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NASB | Matthew 19:9 "And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 19:9 "I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery." |
Subject: I'm confused about salvation |
Bible Note: What is more important than the family? It's not the Christians following the blueprint I'm concerned about - it's those who are not. Let's be real. Look at the divorce statistics among Christians and don't be afraid to remove the "blinders". We have rampant divorce. We have Christian couples (many with children) going through cycles of marriage and divorce. We have blended families, created from these unions that become breeding grounds for hatred, immorality and other evils. Both younger and older children begin acting out because they resent what has happened to their family. This translates into more crime, more immorality and more familial instability - all passed from one generation to the next. So tell me why this topic is not important enough to be a priority. The Biblical "blueprint" is more than about sex - It's a recipe for the creation and maintenance of a stable, moral society. The family IS the basic unit of all humanity. I once had a Christian lady, a pastor's wife, tell me that in her opinion, a good man is someone who pays his child support. I was offended by this statement because a father is more than a child support check. Many men today are not fulling their responsibilities as husbands and fathers because they don't follow God's blueprint. A father plays a crucial role in the molding, development and maturation of his children. And a part-time dad who only contributes money is certainly not an effective contributor according to the "blueprint". As someone once told me, you're either part of the solution or you're part of the problem. So if you as a minister, bless a marriage that is in reality an "adulterous" union, Are you part of the solution or part of the problem? I'm not asking anyone to treat other people as 2nd class Christians or anything else derogatory. Just speak the truth and let the parties decide what should be done. That's why some ministers counsel an engaged couple prior to performing the marriage ceremony. If they discover the couple is in the midst of or about to create an adulterous relationship, they politely refuse to conduct the ceremony and truthfully and tactfully explain why to the couple (Mat 19:9, etc). The appropriateness of this forum is education. I too am a victim of pastoral misinformation. And I remained in the dark until becoming enlightened with the truth through personal research. That's why I encourage everyone to read, study, discuss and learn as they conduct their own. Praising the Lord is more than shouting "Hallelujah" and "Praise The Lord" at the top of our lungs. It's also following his Word. Talk is cheap. Actions speak volumns. |