According to the first book in the Bible, marriage was ordained and set up by God as a union between a man and a woman. There is a lot of debate on that notion, but Christians have used that commandment from God to define their view of Christian marriage.

According to many involved in Christian marriage family therapy, a Christian marriage represents the connection of Jesus Christ to the Church. This is in accordance to Paul of Tarsus who, in Ephesians, noted the connection from the Old Testament point of view that marriage was a parallel between a connection to man and God.

This type of union, often called a covenant by Christians, is of signature importance to the Christian tradition and stands as an example of God's faithfulness to the people. Those involved in Christian marriage and family therapy impress this notion upon those that seek out the therapy and infer that Christian marriage is a gift from God and something to be cherished and supported.

With this basis in mind, many times a Christian marriage begins with a form of counseling. Many Christians take part in a form of marriage family counseling in which a pastor or priest verses them in the traditions of marriage and in the importance of their vows. Christians believe that this serves as a good basis for a marriage and as a traditional foundation so that the values of the marriage can be placed at a level of great importance.

Christian marriage family counseling encourages the couple to go to God in prayer during trials and to seek other Christian help to form a prayer network, enabling the couple to operate under an umbrella of a Christian relationship and those fundamentals at the outset of their marriage.

A Christian marriage, based on tradition, takes place in a church, presided over by a minister or a priest who performs the marriage ceremony. In most cases, the priest or pastor also signs the marriage record as a suitable and legal witness. The significance of this type of ceremony is that the pastor or priest is a legal witness and is also a spiritual witness that can call the marriage to accountability under God.

Many parts of Christian marriage are designed to place importance on marriage as a permanent union between two people. The reality of Christian marriage to the couple is to serve God and maintain a trusting and loving relationship.

The definition of marriage, while continually under debate, will continue to express the notion that marriage is honorable to God and that Christian marriages are given a very high status among Christian lives.