“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.” – Matthew 5:23-24, NIV A danger with a strong evangelical, Protestant … Continue reading “Pastors: “Please Insist On Faithful Spouses Being Told!””
Category: Reconciliation
Unhelpful Observation: “God permits divorce, BUT He never commands it.”
“God permits faithful spouses to divorce adulterous spouses. BUT He never commands it.” -Unhelpful Pastoral Advice This is technically true. God does not directly command anyone to divorce.* But before getting smug over one’s rightness on this matter consider what God does say regarding adulterous spouses: God commands His people to kill adulterous spouses! –see Deut. 22:22 … Continue reading “Unhelpful Observation: “God permits divorce, BUT He never commands it.””
Get A Lawyer
When one of you has a dispute with another believer, how dare you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter instead of taking it to other believers! – I Corinthians 6:1, NLT “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, … Continue reading “Get A Lawyer”
Cheap Cheater Forgiveness
Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. -Matthew 5:23-24, NKJV “God forgives me. So what’s your problem?!” -Cheater Does … Continue reading “Cheap Cheater Forgiveness”
Years of Infidelity Makes Godly Marriage Restoration Doubtful
The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth. -Proverbs 12:22, NLT Recently, I was reading a book about apologies and forgiveness. It is a book by a well-known, evangelical Christian author. But I will neither name the author(s) or the book for the purpose of today’s post. Those details … Continue reading “Years of Infidelity Makes Godly Marriage Restoration Doubtful”
Embezzler Analogy Test
When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. – James 1:13-14, NIV Committing adultery is no more indicative of prior marriage problems than embezzling … Continue reading “Embezzler Analogy Test”
Why would you throw all that away?
On oath Esau traded away his rights as the firstborn. Jacob gave him bread and the stew of lentils. He ate and drank, got up and left. That’s how Esau shrugged off his rights as the firstborn. – Genesis 25:33b-34 (THE MESSAGE) “Why would you just throw away _x_ number of years of marriage?!” Obviously, … Continue reading “Why would you throw all that away?”
An Unfaithful Spouse’s Perspective
Yesterday, a friend of mine sent me a link from a blogger, Leanne, who shared her story about confessing infidelity to her husband. Her post is entitled “Karma?” (click on title to read her full post). The gist of the story is Leanne cheated on her husband a couple years prior and lied about it … Continue reading “An Unfaithful Spouse’s Perspective”
Mailbag: Conquering Anger
The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. – Psalm 145:8, KJV Hi DM. I still have a lot of anger toward my mother-in-law for many of the same reasons you had for your father-in-law. She has enabled my stbx’s sin so much that even my children … Continue reading “Mailbag: Conquering Anger”
Recognizing a Fake Apology
Then Saul admitted to Samuel, “Yes, I have sinned. I have disobeyed your instructions and the Lord’s command, for I was afraid of the people and did what they demanded. But now, please forgive my sin and come back with me so that I may worship the Lord.” -I Samuel 15:24-25, NLT (e.g. false apology) … Continue reading “Recognizing a Fake Apology”