For everything there is a season,
a time for every activity under heaven.
…
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.-Ecclesiastes 3:1,5, NLT
Purveying marriage miracles is more sexy than facing natural consequences.
I feel this with this ministry. It is kind of a Debbie Downer ministry where I tell people that their marriage is over when infidelity is present. That is what adultery does–i.e. it kills marriages.
Does marriage resurrection ever happen? Yes, but it is called a miracle BECAUSE it is out of the ordinary.
I have done many funerals over the years. To this point, I have not done one, which was interrupted by the deceased coming back to life.
Do I think such things happen? Yes. God is able to do this. But they are rare. They are miracles.
I would be irresponsible to bank on miracles every time a marriage is ravaged by infidelity. It would be like refusing to do funerals because I insist God “always” wants to resurrect. Such is a pastoral care failure to face reality and truly be helpful to those suffering.
So, I would rather face reality and be truly helpful than engage in false hope promises teaching resurrection of marriages as the norm.
It isn’t sexy, but it is more responsible.
