Muse you stepped over the line my brother!
I think that ValleyGal is one of the only women of the very few on this thread that has tried to help you with the right spirit. There have been other women that made some comments but ValleyGal has actually stuck up for you. Some of these women have not been balanced in their ganging up on you but ValleyGal has been balanced and then you go and judge her marriage as unbiblical!
If you interpret the Bible and are convienced that the Traditional model is the right one for you then apply that to yourself and stop worrying about others. You have insulted and judged ValleyGal!
Muse, stop alienating the very few allies that you have and shut up about other people’s marriages. You are here because you want us to give you ideas and perspectives about your marriage and situation with your wife. You are not here to judge someone else’s marriage.
My posts have been trying to add in the Christian approach of building up a man that is in pain. What do you do but point out to all these women that their marriage is unbiblical. You have not been appointed as the head Pharisee of this thread so knock it off!
Also, you stepped over the line by inferring that ProudMom’s daughters have an unbiblical marriage. You need to apply your interpretations about the Biblical position on marriage to your marriage and leave your judgments about Proudmom’s daughters out of this thread and any another thread.
Muse, you have done some good things for your wife and children and your enthusiasm for he scriptures are admirable and I believe you are a good man but your insensitive insults to ValleyGal and Proudmom and others reeks of someone more interested in your own interpretation of the law rather than the spirit of Christ.
The spirit of the Christian family is more important than your interpretation or their interpretation of the biblical position on marriage roles.
I can understand having a few posts where you or anyone can get a little heated , I have done that from time to time, but these 300 posts of the same thing is getting little old for me, how about you?
I have to say I am truly and genuinely shocked at the negative tone toward the word “unbiblical” on this particular sub forum of general marriage.
From my background, it is not considered disrespectful, or degrading to say that you believe another’s Christian’s position (or a whole other Christian denomination’s position) was “unbiblical”.
In my background there is a big difference between saying that someone is acting “unchristian” vs “unbiblical”.
I have attended churches all over the country (when I have moved for work, or my dad did, or for Bible conferences) and never have I been in a group of Christians that regarded “unbiblical” as a derogatory phrase the way it is here.
Simply put when one believer says to another that he believes something to be “unbiblical”,(whether he is saying it of that person’s conduct or an entire group) it means he believes based on his interpretation of the Scriptures that God does not condone that behavior, or it somehow violates one of God’s commands or principles for Christian living.
Yes – “unbiblical” does imply there is one way to do something often times. Would I be right in assuming that the owners of this board have come to the position based on their own Biblical interpretation that certain activities are unbiblical?
Do not promote homosexuality
Do not promote or encourage adultery or premarital sex
Do not promote or proselytize religious beliefs or religions
(including Satanism or Occultism) other than Christianity
I would guess the answer is yes, they believe to promote these things would be unbiblical.
On the polygamy front I was warned by moderators here that Christian forums does not consider polygamy to be Biblical (thus unbiblical) and should steer away from starting threads that say it is. I accepted that. I was not insulted by the fact that the board thought a position I believed about the Bible was “unbiblical”.
In fact it has been standard when I have taught Sunday School in churches throughout the years that Pastors would come up to me and tell me hot button issues that the church thought were “unbiblical”. I have had many a discussion with Christian friends (of various denominations) where we were able to share with one another that we thought our denominations positions on various topics were “unbiblical”.
I have no doubt that there are devout Christians on this board like ValleyGal , ProudMomxmany and others who believe their positions on marriage as well as host of other positions are indeed Biblically based on their own interpretation and understanding of the Scriptures, and I can respect that.
That being said, I believe I have detected that this board is only tolerant of privately held beliefs. Basically you say “I just believe this is right or wrong (whatever the subject) for my family, or this is Biblical or unbiblical for my family or marriage” then everything is kosher.
But if you have a conviction about something (based on your own interpretation and understanding of the Bible) that something is wrong or right for everyone – that type of thought won’t be tolerated.
But only on certain subjects, because I would bet there are certain commonly held Christian beliefs that we would be able to hold as apply to everyone.
If I were to say I have conviction based on my own interpretation and understanding of the Bible that Jesus Christ was God in the flesh, died for the sins of mankind and whoever believes in will be saved, that Jesus is the only way to God, and the only way to heaven, and I believe any position to the contrary is”unbiblical” I would guess I would not get smacked for that.
Or if I were to say I have a conviction based on my interpretation of the Bible that homosexuality is wrong, not only for my family, but for all families would I be wrong in saying that? I would guess I would not get smacked for saying that on this board.
Or If I were to say I have a conviction that pre-marital sex is unbiblical I probably wouldn’t get smacked for that.
But apparently the traditional ONLY position, the conviction that millions of conservative Christians have around the world, that not only is traditional marriage right for their marriage, but is God’s design for all marriages – will not be tolerated on this board, and is actually considered “rude”.
I have heard some things here and recognized some things in my life that need work. I have never said I was the perfect husband in any way shape or form. But what I am getting from you and others is – if I open my marriage and am asking questions about what people think, if they respond on how their marriage works, I am forbidden from saying I disagree from a Biblical perspective of the example they are giving me from their marriage.
As far as the question from another poster about my previous divorce. Yet I believe it was Biblical, she had an affair.
Another poster asked if I believed Ephesians 5:25-28 applies to both traditional and egalitarian marriages equally – I would say absolutely yes!!! It’s what keeps me in my marriage, it’s what keeps me serving and loving my wife.
And finally – just because I believe certain things to Biblical or unbiblical (as most the Christians I have ever met in my life believe things can be Biblical or unbiblical) – does not mean everything in my life in “Biblical”. We all fall short of the glory of God, we all sin, even as believers.
But just because I fall short of what I think God wants me to be as a Christian, a husband and father does not mean I don’t think he has standards to which I need to strive to attain.
My effort to follow God's commands regarding marriage or other topics in no way saves me, only Christ’s shed blood does. But that does not mean because I am not saved by works, that God does not want me to do good works, and to strive model my life after what I believe is God’s purpose and design for it.
I am done on this thread. The 300 posts have come to an end.