GOSPEL artist, Bishop Vusumuzi Maculuve says a shift from biblical principles of love, respect, prayer and accountability is contributing to the breakdown of marriages, including those within the church.
Maculuve said this after confirming that his marriage to Tekhaya Shongwe, whom he married in November last year, had ended in divorce. The separation comes after his divorce from his second wife, Lindelwa Shongwe, in 2024.
Reflecting on the development, the bishop said marriage was a covenant before God and should not be treated as an ordinary contract.
“In my view as a man of God, marriage is sacred so it is unfortunate when one party enters into this covenant playful,” he said.
Maculuve said he believed there were more divorces today, including among Christians, because people had moved away from the principles that should guide marriage.
He argued that although generations change, the principles of God remain the same.
According to the bishop, one of the principles that needed to be restored was respect for marriage, which he said should be honoured not only by the couple but also by those around them.
He also pointed to love and honour between spouses, referring to biblical teachings that call on husbands to love their wives sacrificially, as Christ loves the church, and wives to respect their husbands.
Maculuve said these principles were sometimes overlooked in marriages, leaving couples vulnerable when challenges arose.
He further stressed the importance of prayer, saying he believed marriage was under attack and that couples needed to remain grounded in their faith.
The bishop also highlighted accountability, saying people should remember that they would ultimately answer to God for how they handled the marriage covenant.
“God’s principles help us to stand trying times. It’s true that when challenges come the enemy steals the Word of God in us (the principles),” he said.
He added that when the foundations of marriage shift, couples could find it difficult to withstand challenges.
However, Maculuve cautioned the church against judging people who divorce, noting that some marriages ended because of deep hurt, abuse or brokenness.
He said the church’s responsibility was not to condemn those affected but to teach biblical principles, strengthen families through prayer and help restore those who had been wounded.
He concluded by expressing hope that people would return to what he described as God’s principles for marriage as outlined in the Bible.
