Brother GB wrote:
Over time two people who love Christ and take the cross and cease to view the other as their means of satisfaction become united not only in spirit but become one souled. There is a reality and beauty of Christ between them which others see and admire.
_________________Jeff Marshalek
What do we do with these verses?Phl 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sakeRom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together. None of us wants to suffer, right? Did Christ want to suffer? In His suffering, what did He accomplish for those that believe in Him? How hard was it for Christ to see His own death? The cup He had to drink drink in the garden with all our sins in that cup. Just think of it every sin in the world was in that cup, I was in that cup. The Lamb of God who take away the sin of the world. Jhn 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.Hbr 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.That is why we can say we were truly crucified with Christ and it no longer us who life but Christ the Lamb who live in us and gave Himself for us because He loved us. Then like the thief on the Cross that believed that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, he was with Him in Paradise. Luk 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. Not only was the thief crucified next to Christ but he was crucified with Him on The Cross of Christ, the King of the Jews, Jesus placed the thief in Paradise with Him, just like Jesus has placed us in the Heavenlies with Him already, and He will come again and bring us to Himself, whether we live or die so shall we all be with the Lord and in Him and Him in us forever, Amen.May we see Christ in each other because we see Christ in ourselves. A spouse should see not only Christ in him or herself but also in their mate. It is very hard to argue with Jesus Christ. Who really matters? Christ or our petty needs that we think our mate is supposed to fulfill for us, wrong. Let us love as Christ loves us, but most of all let us love because of Christ in the person or the capacity to have Christ in a person. Saved or to be saved by the Love of Christ and His Cross. In Christ: Phillip
_________________Phillip
Loveslave, Earlier you mentioned some possible explainations for sinful choices - abortion, homosexual, etc. Perhaps those influences - like Women's Lib may have an effect in facilitating wrong choices, but I feel that the real reasons go much deeper - like right into the person's own heart. Here are some testimonials of those whom God has set free from a homosexual past. I think that they themselves help us to understand what influenced their choices in the past. [url=http://www.exodus.to/testimonials_start.shtml]Exodus - testimonials[/url]Also regarding abuse, and being willing to "suffer" needs to be futher thought through. We are called to suffer for the sake of Christ, but not ENABLE the sinner to continue in his destructive pattern. That is not love, and doesn't help the sinner see the need to repent! There is a time for one to remove themselves from the abuser. This topic is far to big to cover here, but it it worth persuing. For now, I'll just share this: I know a lady who was being abused. She had no money, was not "allowed" to use the car, etc etc. God saw her and took pity on her. He miraculously had someone GIVE her a car, someone else gave her money, and someone else gave her a home and a job in another place - all separate events, but at the same time. God himself removed her, and then worked in her life to restore her. The understanding of the word, "submit" is usually distorted. The Bible is far more egalitarian than our society, or the church (where it brings society's values into the church).Ephesians 5:21 says, "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Then in the next verse it says, "Wives submit to your husbands." I believe that the same word, "submit" is used, but we have made it mean two different things. One expanation I heard: To submit is to yeild our rights for the sake of another - like Jesus washing the disciple's feet, like Mom getting up in the night to feed her newborn. It is to consider others better than ourselves. But others above ourselves. Always love. Christ submitted to mankind by giving his life. That did not mean that mankind had authority OVER him. I believe that godly submission has nothing to do with hierachy - anyone being above another. I think it is clear in scripture that no one is to assert themselves over another in any way. On the other hand, no one is to surrender themselves UNDER another person - in that that person replaces the role of Christ in their lives - trusting in man to be their protector, and provider. A woman is accoutable to Christ. In the Spirit, Christ is her authority. Therefore she can never use her "unsaved" husband as an excuse for not being all that Christ has called her to be. She cannot excuse her passive maladaptive behavior as her "calling to suffer". Whereas men have tended to dominate because they are stronger, there has also been the problem of women desiring to have someone over them - just like Israel wanted a king to RULE over them. The curse not only included pain in childbirth, and weeds, but also woman's craving to have man be her "knight in shining armor", and for man (the stronger) to rule over her. Those are just a few thoughts for now. Diane
_________________Diane
Also regarding abuse, and being willing to "suffer" needs to be futher thought through. We are called to suffer for the sake of Christ, but not ENABLE the sinner to continue in his destructive pattern. That is not love, and doesn't help the sinner see the need to repent! There is a time for one to remove themselves from the abuser.
Diane,That's a wonderful testimony of God's power and love to your friend.I don't want to say much here, about domestic violence, but simply to pick up one point made by GB:
Sister, not to suggest that one should remain in an abusive and dangerous situation but Christ suffered unjustly at the hands of sinners. And if we are one with Him we will experience the same things. "the servant is not above His Master.
Sister, not to suggest that one should remain in an abusive and dangerous situation but Christ suffered unjustly at the hands of sinners.
Wow, Diane, you said a mouthful! I concur 100% w/ your statements re: enabling and the fact that the church is not altogether aware or prepared (many times) to address the inner healings that must-MUST-take place before th wounded person is able to begin to get out of the survival mode and regain some semblance of LIFE. Whom the Son has set free, IS free, indeed. I heard someone say a long time ago, that we are called to be Martyrs for CHRIST, NOT for our spouse. Even then, it's a whole different thing. I guess in my experience, it was a matter of the abuser setting themself up to be god, and anyTHING that didn't fall in line, was going to pay dearly. And about the AA understanding another drunk better than other ppl is right on the mark. I find that in many situations, it is SO unbelievably easy for us to throw a pat answer to ppl, when we really have NO IDEA what they are REALLY going through. I can't tell you what I would do in your place, if I've never been in your place. On the other hand, even if I have, I can only tell you what worked for me. Isn't this an interesting place that we've ended up, so far, as a result of "Women need to find their place...."?! Methinks that perhaps women ARE finding their place. OUT of the pit, and UP on the mountaintops, braving the winds of the world---with or without a mate beside them. Coz, really, guys, aren't we all pretty equally helpless when you put thing in perspective? Ants ALL pretty much look the SAME to me: tiny, black (or red) and, well, ant-ish. Thank GOD I lived long enough to find out that God actually DOES like women...abbie :-o
Methinks that perhaps women ARE finding their place. OUT of the pit, and UP on the mountaintops, braving the winds of the world.
with or without a mate beside them
I believe that the church, in its zeal to encourage outer transformation, has not grasped the psychological dynamics, and has even viewed those who wish to address it as "humanistic". This is tragic, and merely keeps a lot of people imprisoned in a superficial religious state of "righteousness" This also keeps the most needy people away from a healing, compassionate environment.