There are many great books on marriage and how to be a godly husband and godly wife and these books have been instrumental in the lives of me and my wife. One I recommend is “The Exemplary Husband” by Dr. Stuart Scott. It really changed me in 12 weeks. I went through a study with a close friend of mine and we had to ask the tough questions and really work through what God expects from us as husbands.
Where I think many of the great books on marriage (When Sinners Say I do, A Love that Lasts and Sacred Marriage) fall short I hope to convey here. This was a message I was going to give in a few weeks but I have been tagged to present something different. So I was thinking about making it an e-book or pamphlet or study guide or something. It is a Christ-Centered Character study that I hope all who are married or plan on being married one day enjoy.
The Couple in View (Prisca (or Priscilla and Aquila)
3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. 5 Greet also the church in their house.
In Paul’s writings I can only find one couple ever mentioned. They are Prisca and Aquila. If they were around today I don’t think that you would find them on the front of “People’s Most Popular Couples” or Vanity Fair’s “Most Sexiest Couple” you wouldn’t find them on Forbes “The Richest Couple” and Entertainment Tonight, David Letterman, BET, nor MTV would be rushing to peek into their lives. Their marriage would probably be dull, boring and unpopular. The Paparazzi would not be fighting to get a picture of them or their children like Will and Jada or Tom and Katie. Nope! Not at all! Again they would be obscure to the world around them; however.
The best selling book in the entire world mentions them 4 times. 1 gives us a narrative of what they were doing with their marriage. You see today most books, even Christian ones, makes marriage an end to itself. Marriage is pretty much about my happiness, my sexual appetite, my suburban life, my children, my pursuit of all things perishing! Now none of these things are bad. All of them are good and things we are giving the privilege to enjoy; however, when God called us “out of darkness into the presence of His glorious light” we were saved from His wrath and into His Son. Paul then tells us that “we are His workmanship (handiwork) created in Christ Jesus to do good works”. I believe that Good work is the Great Commission. That message on the Mountain with 11 scared but transformed men was also to us. Christ left us here to obey the Great Commission.
Prisca and Aquila got this and as far as we can tell they lived their marriage for this purpose. They were disciple makers and we see that here:
24 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
I have given you two of the four times Prisca and Aquila were mentioned. The other two are found in 2 Timothy 3 and 1 Corinthians 16. Three of the 4 times they are mentioned for the work of ministry and that was displayed by them having an assembly meeting in their home. In Romans 16 Paul says they “risked their necks” for his life.
Today marriage, even our churches, are hedonistic. They are about preserving monetary legacy, our family name, our goals and aspirations at the cost of the Great Commission. Sports activities, vacations, upper middle class lifestyles, and grand children are what we live for and if the Great Commission infringes upon these then it has to go or be greatly modified. We immediately become churchy, so instead of fulfilling the great commission, we increase our giving, get involved in marital small groups, and even start book clubs. Anything to remain comfortable and in line to pursue our goals of success. But that isn’t what our brother and sister Prisca and Aquila lived for, they lives were exhausitively lived for the sake of the Gospel. The Gospel was the most important thing to them and they put their “necks under the knife” to prove it.
Paul in turns mentions them as a great blessing to his life. They emptied themselves only to receive a great treasure in eternity. As Dave Black says “they lived for eternity”. This is what I am praying for. I am not here and not even close. I was taught that being a good husband and a good wife and a good parent and a good employee is what life was about. To live as the Cosby’s lived. I was fighting to not have a broken home and illegitimate children. I lived for the safety and education of my children and the pursuit of the American Dream and again these aren’t bad they just don’t constitute a “Great Commission Marriage”. Again if you are married or plan on being I want you to do a character study on the life of this godly and often mentioned couple. Their names are forever seared in our minds and as we do scripture memorization they will go even deeper into our hearts. Lets press toward this mark in our marriages and win eternal rewards. There are three points I want to make.
