the reasons for cohabiting in order to determine the most
effective approach. Marriage Preparation and
Cohabitation was once considered deviant and unlawful by
society, as it was considered to be a proclamation of premarital
sex. (Gault-Sherman & Draper, 2012). As attitudes toward
cohabitation have become progressively acceptable, it has
become increasingly prevalent in today’s culture. (Gault-
Sherman & Draper, 2012). As a result, there has been a decline in
the number of couples that are choosing marriage. Research
indicates the likelihood of divorce is increased when a couple
lives together prior to marriage, increasing 166% if the wife had
premarital sex and cohabited with another man before her
husband. (Alvare, 2004). There is evidence that despite the rise in
numbers of couples cohabiting, Americans desire more. “[T]hey
do not merely aspire to parenthood; they do not aspire to a brief
or even life-long cohabiting relationship. They aspire to
marriage, and the intrinsic permanence of marriage...Pursuing
marital happiness today, then, seems to require a greater
unification in law, policy, and culture of messages about sex and
marriage” (Alvare, 2004).
Churches and religious organizations often approach the topic of
cohabitation from a judgmental standpoint, and immediately
condemn the behavior. Cohabiting couples who reach out to the
church for guidance or seek premarital counseling need healing
and restoration, not condemnation. Consideration needs to be
given to the reasons for cohabiting in order to determine the most
effective approach. Marriage Preparation and
Cohabitation was once considered deviant and unlawful by
society, as it was considered to be a proclamation of premarital
sex. (Gault-Sherman & Draper, 2012). As attitudes toward
cohabitation have become progressively acceptable, it has
become increasingly prevalent in today’s culture. (Gault-
Sherman & Draper, 2012). As a result, there has been a decline in
the number of couples that are choosing marriage. Research
indicates the likelihood of divorce is increased when a couple
lives together prior to marriage, increasing 166% if the wife had
premarital sex and cohabited with another man before her
husband. (Alvare, 2004). There is evidence that despite the rise in
numbers of couples cohabiting, Americans desire more. “[T]hey
do not merely aspire to parenthood; they do not aspire to a brief
or even life-long cohabiting relationship. They aspire to
marriage, and the intrinsic permanence of marriage...Pursuing
marital happiness today, then, seems to require a greater
unification in law, policy, and culture of messages about sex and
marriage” (Alvare, 2004).
Churches and religious organizations often approach the topic of
cohabitation from a judgmental standpoint, and immediately
condemn the behavior. Cohabiting couples who reach out to the
church for guidance or seek premarital counseling need healing
and restoration, not condemnation. Consideration needs to be
given to the reasons for cohabiting in order to determine the most
effective approach. Marriage Preparation and