Comments on: Love: Answer to Hostility

By: sharon

sharon — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 22:17:18 +0000

marilyn
not defencive at all just don’t want others to stay in an abusive relanship thinking it is what God would want

By: Marilyn

Marilyn — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 02:06:08 +0000

Sharon, I would NEVER encourage a wife (or husband) to stay in a physically abusive or threatening environment — one’s physical safety, and that of her/his children, is of utmost importance! It was wise of you to seek safety for yourself and your children. Furthermore, Sharon, as your abusive spouse was unfaithful to you with your friend, I’m not quite sure why you feel defensive about your decision to divorce. How wonderful that God provided a loving, faithful husband/father for you and your children! The only other reason that I can find in God’s Word that qualifies divorce is abandonment. Paul instructs us in 1 Corinthians 7:15 that if an unbelieving spouse leaves his/her mate, we are to let him/her go. We are not bound in these circumstances to remain umarried.

By: sharon

sharon — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 00:59:33 +0000

marilyn
you have your beliefs and i have mine but as one who has had a gun pulled on me and had the life of my children threatened and a husband who then left me for a “friend” i think i made a chose that God would have wanted me to by siging those devorice papers. i protecteced my children andHe saved my life so i could care for them. now i have a Godly man He led me to and we love and honor oneanouther.

By: Marilyn

Marilyn — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 00:54:01 +0000

Sharon, I did not say that you specifically created your own version of God, but that any image of God or characterization of Him that is not fully supported by the Scriptures is our own image of Him, not the Bible’s. Please forgive me if I’ve offended you, but the reality is it doesn’t really matter what we “think” or “don’t think” about God if it is not substantiated by His Word. We have not been left to wonder what God feels or thinks about things — He has given us His Word, which is truth, and unchanging. Since Jesus told us that marital infidelity was the only valid reason for divorce, and divorcing for any other reason translates into adultery (Matt 5:31; Matt 19:19; Mark 10:11; Luke 16:18), why wouldn’t the spouse who honors her/his wedding vows despite rejection, even emotional abuse, be considered as “suffering for His Name?”

By: sharon

sharon — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 00:09:21 +0000

marylin i did not create my own version of God either

By: sharon

sharon — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 00:08:00 +0000

the suffering we are to bear is for His name and way not from someone we love or who is to love us a huaband (wife) are to love one each other not hurt each other God give many reasons for devorice

By: Marilyn

Marilyn — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 02:32:01 +0000

Hi Sharon! I am certain that the Lord does not want us to be abused, but I cannot find a single scripture where we are told to not tolerate abuse and/or flee it. Instead, there are innumerable verses throughout the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, where God’s people are allowed to experience suffering, even told to expect it, and assured of God’s comfort and steadfast care in the midst of it. We can suppose all we want about God, even create our own version of Him, but we can know what is true ONLY from His revelation of Himself in Scripture. Abuse is universal and has been in existence since Cain killed Abel. If God did not want His people abused, He has the providential power to stop it. I believe He chooses, instead, to give them His grace to withstand the abuse, even ‘turning the other cheek’. Though God may not want abuse to occur, He offers His grace and strength in facing it, not running from it.

By: sharon

sharon — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 20:11:38 +0000

i have many people who have hurt me in the past and try very hard to forgive them. but i still don’t think The Lord wants us to be abused in any way

By: Joy

Joy — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 14:11:13 +0000

Thank You all for your prayers it has surely made a difference in my thoughts and life right now I do apprecite all the kind and encoraging words.

By: Marilyn

Marilyn — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:03:53 +0000

and, thank you, Deebee, for your kind words! Your loving encouragement to Joy is a testimony to your faith and trust in the Lord! :)