1. You must first understand the Gospel
2. Secondly you must believe that Jesus was speaking to you in Matthew 28
3. You must live this out by being hospitable and finding practical ways to use your marriage as a conduit of the Gospel.
Lionel-
Thank you for providing Stacy and I with our next devotional topic.
You have been a long distance blessing to me.
What a wonderful post. Most people do not view marriage as an opportunity of God bringing together two people for the advancement of His Kingdom. It is refreshing to see a post about true Biblical marriage. Thanks again.
Hey Bro Lionel,
Good post on keeping our marraiges gospel centered with the focus of eternity…that is exactly what we need. A couple of comments though…
1) How do we live gospel centered marraiges? meaning…is there a way for our marraiges to preach the gospel IN ADDITION TO active evangelistic efforts as a couple?
For example…
2) I would say that “being a good husband and a good wife and a good parent and a good employee” is also gospel centered. But, “good husband, wife, employee, etc.” must be defined by Scripture (i.e., Eph 5:22-33, Titus 2:1-15, Col 3:22-25)…is there a conduct that “adorns the doctrine of God” in such a way that it preaches the gospel??
and also…
3) Does the cultivation of a God-centered, Christ-exalting, Bible-saturated, Church-serving family have any place in advancing the gospel? (Ps 78, Deut 6:1-13, Eph 6:
4) Thus, I think it is also important to be careful that your conversation on this issue does not conflate American idealistic humanistic/hedonistic self-focus, i.e. “our happy home” with Christians who seek to focus on their marriage/family/home in order that they might “adorn the doctrine of God” and thus be a light for the gospel through the example of a godly family.
I don’t think you’re speaking against the focus of growing as godly husbands and godly wives, etc. However, the feel from your article is that this focus of familial and marital godliness “falls short” as though this is not a force for the gospel itself or as though this is not gospel centered.
Maybe I misread it and maybe that isn’t what you were trying to convey – but just mention these thoughts for clarification. (Also by application – “how do we imitate Priscilla and Aquilla”? – a good future post may be discussing the “practical ways to use our marriage for the gospel”)
But, all in all, I think your challenge is a great one for Christian marriages/families not to become “insular” and “self-focused” where even the focus on being a “godly family” can become such (i.e., insular and self-focused). But, that all our living and growing in godliness, in your marriages, homes, and workplace is for THE SAKE OF THE GOSPEL and not for our own personal happiness.
I’ll holla at you soon…
Jude 2-3,
Q
also to add…the “enjoyment” of the covenant love of marriage and family is what God intended in creation and when one sees a “Christ-centered Cosby-like” home…that gives glory to God and His purposes and thus points to Christ!
My only problem Q is this statment:
I would say that “being a good husband and a good wife and a good parent and a good employee” is also gospel centered. But, “good husband, wife, employee, etc.” must be defined by Scripture (i.e., Eph 5:22-33, Titus 2:1-15, Col 3:22-25)…is there a conduct that “adorns the doctrine of God” in such a way that it preaches the gospel??
My answer is no. Because, Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses and Muslims do this also. The Gospel has to be defined in terms. Thus doing these things may bring glory to God, but are not Gospel Centered. The Gospel is in a message about the truth of God, though we can live Godly lives our lives can never “show the Gospel” it can be avenue to path a way to present the Gospel, but it can never “show the Gospel”.
So yes I believe those things you mention can be an avenue but living falls far short of what Christ has called us to do in the discple making process. The disciple making process begins with the only thing that makes disciples, that is the Gospel message. Apart from that people peeking into our lives may say they are a good couple but you can do the same for many other people who are committed to moral religous standards.
Wow! The business world may think that they came up with the idea but it was God’s own idea that “The best advertisement is WORD OF MOUTH!”. Great post Lionel!
