Welcome to the August edition of The Singles’ World.

In the last edition, I discussed childhood trauma and past sexual exposure as causes of infidelity. This edition explores the consequences of infidelity and the damage it can cause.

Throughout this series, I have shown that infidelity affects society, including the Church of God. Sadly, some Christians behave in ways that contradict the faith they profess. Such behaviour causes unbelievers to question the Christian faith.

As believers and disciples of Jesus Christ, we must live with eternity in view. We must also allow the Bible to guide our conduct because it is our ultimate standard for Christian living.

The Bible clearly forbids adultery. Hebrews 13:4 declares that we must keep the marriage bed undefiled. This command is not merely a suggestion or fatherly advice. It is a divine instruction for believers who desire to honour God and finish their Christian journey faithfully. The Scripture warns, “But whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”

None of the causes of infidelity discussed in this series excuses adultery before God. Your position, social status, service in God’s vineyard, marital difficulties, or ignorance will not excuse this sin on the Day of Judgment.

Having examined several causes of infidelity, I will now discuss its consequences.

I pray that the Lord will help us keep our marriage beds holy and undefiled until the end. May this edition bless you tremendously, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Effects of Infidelity

1. Emotional Damage

One of the most devastating consequences of infidelity is emotional damage. A betrayed spouse may experience what people often call betrayal trauma. The discovery can destroy the trust that once held the marriage together.

Your spouse may no longer see you as the faithful, trustworthy, and responsible partner she once admired. The confidence she placed in you may be severely shaken or even destroyed.

The marriage vows you both treasured may suddenly seem meaningless. Memories of your wedding day may also become painful reminders of your betrayal.

Your spouse may begin to revisit past suspicions that she once dismissed. She may feel regret, anger, and confusion. She may also ask herself painful questions about what she could have done differently.

Your betrayal may cause deep emotional anguish. Your spouse may struggle with anxiety, insecurity, depression, or emotional withdrawal. Your presence in the home may remind her of the person she once trusted completely.

Even when you make genuine efforts to show love, she may still view your actions with suspicion. This happens because your betrayal has damaged the foundation of trust.

Some betrayed spouses find it extremely difficult to trust their partners again. Healing may take a long time. In some cases, professional counselling and pastoral support can help them process their pain.

Sadly, some people hide their suffering until it becomes overwhelming. They may feel ashamed to speak about the betrayal or fear what others will say.

This is why you must resist infidelity, no matter how attractive the temptation may seem. A moment of pleasure can produce years of pain.

2. Spiritual Damage

Infidelity can also cause serious spiritual damage. One of its first consequences may be guilt. If you are genuinely born again and conscious of God’s holiness, you may experience deep conviction after committing adultery.

Even after you confess your sin and receive God’s forgiveness, you may still struggle with shame and accusations. Revelation 12:10 describes Satan as “the accuser of our brethren.”

However, we must distinguish between godly conviction and condemnation. Godly conviction leads us to repentance and change. Condemnation, on the other hand, seeks to keep us trapped in shame, even after genuine repentance.

Unresolved guilt and shame can exhaust you emotionally and spiritually. They may weaken your fellowship with God and affect your consecration.

Your prayer life may suffer, and Bible study may lose its appeal. You may also begin to miss church meetings and other spiritual activities. Over time, spiritual coldness and backsliding may follow.

The enemy seeks more than a believer’s fall into sexual sin. He also seeks to weaken that believer’s relationship with God and damage their Christian testimony.

Infidelity can therefore bring serious losses to the individual, the family, and the Kingdom of God.

If you are a church leader, the consequences may also affect your ministry. Depending on the circumstances and your church’s policies, you may face suspension or need to step aside from certain responsibilities.

You may also lose the trust of people who once looked to you for spiritual guidance and prayer. Rebuilding that trust can take time and requires genuine repentance, accountability, and consistent conduct.

The consequences can be especially painful within the family. Your children may wonder why you no longer preach, teach, or participate in ministry as you once did.

If they have always regarded you as a spiritual example, your actions may confuse and disappoint them. They may even ask difficult questions such as, “Daddy, Mummy, why did you do it?”

If you taught them to resist temptation, they may also ask, “Why didn’t you resist the temptation?”

These questions can be painful. However, they remind us of the responsibility that comes with Christian leadership and parenthood.

Those who refuse to confess and repent may also continue in destructive patterns. Persistent disobedience to God’s Word can damage a person’s spiritual life, relationships, emotional well-being, and reputation.

We must therefore take sin seriously and seek genuine repentance. We should not dismiss the consequences of deliberate disobedience or assume that our actions will leave our lives untouched.

The consequences of infidelity are numerous. We cannot discuss them all in a single article. Those who have experienced them often understand their severity more deeply than those who have only taught about them.

This is why the Bible declares, “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22).

How to Guard Against Infidelity

If you are married, guard yourself and your home against every form of infidelity. Do not wait until temptation develops into an affair before establishing boundaries.

