The Role of Theological Pre-Marital Counselling in Preventing Interfaith Marriage: A Pastoral Case Study in Bekasi, Indonesia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15575/rjsalb.v9i2.11729Keywords:
Christian marriage, faith formation, interfaith marriage, pastoral theology, pre-marital counsellingAbstract
This study aims to analyze the role of pre-marital counselling based on Christian values in preventing interfaith marriage and shaping Christian families grounded in the unity of faith. The research employs a qualitative approach with data collected through participant observation at the Pentecostal Church of Mangseng, North Bekasi, and at Taruna Kristen AMC Bekasi. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with pastors, counsellors, and participants, while theological and pastoral literature studies were carried out to strengthen the empirical findings with a biblical and academic conceptual framework concerning Christian marriage. The findings reveal that pre-marital counselling plays a significant role in strengthening the spiritual, emotional, and moral preparedness of couples to build Christ-centered households. Moreover, the youth formation program conducted at Taruna Kristen AMC Bekasi proved effective as an early preventive strategy to instill awareness of the dangers of interfaith relationships. These findings affirm that pre-marital counselling functions not merely as a technical preparation for marriage but also as an intergenerational faith-education medium that nurtures spiritual resilience and moral commitment among Christians. The implications of this research indicate that churches need to develop pastoral formation models that are empathetic, dialogical, and contextually relevant, ensuring that pre-marital counselling remains effective amid globalization and shifting social values. The originality of this study lies in the integration of theological teaching, pastoral practice, and youth faith education as a comprehensive strategy for preventing interfaith marriage. Thus, this research contributes to strengthening pastoral theology and developing a relevant pre-marital counselling model for churches in Indonesia.
References
Amalia, T. (2018). Model manajemen konflik pernikahan beda agama dalam pemikiran Ahmad Nurcholish. Jurnal Sosiologi Agama, 12(1), 1–30. https://doi.org/10.14421/jsa.2018.121-01
Bao, Z. (2017). On biblical view of marriage and its significance in the era of secularization with the case study of genesis 2. 4-24. International Journal of Sino-Western Studies, 12, 51–57.
Barton, S. C. (2016). Marriage, family, the Bible and the gospel. Theology, 119(3), 163–171. https://doi.org/10.1177/0040571X15623690
Basid, A., Kholidah, L. N., Hidayatullah, M. F., Firmansyah, E. K., Zunaih, A. I., & Zahid, R. A. (2024). Interfaith Marriage Controversies In Semarang: An Analysis Of Qur’anic Legal Exegesis. Malaysian Journal of Syariah and Law, 12(3), 762–777. https://doi.org/10.33102/mjsl.vol12no3.812
Borowski, S. C., & Tambling, R. B. (2015). Applying the Health Belief Model to Young Individuals’ Beliefs and Preferences About Premarital Counseling. The Family Journal, 23(4), 417–426. https://doi.org/10.1177/1066480715602221
Boulis, C., & Torgler, B. (2024). Religion as a Determinant of Relationship Stability. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 63(2), 281–306. https://doi.org/10.1111/jssr.12896
Bruhn, D. M., & Hill, R. (2004). Designing a Premarital Counseling Program. The Family Journal, 12(4), 389–391. https://doi.org/10.1177/1066480704267233
Bulahar, H. F., Daliman, M., Stefanus, T. A., Windarti, M. T., & Parulian, T. (2024). The Love of Christ in Husband - Wife relationships based on Ephesians 5:22 – 33 - Implications for Christian Families. Pharos Journal of Theology, 105(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.46222/pharosjot.1055
Cadwallader, A. H. (2019). What’s a single man blathering about? Jesus on marriage. Journal of Religious History, 43(2), 148–162. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9809.12584
Caffaro, J. (2011). Fundamentalism and the search for divinity: The varied role of religion in interfaith couples. Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 22(3), 210–227. https://doi.org/10.1080/08975353.2011.627796
Casquarelli, E. J., & Fallon, K. M. (2011). Nurturing the relationships of all couples: Integrating lesbian, gay, and bisexual concerns into premarital education and counseling programs. Journal of Humanistic Counseling, 50(2), 149–160. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-1939.2011.tb00114.x
Chapman, A. (2011). Suffering Our Way to Salvation: Ivone Gebara, Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, and the Adequacy of the Cross as a Symbol for Women. Lumen et Vita, 1(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.6017/lv.v1i1.1698
Chapman, K. (2011). Interfaith marriage counselling: Perspectives and practices among Christian ministers. Texas Tech University.
Ciocan, C. T. (2016). Interfaith marriages, a social problem nowadays: The theological background of it in the Bible. Altarul Reîntregirii, 1, 559–586. https://doi.org/10.29302/ar.2016.1.32
Cobbinah, J. E., & Osei-Tutu, E. M. (2020). Pre-Marital Counselling and Sustainability of Marriages in Contemporary Ghanaian Society. In Research Anthology on Rehabilitation Practices and Therapy (pp. 1492–1506). https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-3432-8.ch075
Connolly, J. (2009). Forbidden intimacies: Christian–Muslim intermarriage in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. American Ethnologist, 36(2), 290–305. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1548-1425.2009.01175.x
Cyriac, J., Mathew, P. M., & Rajan, S. K. (2024). Interaction of Generational Differences with Gender and Residential Nature in Attitudes Toward Interfaith Marriages. Marriage and Family Review, 60(8), 597–614. https://doi.org/10.1080/01494929.2024.2402472
Faizal, L., Yasir Fauzi, M., Khairi Kamaruddin, M., & Qohar, A. (2025). Challenges in Interfaith Marriage: Literature Review of Faith Values and Their Implications for Families. Samarah, 9(2), 965–988. https://doi.org/10.22373/trnc2372
Farnam, F., Pakgohar, M., & Mir-Mohammadali, M. (2011). Effect of Pre-Marriage Counseling on Marital Satisfaction of Iranian Newlywed Couples: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Sexuality and Culture, 15(2), 141–152. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-010-9086-6
Fowler, J. W. (1981). Stages of Faith: The Psychology of Human Development and the Quest for Meaning. San Francisco, CA: Harper & Row.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Freddy Siagian
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.