I do hope, though, that the brothers who are zealous for this don’t begin to badger their “shy” wives and vice versa. If you are a Christian couple and one of you is more outgoing than the other, don’t see it as a hinderance. A united front is primary and if one of you never talks but prays in the Spirit while the other witnesses, I don’t see it as too big of a problem. Perhaps seeing you do it will give courage to the less talkative one. Even in the case of Prisca and Aquila it is often argued that she was the more prominent one. However, God honors them together proving that He truly sees us as one.
Just my thoughts.
Sorry for the incorrectly spelled words. (DTG is going to kill me, LOL!!!)
Q and BLD,
There are many ways for this to be done. I think everyone can bake cookies and have a friend over. Other ways are having slumber parties with your children (it is amazing how recepitble children are to the gospel). Other things like game nights, Karoke nights, dinner parties, sports teams there are many ways we can do this. Ultimately they had a church which me in their home and would travel with Paul on his journeys (we see them in Corinth, Rome and Ephesus all major players of the Gospel in the City). However this may not be popular but shyness is not an excuse to being an ambassador. It is funny that many can be bold in interviews, bold in their hobbies but shrink when it comes to the Gospel. It isn’t about being outspoken (street preaching) but being convinced of the Gospel.
Again as I responded to Q, I think sooner or later (hopefully sooner) the Gospel has to be presented in a clear conscise manner. Living the Gospel without communicating it is unbiblcial. We have to open our mouths and tell people about Jesus. Even the woman at the well says “come see a man”! There are many creative ways to create a path but we must communicate in word and deed.
lionel,
very good post and a reminder for my husband and me as the to ultimate reason for our marriage. 1. it is a good gift from God that should to bring glory to Him and 2. we can/should work together as a team to present the gospel message.
also, i like that you said having a loving marriage in itself is no true indication that we have one because of our relationship with Christ, for there are people in false religions, even atheists who have loving marriages. it must be in the Gospel message we present through proclaiming it with our mouths. after this, having a solid marriage just adds credibility to our message.
i’ve often heard it say, “may the life i live speak for me.” but no, it must be the gospel proclaimed and then hopefully, our walk matches our talk.
bro…you my boy and all…but i think you’re missing the mark pretty badly on your response…by saying that living a godly life in not gospel-centered.
I think you need to re-look (or take a first look) at Titus 2. We are saved to live “gospel centered” lives. “The grace of God has appeared to all men…teaching us to….” Our lives “adorn the doctrine of God.” our lives both preach and are an avenue to our preaching. To say that living a godly life glorifies God but is not gospel centered misse the whole point bro. (we need “life and lips”)
1 Pet 3:15-16,
Q
Many thanks for making this post, Brah, as it was one of the things I was actually discussing with my best friend last night………..
Though if I may say, from a single person’s perspective, whenever I’ve brought up the example of Priscillia and Aquilla, for me it has often been due to feeling as if when it comes to the concept of “church family”, there seems to be this continual gap between those who’re married couples and those who’re single. The single kats are on one side of the fence while the married folks are on the other——with it often feeling as if those who’re single are expected simply to “adapt” to life and preach the Gospel while the married folks congregate for Christ….and yet when I look into the lives of Priscillia/Aquilla, being single/not dealing with “married couple issues” wasn’t something that was an issue or used as a means of seperation when it came to the single kat we know as Paul.
Granted, Paul apparently had the gift of celibacy according to I Corinthians 7—-but that aside, I see a clear-cut example where even with their issues as a married couple, they went to BAT for the brother. Nowadays, however, if a young kat’s struggling to remain pure and needs another married kat to call, no one’s willing to go to bat for that. They say “Get advice from the single kats” that’re available……..and yet there’s no mentoring, nor doing as Titus 2 discusses with the older womem training those who’re younger.
ps. in the end, we may be saying the same thing…
Q,
What I am saying is the two can be mutually exclusive. In other words we can live “godly lives” and not be Great Commissional. Many in the area I live, live godly lives; however, you couldn’t pay them to talk about Christ other than the traditional evangelical “what we don’t do” morality way. So I am saying living a Godly live can be defined apart from living a Great Commission marriage. However, living a Great Commission marriage CANT be void of living a godly life.
