But, people with an ongoing hard heart against God and their spouse do some very awful and painful things that make the relationship unhealthy, unsafe, and unlivable.
Admittedly, this subject is so important that it cannot be fully addressed in a brief daily devotion. But, as a pastor who loves folks, here are some practical recommendations:.
Posted at h in by Mark Driscoll. Mark Driscoll hello markdriscoll. But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? Paul makes the argument that the unbelieving wife or husband is sanctified made holy through the believing husband or wife.
The vast majority of Bible scholars agree that it is possible that a believing spouse may choose to desert the relationship as well and therefore this desertion allowance for divorce is not only limited to a relationship between an unbeliever and a believer.
That is this passage applies equally to a marriage between two believers. The last paragraph of the cited passage on desertion explains that it is okay to let a spouse leave a marriage if they wish to do so. Paul says that the believer is not bound in such circumstances and that we are to live at peace with our fellow citizens on this earth. The Lord absolves the believer of responsibility to maintain the marriage when there is desertion by a marriage partner.
Paul points out that the believer is no longer bound or a slave of the marriage covenant in these circumstances. Willful desertion renders the marriage covenant null and there is a release from the bond of Holy Matrimony.
The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this article are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please contact one of our counselors for further information. One of my greatest joys is to connect with people on a relational level.
My multicultural background and experience enable me to relate well to numerous types of individuals. One of my passions is to coach individuals toward reaching their personal and professional ambitions. I would love to meet with you to discuss how we can work together to achieve your aspirations. Read more articles by Nitish ». Many people seek marriage counseling for a variety of different reasons, which usually can be recognized and acknowledged in time Marriage in American culture is the butt of jokes, portrayed as a ball and chain, an end to sex, a Nitish Matthew.
This is Part 1 of 2 in a series on Marriage and Divorce from a Biblical perspective. Schedule with Nitish. Appointment Info Provider. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Keener sees these explicit statements as applicable more broadly to other situations that may not be directly mentioned by Scripture. If he were beating himself, we'd recommend psychiatric help; if he is beating his wife, who is supposed to be one flesh with him, he is certainly not treating her as one flesh. Some people are too ready to grasp for that point; others wait much longer than they should. Jesus told those persecuted for his name to flee from one city to another to escape persecution Matthew , and sometimes the apostles did so Acts —6.
It is heartless to make someone remain in an abusive situation. This calls for wisdom and balance: Certainly we should do everything we can to protect victims of abuse while at the same time respecting the marriage bond and not dissolving it lightly. Jones, who is the author of Faithful: A Theology of Sex , brings a broad conceptual view to biblical teachings on divorce. Divorce is not, of course, required in such cases, but it is permissible.
I see this as a way that Jesus protects us in a world torn apart by sin. Because we are precious to God, we are not required to stay in a marriage when we have been betrayed through porneia. Porneia certainly includes adultery, because adultery violates the one flesh union. But porneia can also include violence or abuse against one's spouse because to abuse one's spouse is also to violate that one flesh union.
Christian counselor and author of The Emotionally Destructive Marriage , Leslie Vernick believes there is a strong biblical warrant for allowing people to experience consequences for their sin see 1 Corinthians —12 ; James —20 ; Galatians In her work with women who are experiencing such situations, Vernick first counsels a wake-up call conversation with their husbands, followed by separation if the husband fails to turn from his sin.
A separation of this sort, undertaken with the support of wise counsel, clarifies the destructive consequences of sinful habits and could have the potential to lead to eventual healing and restoration. Vernick emphasizes that there is a difference between a difficult or disappointing marriage and a destructive marriage.
It is easy to become weighed down by the shame of past mistakes. Within the church we see various responses to tough marital struggles. Some may counsel for divorce too hastily, advising couples to forgo the difficult peaks and valleys that are part of any marriage and, in essence, ignoring the high value the Bible places on the marriage commitment. Meanwhile others may respond with legalism, pressuring fellow Christians to stay in marriages that are clearly destructive and unsafe.
There are no cookie-cutter answers to some of these difficult questions. The tension remains: Marriage is a lifelong commitment that is only broken for the most severe reasons. Only as we stay engaged with the whole Word of God can we navigate this tension.
Rebecca Florence Miller is a freelance writer and editor, and a blogger at Patheos. You can also find her at RebeccaFlorenceMiller.
0コメント