drawn away by his own desires and enticed" (James 1:14).
• Lack of maturity: Fifty percent of teenage marriages come apart in the first five years; however, age is not the only criterion. Immature selfishness at any age can lead to unfaithfulness. Another sign of immaturity is a lack of willingness to accept the responsibility of a family.
• Demanding, critical, scolding, nagging husbands or wives.
• Lack of sexual satisfaction on the part of either mate.
• Transferring to one's mate hostility felt toward a mother or father.
• Meddlesome in-laws who smother a husband and wife with criticism or well-intended advice.
• Lack of adequate sex education.
You should expect no easy solutions in dealing with the problem of adultery. However, God can work the miracle of the new birth for the nonChristian, and spiritual renewal for His own who have fallen away. If you are successful in securing a commitment to Christ, you can be confident that this will bring a new perspective, making it easier to mend lives and to reach permanent solutions.
Helping Strategy For the Person Involved in Adultery:
1. Try to project yourself as a caring, concerned person, without being patronizing. You are glad to share, and hope that some solution can be reached.
2. Don't be judgmental or assume a "holier than thou" attitude. Don't start out with Scriptures that condemn; these emerge normally as you share Christ at the appropriate time.
3. Encourage the inquirer to talk about the situation so that you can get a complete picture of the circumstances. At the same time, don't press for too much detail.
4. When you feel that enough information has been given, say that you want to work on solutions, but that first you would like to ask if he or she has ever received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
• If not, share "Steps to Peace with God," page 11.
• If the person is a fallen Christian, share "Restoration," page 17. Pray for renewed commitment, and then proceed.