Hey Gabriel,
I think our current Chrisitan culture is void of the life that Prisca and Auqila lived. We are moral and nice and peaceable but when it comes to the Gospel it can be void in our marriages. When marriages dead end on themselves and not the Gospel it is not a Great Commission marriage but it still can be a morally sound marriage.
Q,
A moral and Godly life can still be void of being a disciple making life. We can avoid many of the things the bible tells us to avoid and still be void of the Gospel
i still have to disagree with you brother….how and where are you defining godly??? where in the Scriptures can you live godly apart from Christ and His gospel?? Where in the Scriptures do you find godly people who are not consumed with the person of God/Christ and serving His people. The kind of godliness you are speaking of is self-righteous moralism not biblical Christ-centered godliness (check Titus 2…).
And you are also narrowly defining the great commission to only involve the act of witnessing. making disciples just doesn’t involve the act of preaching to the unsaved…it is the view of maturity of the Church (Eph 4:11-16) and done in concert with the whole body. It is not solely the job of the pastor or evangelist. So one can faithfully serve the church in various ways and still be committed to the Great Commission – but if they love Jesus Christ you certainly won’t find them silent about Him either…
love you bro,
Q
Q,
Okay I think we are saying the same things differently. What is defined as godly in our culture doesn’t neccessarily mean feet pointed out. Living Godly in our culture typically means, living morally. Now if that is not what you are saying then you and I agree. But MOST of our churches don’t teach that Godly=Outward living. These are mutually exclusive in a great deal of churches brother. Most Christians are taught to sustain not to go on the offense. Am I wrong for saying that. We are mostly known for what we don’t do in relation to Christianity not what we do. So I saying this can be mutually exclusive.
Man, I just love how every post on this blog is geared towards sparking good discussions…
So many great points here, and they all connect. We’ve had a lot of talks with each other about this very thing. Many, many people seem to think that living a “godly life” or having a “godly marriage”, is equivelant to basically looking like you have it all together. It becomes a cycle of trying to always maintain a polished, succesful veneer, which like you said, really runs counter to the heart of the gospel, which says that we’re all filthy sinners that have been picked up out of the pit of our own bondage and wickedness.
When having a discussion about these matters once, someone once quoted this phrase, “always be sharing the gospel, and if necessary, use words.” We were like, uh, we don’t think you can share the gospel without them… Yes, it’s true, our lives should show a difference if we’ve been touched by Christ, but how is anyone gonig to know what that difference is if they never hear how God changed us?
In our marriage, we’ve come to realize that as a couple, our two testimonies actually combine into something even more unique and powerful. Because we know each other’s lives and testimonies so well, we are able to help encourage and prompt one another to share with different people in different ways when we feel God leading us… There have been many occasions where my wife, because she knows where I’ve come from and what God has done in my life, has nudged me to share something with someone that I probably would never have had the courage to do on my own. It’s really true that the goal of marriage is not just for our own enjoyment and pleasure, although we do experience that too. A marriage is created to be a dynamic partnership, where each spouse is a “help-mate” for the other, building each other up, and sending the other OUT, so that the gospel can reach others. When you are known, inside and out, by another person, that person is able to help you be real, vulnerable and authentic when engaging others who don’t you at all. We see it as something God created to help protect us from falling into the “fakeness-trap”, where you hide all your weaknesses and try to put your best foot forward. If we did have it all together, then we would have had no need for the cross. We’d have no gospel at all….
Unfortunately there’re Marriages that are ship wrecks, Where God receives no glory.
Abusive husbands disrespectful wife’s the flesh, are some of the challenges that face believers, not to mention just plain old falling out of love. It hurt’s to love God so much in a marriage wrecked by flesh.
believe u me, look’s are deceiving
I don’t think you’re wrong for saying most Churches teach a moralistic “godliness” verses a Christ-centered godliness.
