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NASB | Acts 20:28 "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Acts 20:28 "Take care and be on guard for yourselves and for the whole flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd (tend, feed, guide) the church of God which He bought with His own blood. |
Bible Question:
Dear Sir/Madam, Greetings in GOD, I am Ann from Pakistan again. Thank you for your first advice. Now I want to discuss this matter further with you and need your second advice according to the Holy Bible. In fact, one of my friends was married (a Christian Marriage) to a girl in October 2004. It was an arranged marriage and families from both sides were agreed and very happy about this marriage. I want to state here that the boy and the girl were engaged for a complete one year before their marriage and naturally they both fall in love with each other. They got married in Church and sworn in front of God almighty and many other people as witnesses and then went to the hotel for lunch. Unfortunately some evil minded people who were not happy with their wedding and were present there at that time broke a fight in the hotel between both the families. Both families went to their own houses and the Bride and Bridegroom both were separated at that spot and not allowed to talk or meet directly with each other to take their advice and to solve the matter. Within three weeks both families decided at their own ends to give and take divorce and to dissolve this marriage. Then during this time both the boy and the girl signed the divorce papers (UNWILLINGLY and Under a lot of Pressure from both their families.) and after the wedding day never came in front of each other face to face to see or share their own thoughts. Now both are divorced thru court and according to the law of the land they are not husband and wife anymore and cannot live together from now on. Also please note that the Boy was married second 2nd time (against his will) to a foreigner girl but a Christian marriage. But because boy and the 2nd girl never liked each other but married, decided to divorce each other and are now divorced. But the boy's first wife is still a spinster (virgin) but divorced now from him. Now after the 2nd divorce somehow the boy and his first wife managed to talk directly with each other over phone and then face to face - one to one, the boy is very very sorry for this big mistake and repents from GOD and from his first wife as he cannot live without her. she also accepted her husband (divorced 2 times) Because she still loves him and cannot live without him either and they still take each other as Husband and Wife in their heart and now both want to live together again but this time with their own will, but according to the Holy Bible and Christianity. But now they are not accepted as Husband and Wife in the community and customs of the country. I want your second 2nd advise on the following issues: 1. Now after boy's 2nd divorce - Is the boy and his first wife (still not married again) can Re-marry each other to live as Husband and Wife according to the Christianity and Holy Bible? According to law is not included here. 2. If 'YES' then what is the right way for them to get together again and spend their life in Christianity as Husband and wife. 3. If 'NO' even then is there any way for them to get together again but legally under Christianity and laws by Holy Bible. (Please note here that they both still consider each other husband and wife in their heart and accept that boldly and now ready to face any challenge to live their life according to their will) 4. Do you think that now they should leave each other forever and never think of each other? But do you think that would be fair to both the boy and the girl if they both have love for each other and cannot share their complete love for their new spouses? Can you please give an authentic and strong advice according to Christianity and the Holy Bible, as this is matter of two lives that do not wish to be separated against their will and want to live their lives together according to the ways shown by Holy Bible in Christianity. Waiting for your response. Regards, God Bless you Ann weepingeyes4u@yahoo.com |
Bible Answer: Dear Ann, Your friend was never married to the girl in question. This is because the marriage ceremony needs subsequent validation by consummation (sexual intercourse). His intended bride is and remains a virgin: there was no marriage. If your friend’s marriage to the second girl was valid and duly consummated then in the eyes of God they ACT-ually married. It hardly matters if he held reservations; if he had sexual intercourse with his bride in the privacy of their wedding night it was an act of his will. The resolution of this case is very complex and I question the wisdom of referring this question to a forum mainly for cessationist evangelicals immersed in an American cultural milieu. What could they really know about this. They would have little idea as to the social and familial fabric of Pakistani society and especially arranged marriage. Your friends could easily be murdered in a ‘honour killing’ or at least be disowned by their families if they decide to follow their own preferences. Evangelicals do not consider a valid marriage is absolutely irrevocable unto death, they often divorce when it suits them. Are you seeking their ‘relativist’ permission to throw out any marriages here which aren’t wanted. I can hardly follow the complexities of the many divorces and re-marriages by all the parties cited in your post. It is shambolic: marriage is for life. The first valid (consummated) marriage anyone undertook is valid as long as their spouse lives. The bi-millenial Christian Church has always taught this. I know plenty of evangelicals who divorced because God ‘told them to...’ Within which Christian tradition have these events occurred, some Eastern rite perhaps? What do their Christian leaders say? Are they rebelling against their counsel? It is these Christian leaders who are answerable before God for how they shepherd their flock. I led a young man to the Lord from such an Asian society; because of the trouble this caused with his family this man is dead. If Pakistani family headship and associated cultural traditions are ignored when seeking a resolution for this conundrum, make no mistake the couple risk serious personal harm and at best will end up fleeing Pakistan to save their lives. |
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Questions and/or Subjects for Acts 20:28 | Author | ||
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GFabulous23 | ||
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TSchwab19 | ||
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revlynnybill | ||
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Reighnskye | ||
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Big O | ||
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weepingeyes | ||
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Robin Hass | ||
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mark d seyler | ||
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azurelaw |