"Spiritual Marriages"

MsBrattfield.. the scriptures disagree with you...

Paul taught that "if the unebelieving depart, let them depart, the believing spouse is no longer bound to them"

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Dr. Vaughn

MsBrattfield.. the scriptures disagree with you...

Paul taught that "if the unebelieving depart, let them depart, the believing spouse is no longer bound to them"

The scriptures don't disagree with me, other than to say that the believer should "let them depart." How does that imply that the believer isn't bound to the marriage unless and until the unbelieving spouse leaves them?

The marriage is still binding, unless and until the unbeliever departs.

Do sinners who are converted have to remarry, in order for God to recognize their union?

[OP_Carl]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

The scriptures don't disagree with me, other than to say that the believer should "let them depart." How does that imply that the believer isn't bound to the marriage unless and until the unbelieving spouse leaves them?

It doesn't. You are correct. As usual.

The marriage is still binding, unless and until the unbeliever departs.

Keep in mind that this provision is intended to deal with extreme circumstances, as new conversions of Paul's day created wide cultural divides within the home. This statement was never intended to offer a "penumbra" or loophole to encourage separation, divorce, flirtation, contemplation of alternative, Christian spouses, or re-marriage. Much less polygamy.

Do sinners who are converted have to remarry, in order for God to recognize their union?

God honors principles. The unsaved who give to the widows and fatherless are nevertheless blessed. The unsaved reap what they sow. God honors the institution of marriage whether the participants do or not.

[dizzyde]

Originally Posted by pelathais

I don't know how you got the idea "God is disinterested" from what I said. What I said was the choice was "yours" to make. And God is very interested in the choices we make.

The idea that there is someone "out there" that God has chosen for you but that He will not unerringly lead you to seems wrong to me. It seems like God is playing a game if we look at it from this point of view, IMHO. "Guess who I chose for you... guess incorrectly and you may or may not like what's behind Door Number 3! But you gotta live with it because the Almighty won't tell you which door to select!"

If God does have a single "soul mate" selected for just me, and if I did choose "incorrectly" then I should have every reason in the world (and every reason in heaven!) to dump the one I'm stuck with and hook up with the one that I now feel God had chosen for me all along. Of course with me being a simple and fallible man, you would have to just accept the fact that "God's choices" for me tend to get younger and blonder as I get a little older. Eventually I'll find the "right" one and I'll know she's "right" because her freckles will match up to my liver spots.

Of course, this makes a mockery of your point and is no where near what you intended. But my point is that we are freewill agents. I believe that there are personality types that when matched together create real "soul mates..." but - and this is the good news for those who are looking: there are probably a number of people out there who would qualify. I think you should pray and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in making such an important decision. But what this type of prayer usually ends up doing is to show us own own weaknesses and faults and makes us more aware of ourselves - thus highlightling the role another person would play in our lives. It would hopefully also point out the burdens and weaknesses that we would bring to the relationship.

For two people to start a relationship based upon the premise of "Are you the right one for me?" is selfish and burdens the relationship with silly fairytails that won't come true. Instead, how about, "Am I good enough that anyone in their right mind would be willing to put up with me?"

In my view love is not a lottery to be won or lost - pick the right number (person) and you "win." Love is a quality and virture that each of us should strive to cultivate and to give to others. If by happenstance you find someone that you can uniquely love - more power to you. But be responsible with your choices because God is very much interested in them.