By Jim Brown
An expert on the family says a growing number of spouses are destroying their marital relationships by entering Internet chat rooms.
A new study conducted by a researcher at the University of Florida finds that 83% of spouses who had Internet encounters with the opposite sex did not consider it to be cheating. The study's author, Beatriz Mileham, believes “the Internet will soon become the most common form of infidelity, if it isn't already.”
Focus on the Family marriage analyst Glenn Stanton tends to agree with her. He says such relationships typically develop around common interests, but create all sorts of trouble.
“When you've lived with an individual, you see every part of them. The very deceptive thing about these online affairs is that, like in dating relationships, you're only seeing the best part of the other person. That is a lie from Satan that really sandbags a lot of marriages,” Stanton says.
The Christian marriage analyst says it is important for Christians to remember that they can be emotionally unfaithful to their spouse by simply giving their heart and affections to another member of the opposite sex.
Stanton says the benefits that come with a married relationship cannot be replicated elsewhere. In his work, he says he sees time and again that people who leave their marital relationship and try to set up another relationship that will be more satisfying are usually very disappointed. “We find that our happiness rests at home with our spouse,” he says.
Stanton urges Christian husbands and wives to steer clear of Internet chat rooms geared specifically for married couples, and to be as intentional about investing and managing their relationships as they might be about their 401-K.
(This article courtesy of Agape Press).