Guard your heart, your eyes, your conversations, and your friendships. Be mindful of how you use your devices and protect the marriage covenant you made before God.

If you are single, begin building the character and discipline you will need in marriage. Develop spiritual strength and firm moral convictions now.

Remember that faithfulness in marriage begins with the character you build before marriage.

May the Lord preserve our homes from every form of infidelity and sexual immorality, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

By the grace of God, we shall continue this discussion next month. Please remember to send me your comments and testimonies.

If you have not yet given your life to Jesus Christ, please surrender your life to Him today. Tomorrow may be too late.

Until then, God bless you. Amen.

Pastor Jide Ajidahun

The post Singles’ World August’26 Edition appeared first on The Olive Branch.

The causes of infidelity in Christian marriage are complex and may include unmet emotional needs, a lack of marital intimacy, poor communication, and a failure to uphold biblical principles. Understanding these causes is an important step towards protecting the marriage covenant and building a stronger relationship founded on love, faithfulness, and mutual understanding.

I welcome you to the February edition of Singles’ World for the year 2026. In the last edition of Singles’ World, I discussed digital infidelity as another form of adultery. In an earlier edition, I addressed physical contact as a form of adultery. From a biblical perspective, adultery can be physical or psychological, and neither is less grievous than the other. I previously noted that adultery remains one of the most prevalent vices plaguing marriages today. Sadly, the Christian family—which ought to serve as a model—is not exempt.

Many homes have broken down irreparably because of adultery. DNA tests continue to reveal alarming cases of infidelity, with devastating consequences. There are heartbreaking reports of men discovering, through paternity tests, that they have unknowingly raised children who are not biologically theirs. Yet Scripture is clear: the marriage bed must be honoured. The Bible commands, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” Even some who preach and teach the Word are guilty of this sin.

In this edition, my focus is to examine one of the causes of adultery, with a view to proposing practical and biblical solutions.

Lack of Intimacy

One common cause of infidelity is the lack or denial of sexual intimacy within marriage. It is not uncommon today to hear husbands complain that their wives deprive them of intimacy. In some cases, sex is made conditional or used as a tool of manipulation. When a spouse feels persistently starved of intimacy, he or she may become more vulnerable to temptation, especially when personal boundaries are not carefully maintained.

Some women develop unhealthy attitudes towards sex due to upbringing or certain doctrinal teachings that portray sexual desire itself as sinful. There is often a failure to distinguish between fornication—sexual relations outside marriage—and sexual intimacy within lawful marriage, which Scripture permits and honours (1 Corinthians 7:2). Traumatic experiences, such as sexual abuse, may also affect a woman’s perception of intimacy. Others may see sex purely as a means of procreation or as an unpleasant obligation rather than a mutual expression of love.

There are also practical factors: demanding careers, ministry commitments, prolonged travel, health challenges, or sexual dysfunction may all affect intimacy in marriage. In some situations, one spouse may feel overwhelmed by the other’s sexual expectations. The list of contributing factors is extensive.

Similarly, there are husbands who deny their wives intimacy, sometimes as a form of punishment, emotional withdrawal, or under the guise of excessive spiritual activities such as prolonged fasting or itinerant ministry without consideration for their spouse. Though this may be less frequently discussed, it equally exposes the other partner to temptation.

While these reasons are often cited, it must be clearly stated that from a biblical standpoint, there is no justification for adultery. Sexual deprivation may be challenging, but it does not excuse unfaithfulness. The rising divorce rate in society, often fuelled by infidelity, affects Christian homes as well. Hebrews 13:4 reminds us, “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” Romans 13:9 equally commands, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”

Conclusion

Christian couples must not deny one another their conjugal rights for trivial reasons. First Corinthians 7:3–5 is explicit on this matter. Verse 5 states, “Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time…”

There may be legitimate reasons for temporary abstinence—such as fasting, prayer, health issues, or unavoidable separation due to work or travel. However, such periods must be mutual, temporary, and handled with self-control and wisdom. Permanent or prolonged denial creates unnecessary vulnerability to temptation.

Sex within lawful marriage is one of God’s gifts and blessings. It should never be used as a weapon, bargaining tool, or instrument of control. It ought to be expressed voluntarily, lovingly, and with mutual understanding. A wife should not make intimacy conditional, nor should a husband demand it without sensitivity to his wife’s health and well-being. Both partners must approach intimacy with maturity, communication, and respect, avoiding worldly distortions of sexuality. Although sexual needs vary from person to person, wisdom, empathy, and honest communication can help couples manage differences constructively.

Adultery is avoidable in a Christian home. If you have fallen into it, genuine repentance brings mercy. If you have been denying your spouse intimacy, you must reconsider your actions and seek restoration. Where there are persistent difficulties, wise pastoral counselling may be helpful, provided it is handled with discretion and trust.

To singles: prepare yourself not only spiritually and financially for marriage, but also emotionally and relationally. Sexual compatibility, mutual understanding, and a healthy view of intimacy are important considerations. Marriage should not be entered carelessly, for adultery remains an abomination before God.