But, i think it is very important to make that distinction – so that 1) those who understand that we must be gospel-centered don’t take you as advocating some form of estoeric/abstract so-called “Christ-centered” antinomianism 2) and those who are moralistic can understand that their “godliness” isn’t really biblical godliness.
but, in the end – you are right – we need Gospel centered marriages…period!
Jude 2,
Q
Hey Brother Lionel,
Definately must agree with you regarding how it seems that marriage nowadays has become an end in/of itself…..and that because the lack of emphasis on the Gospel as well as the FRUIT thereof that should come about from it (i.e. compassion, humility, etc), that’s part of why there’s such a gap nowadays….and it’s due to that factor that verses such as I Peter 3:8 and other verses regarding how believers are to relate to one another as brothers and sisters in the Lord seem to fall through the cracks.
What seems to be the case today is that because marriage is an end in/of itself, friendships can be formed between individuals when they’re single======but the moment they’re married, only married folks can associate with the married folks or learn from one another. And the friendships end because it was assumed that they were there in order to facilliate the passage of one kat into marriage—-which can give the impression that one’s simply being used AS a means to an end. But the way I see it, how would it look if your biological brothers were all close with you and the moment you got married, you cut off contact and support from them due to feeling as if you got yours and that’s all that matters alongside managing the difficulties coming alongside marriage?
Are there any practical ways to end the GAP? ANd WHAT would that look like practically?
Q,
My focus in this paticular post (the shortcomings of blog is limited space to convey) was that moralism can be mutually exlcusive from Great Commissional and Great Commissional doesn’t necessarily equate to evangelisitic. To be Great Commissional means to make disciples, thus using your marriage to creat disciples (not converts) and living moral lives can be void of evangelism and Great Commissional. We must be careful not to confuse being moral with being Godly though being Godly does encompass being morally upright.
To be more clear, a scenario coming to my mind is that of two kats who’re accouintability brothers. Both are trying to walk purely before the Lord and guard their sexuality in the eyes of Christ. However, for one of the kats, he’s engaged and will have the sexual aspect of his character greatly solved when he gets married. Once married, however, what often happens is that the accountabilty is cut off because for the married kat his sexual needs are met/”he got his”===and to him, the mentality is that “I don’t need accountabilty anymore like back in the day”….or the other one of “Well, the only accountabilty I need today is that of my spouse and married couples.” The single man, however, is still in need of accountabilty….but often, the responses is “That’s just how it is…..find someone else”———and then the cycles continues as the single guy repeats the process.
Great thoughts, by the way, to Lionel and Q on the issue of moralism verses godliness and how one can have a great marriage but still be lacking.
Am I off in anything I’m saying regarding scenarios, Brah? Let me know if I am…..but in light of your post and the numerous things comming to my mind that often seem to be seperating of folks in church—–from singles ministry to married couple’s ministry, I can’t help but think something’s off (especially when the focus in many churches is maintaining a great marriage or getting married—–and those who’re single often feel quite isolated when not married but simply trying to be disciples/lliving everyday life and looking for help in that area……but if often seems as if that’s not enough).
I’m curious how the early church operated in regards to singles verses married couples and whether the ministries/focus things seem to be focused on would have existed. Things seemed so much more simpler then…..and even when looking into persecuted churches, it seems to be the same deal
hi gg,
speaking from experience, i usually see your dilemma from the other side. two girlfriends could be sharing with and encouraging one another while they’re both single, but as soon as one gets married, the single sister feels like the married sister can no longer relate to her struggles. of course this is ridiculous since the married sister has been on the other side of the fence!
sometimes singles don’t want to hear from a married person telling them to “focus on Jesus”, “real love waits”, and things like that because the single ofttimes feels like, “sure that’s easy for you to say- your ‘needs’ are being met”! maybe that’s why it’s easier (not necessarily the right thing) for married folk to refer a single to a single who’s in the same boat.
