"Spiritual Marriages"

[Sister Alvear]

They have no scripture. Brother Epley would be the best to tell you how they teach such a thing...however they believe that everyman has a perfect rib for him out there somewhere and off they go (some of them) looking for the rib..of course the rib must be a virgin!

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by Nina

The "Spiritual Marriages" I'm trying to understand are the ones where the man says that he married the wrong woman and that God really meant for him to be married to someone else in a "Spiritual Marriage".

Thanks again for any help,
Nina

When Eliezer, Abraham's steward went to find a wife for Isaac he prayed that God would show him signs that he was "on the right track" (Genesis 24:11-15). Some people cite this passage (among others) to show that God has some how "preselected" our mates for us.

The one thing that they seem to miss however, is that in this passage Eleizar was to select a bride for Isaac from among a group of people - not necessarily one specific girl! What Eliezar prayed for in Genesis 24:11 was the ability to fulfill his vow that he had made in Genesis 24:1-9. He was to get a bride from Abraham's kinsmen in Aram - and apparently Eliezer was partial to a girl who would go along willingly - an important consideration for a gentleman! And also important because Isaac was not to go to Aram under any circumstances.

On the subject of "spritual marriages" as you describe, I think it's best if folks are a little more honest with themselves and stopped trying to use God for their own purposes. Moses in the Law allowed for divorce "because of the hardness of your hearts..." I really don't think God would have inspired Moses to make such an allowance if it foiled some sort of divine match making service.

In the New Testament we have 1 Corinthians 7 that deals with marriage, divorce and remarriage. Notice 1 Corinthians 7:39 - the woman in question, "she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord...." The only caveat placed upon her other than "in the Lord (in the Christian faith)" is "whom she will." It's her choice!

When issues like divorce come up in our lives or in the lives of those around us, we are often faced with some very unsettling thoughts and feelings. We begin to doubt ourselves and our ability to discern and find God's favor. And while there is little we can do to keep from questioning ourselves, our faith in God should remain unshakable.

A divorce and remarriage may reveal some shortcomings about ourselves - but there really isn't a "divine matchmaking service" that we failed to hook up with somewhere along the way. To come along after the fact and suddenly "discover" such a "service" reveals that many of the shortcomings that were present to begin with are still there and need to be worked out before a person brings their mess into the life of another.

[Nina]

Thank You everyone.

The Leah/Rachel illustration is a provocative one.


It's sad when men use the polygamy from the Old Testament to condone their lust.

But, is polygamy justified by the OT and NT for the ordinary folk; those not in ministry?

Nina

[Esther]

Originally Posted by pelathais

When Eliezer, Abraham's steward went to find a wife for Isaac he prayed that God would show him signs that he was "on the right track" (Genesis 24:11-15). Some people cite this passage (among others) to show that God has some how "preselected" our mates for us.

The one thing that they seem to miss however, is that in this passage Eleizar was to select a bride for Isaac from among a group of people - not necessarily one specific girl! What Eliezar prayed for in Genesis 24:11 was the ability to fulfill his vow that he had made in Genesis 24:1-9. He was to get a bride from Abraham's kinsmen in Aram - and apparently Eliezer was partial to a girl who would go along willingly - an important consideration for a gentleman! And also important because Isaac was not to go to Aram under any circumstances.

On the subject of "spritual marriages" as you describe, I think it's best if folks are a little more honest with themselves and stopped trying to use God for their own purposes. Moses in the Law allowed for divorce "because of the hardness of your hearts..." I really don't think God would have inspired Moses to make such an allowance if it foiled some sort of divine match making service.

In the New Testament we have 1 Corinthians 7 that deals with marriage, divorce and remarriage. Notice 1 Corinthians 7:39 - the woman in question, "she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord...." The only caveat placed upon her other than "in the Lord (in the Christian faith)" is "whom she will." It's her choice!

When issues like divorce come up in our lives or in the lives of those around us, we are often faced with some very unsettling thoughts and feelings. We begin to doubt ourselves and our ability to discern and find God's favor. And while there is little we can do to keep from questioning ourselves, our faith in God should remain unshakable.

A divorce and remarriage may reveal some shortcomings about ourselves - but there really isn't a "divine matchmaking service" that we failed to hook up with somewhere along the way. To come along after the fact and suddenly "discover" such a "service" reveals that many of the shortcomings that were present to begin with are still there and need to be worked out before a person brings their mess into the life of another.

I'm sorry to disagree with you here on this subject. I believe there is "one" person that God knows would be your ideal mate. And that is why I believe we should pray that God would lead us to that person.

However, IF you don't find that person the first time around doesn't, in my opinion, give you the right to leave that one and go searching again for the right one. But IF for some reason you do not work it out and do go searching again, I believe it would behoove you to do some serious prayinga and soul searching to find that right person.

To indicate that God is not interested in our choice of mates, is extremely short sighted in my opinion.

[Esther]

I have heard someone say they believe you have a "spiritual mate" but that doesn't mean you marry them. Their opinion was they will lead you spiritually.

I have no idea where they came up with this thought.

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by Esther

I'm sorry to disagree with you here on this subject. I believe there is "one" person that God knows would be your ideal mate. And that is why I believe we should pray that God would lead us to that person.

However, IF you don't find that person the first time around doesn't, in my opinion, give you the right to leave that one and go searching again for the right one. But IF for some reason you do not work it out and do go searching again, I believe it would behoove you to do some serious prayinga and soul searching to find that right person.

To indicate that God is not interested in our choice of mates, is extremely short sighted in my opinion.

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.

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by Nina

Thank You everyone.

The Leah/Rachel illustration is a provocative one.


It's sad when men use the polygamy from the Old Testament to condone their lust.

But, is polygamy justified by the OT and NT for the ordinary folk; those not in ministry?

Nina

Does it matter really, since Jesus did NOT condone it?

[Joelel]

Originally Posted by Nina

The "Spiritual Marriages" I'm trying to understand are the ones where the man says that he married the wrong woman and that God really meant for him to be married to someone else in a "Spiritual Marriage".

Thanks again for any help,
Nina

All believers is to marry only in the Lord,that is an other believer.If a believer is married to an unbeliever they are not married in the Lord and the Lord has not joined them together.

Math.19:6: Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.


1 Cor.6:17: But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

1 Cor.7:15: But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage (under bondage means, you are not bound by the law of marriage because the person is not a believer and God didn't join them together) in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.


1 Cor.7:39: The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

[Nina]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

Does it matter really, since Jesus did NOT condone it?

Brother,
When did Jesus 'not condone it'?
Nina

[Nina]

Originally Posted by Joelel

All believers is to marry only in the Lord,that is an other believer.If a believer is married to an unbeliever they are not married in the Lord and the Lord has not joined them together.

Brother,
You have opened a can of worms, for sure!
Nina