May the Lord strengthen and preserve our homes, in the name of Jesus Christ.

By the grace of God, we will continue from here next month. Please do not forget to send me your comments and testimonies. If you are not born again, please surrender your life to Jesus Christ today. Tomorrow may be too late. Until then, God bless you. Amen.

Pastor Jide Ajidahun

The post Singles’ World February ’26 Edition appeared first on The Olive Branch.

Happy New Year to you all, as I welcome you to the first edition of Singles’ World for the year 2026. It is my prayer that 2026 will indeed be a New and prosperous year for us in the name of Jesus Christ

In the previous editions, I discussed how people practice physical and emotional adultery in gross violation of the Word of God. I showed us very clearly that the Lord strongly condemns adultery and its various shades of practices.

In this edition, I want to discuss another form of adultery. My prayer is that the Lord will use this message to liberate and deliver those already ensnared in adultery and also keep the innocent from being victims, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Adultery goes beyond the physical act.

3. Digital Infidelity

The advent of information technologies and the proliferation of social medium have led to the prevalence of digital infidelity in society. Both the young and the old, Christians and unbelievers, deploy these technologies, albeit wrongly, both for personal and business purposes. Digital infidelity is common among the married and the unmarried. It occurs through private chats and sexting between a married man and another man’s wife. Both of them exchange honeyed and seductive chats that are considered inappropriate and immoral, such as “I am lonely, I am missing you, I can’t control how I feel right now, and I will not let you go. If I had seen you, I would not have married my present wife. Your thoughts make me go crazy, etc.”

Regular exchange of these seductive chats between a married man and another man’s wife through social media amounts to digital infidelity. This is because both of you have expressed your lustful thoughts in unmistakable terms for each other even though both of you have your legal partners. Besides, sexting also involves the acts of sending or receiving sexually suggestive photos or videos through phones or social media. It is common today to see a married man asking another man’s wife to send her nude or semi-nude images and sexual voice notes or emojis used with sexual intent. Married wives that are interested send them with relish to the married that they like. The point they are making is that even though we are miles apart, we can watch our nakedness online to spice our ‘love.’ Even when it is practiced between a man and his wife, it is considered an uncleanness; when a married woman sends her nude photo to another man, she is committing adultery with him digitally.

From the biblical perspective, it is only your spouse that is legally and biblically allowed to see your nakedness. In Genesis 2:25, the Bible says both Adam and Eve were naked as husband and wife, and they were not ashamed. It is therefore right, by inference, to say that it is shameful for a married man and another married woman to be naked before each other or to see each other’s nakedness when they are not married to each other. Sexual expression through any medium is expected to be shared only with one’s partner. This is because sexting involves sexual desire and attention even if there is no physical contact. If you practise this with another man’s wife or another woman’s husband, you have committed digital infidelity because sexual exclusivity has been broken.

Besides, sexting is often kept secret. It can be hidden from the partner, especially for those that have inquisitive spouses. Some also quickly delete such sexting and nude photos. This is because it violates the Word of God and the trust between the couple. When you are involved in sexting, you are creating room for emotional attachment to the person. It will deepen your emotional bonds while you are disconnecting yourself emotionally from your legal spouse.

You cannot be exposed to sexting and the nude photos of another man’s wife or another woman’s husband without experiencing sexual arousal and romantic connection with the person when this is what you should be experiencing with your legal partner. You have crossed the boundaries set by the Lord between your husband and your wife. Remember that part of the common marriage oath says that you will forsake others and cleave unto your partner till death do you part. Sexting and uploading your nude or semi-nude photos for another married man or woman to see violates your marriage oath. Even when done between two married people, it is morally questionable. A long-distance relationship is not an excuse for getting involved in sexting. What if your children see it or it leaks onto social media accidentally?

From the Bible perspective, sexting amounts to dishonoring your marriage and making your bed impure—Hebrews 13:4. Jesus expanded adultery beyond the physical by saying a lustful look at a woman amounts to adultery—Matthew 5:28.  In Ephesians 5:3-4, we are warned against sexual immorality and uncleanness (obscenity). Uncleanness or obscenity involves obscene speech, obscene images, sexual imagination, and arousal outside God’s boundaries. What is considered sinful by the Bible cannot be made holy by the digital platforms. Those who engage in sexting, explicit photos, and pornography are practicing digital infidelity. If it is between a married man and the wife of another man, they are practicing digital adultery. God will judge all those that commit adultery—Hebrews 13:4.  If you are involved, repent now before it is too late. If you are single and you are involved in sexting, you are practicing sexual immorality and obscenity. You have opened the gate of your life to sexual bondage. Repent now, and the Lord will have mercy on you.

By the grace of God, we will continue from here next month. Please do not forget to send me your comments and testimonies. If you are not born again, please surrender your life to Jesus Christ today. Tomorrow may be too late. Until then, God bless you. Amen.

Pastor Jide Ajidahun

The post Singles’ World January ’26 Edition appeared first on The Olive Branch.