another thing is that ofttimes, married folk hang out together simply because they have things in common. i know you can understand that. priorities change. hitched folk can’t run to every event, spend their money only on themselves like singles, come and go as they please like b4. but as far as ministry goes, i know we should still be there for our family- single or married.
you know you can still call me and dee. (warm smile)
I think you hit the nail on the head with this post in many areas……What I often hear from those who live within the confines of the “traditional church” (or who have been attenders @ a church since childhood/birth) is this teaching about men needing respect and women needing love. I’m not going to say that I don’t respect my husband, but I’m not going to say that’s where the sun sets and rises either. Also I’m not going to say that what I need from my husband is love; however I do need love, but that’s not it. What I as a wife need; is to see my husband loving Jesus with his whole heart, thinking of others first, laying down his life for our kids, our neighbors, being willing to stop the car and get out to speak to the man on the corner who needs a dollar to get a drink of water, but more importantly needs someone to talk to him and treate him like a human, or taking a moment to pray when he needs God’s help & not just at dinner….
Anyway, we think of marriage as an awesome refining tool that God has given to us as a gift; not only to each other but to others in need of God’s love. My husband is my best friend, my love, my partner, my encourager, my servant…..what better example of Christ’s love than to serve one another in love…this is what I’m learning about marriage now.
I personally didn’t grow up in the “church” and thought for a very long time, how lucky these people were to have grown up in truth; how I desired to be “perfect” like them….but what I’ve begun to realize as time goes on, is that I’m so thankful I lived in the terrible environment in which I grew up in….because it gave me less to HIDE. I only had to pretend long enough to keep the explosions of an angry man away from me, I didn’t have this reputation to uphold as a good member of a congregation…
That fact that I’ve met hundreds of “christians” who were raised in the truth, or the traditional church and almost all of them have the same testimony…..”I grew up in the church, or we started going to church when I was young, at the age of 9 or 12 or 7 or 15, I said the prayer and have been going to church since” has stiffled my belief that there are people who actually know Jesus personally and that there was a NEED for HIM to wash them clean of their filth. I’m not there anymore, in the sense that I’ve lost hope, because I see God bringing more and more people into our loves, who need us to just be real about what God has done in our lives and for us to articulate who the person of Jesus is vs. quoting a bible verse @ them or pretending that everything is perfect and my sin is not as ugly as yours game that I’ve experiences all to often.
Back to the topic at hand, I think these things come full circle, when you’re taught how to perform and receive praise, you’ll continue to do so in your marriage to protect the ugliness that lives inside of you. If we continue to pretend that we’re FINE and that “christians’ who are married or unmarried act and dress a certain way; we’ll continue to be inward focused and not even fully comprehending the gospel (that there are people outside this building who are dead and need CHRIST) or the reality that even if you’ve grown up in “church” your still a sinner in need of God’s grace.
When God is at the head of your marriage, it’s a beautiful thing and we’re learning that God can be at the head of our fellowship with others and is the guide in our life here….I think it’s as simple as that, when you don’t invite the true God into your marriage, it’s going to fall apart even if on the outside it’s taped together and looks nice.
I’m done rambling now, but my husband is often commenting about your blog so I figured I’d stop by and say “Hello”
Love in Christ ~ Heather
Bro. Lionel,
This is not necessarily a disagreement but I must share these thoughts:
You typed: “However this may not be popular but shyness is not an excuse to being an ambassador.It is funny that many can be bold in interviews, bold in their hobbies but shrink when it comes to the Gospel. It isn’t about being outspoken (street preaching) but being convinced of the Gospel.”
(BLD)
1. I agree shyness is not an excuse. However, boldness in one person in the marriage is no cause to badger the other person into the same evangelistic activities. That was the point I was making.
