Remedy to ward off marital maladies

Hello, mi neighbour!

But, what in the world has become of Christian marriages eenh? A wha really a gwaan? We are living in an immoral world where a Christian marriage should be exemplary but, instead, many of them fail to live up to the standard set by the Creator to guide marital relationships and, as such, are a turnoff for many who would desire to enter into this God-ordained institution. Such a shame!

The biblical definition of a Christian is someone who responds to God’s calling, repents of his sins, is baptised, receives God’s Holy Spirit, and lives as Jesus lived: according to biblical principles. This individual is said to have a spiritual birth or is “born again”. The new birth, among other things, empowers the “spiritually alive” to follow God’s guidelines regarding the management of relationships, in particular, a marriage. And that’s where I’m headed today. Please stay with me.

Like any other marriage, the Christian marriage (as many know) experiences personality clashes and financial issues. Here, partners get upset with each other for one reason or another! If one is not careful, things like mental, emotional, psychological, outside influences and so on can take their toll on a marriage that was destined for success. Be on your guard!

With some 30 per cent of Christian marriages ending in divorce (a small percentage ending by murder/suicide), despite the simple and straightforward guidelines laid down by the Creator who knows what makes for a harmonious marriage, one can only conclude that many of those who fall in this 30 per cent bracket are either stupid, rebellious, ignorant, lazy, mentally challenged or just evil. Strong language? Well.

Christians know (they don’t?) that, unless they adhere to the biblical foundations established for a marriage, their marriage can become a nightmare! In all marriages – Christian and non-Christian, tempers flare, mistakes are made, and tongues slip! But, hear this well: these things can never destroy a marriage which is laid on the solid biblical foundation of love and respect: each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

MUTUAL SUBMISSION is also a part of the foundation (don’t play with that one): submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. And there is also instruction to LEAVE and CLEAVE: for this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.

To be the exemplar Christians are called to be, the couple must engage in ACTIVE LISTENING: My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. And there must be RESPECTFUL COMMUNICATION:

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

ROLES and RESPONSIBILITIES:

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her. Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.

There MUST be mutual support and marital intimacy: Carry each other’s burdens and, in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ. The husband should fulfill his marital duties to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.” Sexual immorality must be avoided at all costs.

Then, each must make the joy of each other complete by being “ Like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.”

But I must stop here. Lighten up with these God-given principles! There can be no better remedy to ward off those marital maladies.

Hope I helped!

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To help, please call Silton Townsend @ 876 649-9636 or 876 884-3866. Email: helloneighbour@yahoo.com. Visit hellomineighbourja.blogspot.com. Townsend exclusively manages the collections and distributions mentioned in this column and is neither an employee nor agent of The Gleaner.