2. An interview and an evangelistic encounter are an “apples and oranges” comparison. For example, if the interviewer spits on you, throws your application in your face, curses you out, or physically assaults you, there’s a much different recourse of action than if this were to happen in an evangelistic encounter. As far as hobbies goes, the same thing would apply. It’s apples and oranges.
3. The opposition faced outwardly by the apostles prompted them to pray: “And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence,…”. Now if being convinced of the gospel is enough, then why pray this prayer? This was a group of people who were no doubt convinced of the gospel. Yet, in the face of opposition they believed it necessary to pray for boldness/confidence. It wasn’t automatic.
4. In light of this Lionel, I think that we must also consider the opposition faced by some from within their own minds. Being converted doesn’t automatically fix every malady we may have. Take an individual who never participated in class because of some physical deformity or speech impediment. Take an individual who was called “dumb” and “stupid” by their parents their entire childhood. Take an individual who was never allowed to speak and developed the habit of keeping their thoughts and feelings inside. Does coming to Christ automatically fix all these? I say not necessarily. Therefore, we each have individual struggles that may hinder us from proclaiming the gospel as others feel very comfortable doing. We should not create a standard based solely in our own freedom that we feel and then subject others to it. Is that how we “spur” one another?
Again, I don’t necessarily disagree with the object or goal of your words but perhaps the application failed a bit for me.
Let me know what you think.
BLD,
1. I agree. Did I mention anything in my post about badgering?
2. I am saying people are bold in things they feel necessary. Let me ask for example. Have you ever met somebody who would argue about a paticular sports or team or political figure but wouldn’t share the gospel if you paid them? So it is not neccesary apples and oragnes it could be a case by case, but definitely not opposing truths.
3. I never said not to pray. As a matter of fact you know my theological position, thus prayer is a prerequisite for all evangelism. The Spirit blows as Christ says and Paul tells us to pray that God would “remove the blinders” from their eyes. So you should understand that boldness and conversion is a work of God.
4. Nope there are emotional, physical and psychological problems but it is funny Moses and Jerimiah both tried to use excuses and what was God’s answer to them? One was physical the other was emotional development.
Heather,
Thanks for visiting I love the post on the Gifts of the Spirit you shared. Next I agree, I actually think churchiness is sometimes a detourant and again that is typically because our marriages are in a defensive posture and so is our parenting. We don’t teach our children to be missional in a wicked world while not being stained by sin we teach them to abstain from the world in order to not be stained.
I also believe that because of the alarming rate of marriages of “chrisitians” that are failing we are now trying to protect marriages from failing. So none of the conferences tells us how to use our marriages to fulfill the great commission. They are all about how to communicate, be romantic……. you add the word.
hi heather and daniel, i sent you guys an e-mail but you haven’t responded so i’m wondering- did you get it?
Bro. Lionel,
Your original response about shyness not being an excuse was aimed at something that I did not originally say. That’s why I responded the way I did. You were discussing couples. Therefore, since couples often have opposite personality traits I thought that it was important to add that the more outgoing one should not badger or cojole the other into the same activities. You never suggested as much. I was attempting to ADD to what you were saying, not to contrast it.
I still feel that the comparison is a case of “apples and oranges” because of the reasons I mentioned. The opposition that I face for being a Oakland Raiders fan is much different than that that I face as a follower of Christ and a proclaimer of His gospel. Although I think being a 49er’s fan is a sin, LOL!!!
Again, I was just attempting to add to what you WERE saying not to disagree with something that you WERE NOT saying. (capitals just for emphasis, i’m not yelling at you, lol!!!)
Understood!
What a wonderful post and insightful comments! It’s so true, apart from a thought provoking post that I read at Pyromaniacs blog recently, I’d never heard teachings on marriage beyond submission, romance or whatever. ALL aspects of our lives are meant to be worship unto God and should have Jesus as the focus.
Man have I got so much to learn!
Thank you so much! NS.