If you haven't heard the news and aren't up on pop culture like most people are, Brad and Angelina are getting a divorce. (They are famous movie stars for those who have no idea. I actually can't remember ever seeing a movie either of them are in.) They lived together for ten years and then decided to get married in August of 2014. Now, only two years later, they are getting a divorce according to this article. You would have thought with ten years of experience living together, they would have known for sure that they were perfect for each other and this is why they married.
Culture no longer understands the definition of marriage and puts little value on it. Marriage was created by God and it is the union between a male and a female for life, until death do they part. The marriage bed is to be kept undefiled so this means there is to be no sexual relationships before marriage or after marriage with anybody other than their spouse. (Yes, I know the majority of Hollywood could care less about God and His ways. However, He is still their Creator and they will suffer the consequences of disobeying His ways.)
The sad part is that many Christian couples look no different than Hollywood couples. They live (have sex) with each other and try it out before committing to marriage believing that this will better help them to decide if marriage is right for them. Many chose never to marry and most go separate ways after a while which is similar in feeling to a divorce. They are learning from Hollywood instead of from God's Word.
Too few women have wisdom today. They misunderstand men. Godly men marry so they can have sex and have it freely. They wait to find a godly woman who wants a godly man to commit their lives to each other. Women who aren't godly give themselves away for free. They place no value on themselves or the men they live with. Sex is cheap for them and commitment is old-fashioned and not worth waiting for. They have missed out on the beauty of marriage the way God created it from the beginning of time.
Women, if you aren't teaching your children about the Lord and His ways consistently, your children will grow up to act more like unbelievers than believers. Our nation idolizes Hollywood. Hollywood is constantly having award nights to acknowledge and fawn over each other. (We never watch them since we have no idea what any of the movies are and few of the actors and actresses, plus the women flaunt their immodesty by the dresses they wear.)
I just finished reading and studying 1 John. It's all about love and how Christians should be walking in love and known for their love towards others. If you don't love, you aren't His child. Interestingly, the last verse states, "Little children, keep yourselves from idols." Now, this seems like it was quickly thrown in there since the rest of the chapter is talking about love. However, idols keep us from loving and living as we should. God should be the only one we serve because He is the beginning and definition of love. God is love.
If you serve and idolize Hollywood, you won't love as you are commanded to love. Love does another no harm. Cheating on a spouse, having sex before marriage, being involved in porn, living together before marriage, and all the other sexual sins have nothing to do with love. They only have to do with self and idolizing something other than the Lord. If you truly love, you will do nothing to harm anyone else, including your future spouse if you aren't married, your spouse if you are, and your children from divorce. This means you won't commit fornication, adultery, or be involved in any type of sexual immorality with anyone else ever because of the harm it does to everyone involved. This is why God commands us to flee it.
Make the Lord the only "idol" in your life. Serve Him and obey Him. He tells us to believe on Him and love others. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves, including your future husband or your present one.
And this is His commandment. That we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
1 John 3:23
photo source
Women, if you aren't teaching your children about the Lord and His ways consistently, your children will grow up to act more like unbelievers than believers. Our nation idolizes Hollywood. Hollywood is constantly having award nights to acknowledge and fawn over each other. (We never watch them since we have no idea what any of the movies are and few of the actors and actresses, plus the women flaunt their immodesty by the dresses they wear.)
I just finished reading and studying 1 John. It's all about love and how Christians should be walking in love and known for their love towards others. If you don't love, you aren't His child. Interestingly, the last verse states, "Little children, keep yourselves from idols." Now, this seems like it was quickly thrown in there since the rest of the chapter is talking about love. However, idols keep us from loving and living as we should. God should be the only one we serve because He is the beginning and definition of love. God is love.
If you serve and idolize Hollywood, you won't love as you are commanded to love. Love does another no harm. Cheating on a spouse, having sex before marriage, being involved in porn, living together before marriage, and all the other sexual sins have nothing to do with love. They only have to do with self and idolizing something other than the Lord. If you truly love, you will do nothing to harm anyone else, including your future spouse if you aren't married, your spouse if you are, and your children from divorce. This means you won't commit fornication, adultery, or be involved in any type of sexual immorality with anyone else ever because of the harm it does to everyone involved. This is why God commands us to flee it.
Make the Lord the only "idol" in your life. Serve Him and obey Him. He tells us to believe on Him and love others. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves, including your future husband or your present one.
And this is His commandment. That we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
1 John 3:23
photo source
Logging you in...
pamelambc 33p · 444 weeks ago
You are right in that women should value themselves more than to "give it away" to just anyone. 50 years ago, certain things were shameful (everyone knew the girls with the "reputations" ) Now, no one seems to care, and sin is not only paraded around but supported. Sad.
Lori Alexander 122p · 444 weeks ago
Lissa · 443 weeks ago
Eventually the beatings were daily and lead to permanent back and neck problems. I know struggle with PTSD. He had learned how to seriously hurt people from military training and used it on me. He would attack me in my sleep and rape me. He did so much worse that I still can't speak about it openly. I pleaded for counseling and still her refused. I kept trying to treat him better and better hoping it would stop. He finally told me that he had taken out a life insurance policy that would cover the cost of a luxury car he always wanted. In other words he planned to torture me until he could find a way to end my life.
I had no choice but to leave ,and it would be expensive (we were stationed in the Pacific). I worked and hid the money I needed to escape. I talked to him about how I felt, and told me that me leaving meant he could be a geo bachelor and would get him extra money.He claimed he was mad because he would have to pay for his filth by himself. I had hoped it would give him a wake up call, that didn't happen in the least.I barely made it, my physical problems from the abuse made it harder.
When I came home I consulted my priest. He saw reasoning in me leaving and did support my idea to divorce because of the adultery and the violence I endured.Divorcing in my family is very rare. A bishop had my marriage wiped from the church h. I never imagined it happening to me. I didn't ask for anything in the divorce, I just needed freedom. Afterwards he still pays people to harass me, while going g through separation he audio recorded himself having sex with women telling me that some women know their place: with their mouth shut and on their back! He even annotated on his tax records that he still considers me his property and that he will reclaim me when he wants.
I agree that divorce is no joke. Marriage is sacred.However, in the midst of true evil I had to choose life or death and I chose life. I believe God gave me the strength to save myself. There are cases such as mine where divorce (the absolute last resort in my book) may be what saves someone. I would love to hear opinions on this.
Lissa · 443 weeks ago
Katie · 444 weeks ago
We live near a small town, and there are several couples who live together but aren't married. They have children together, yet don't marry so they can receive more financial assistance from the government. You see them posting on Facebook about how happy they are when they find out they're pregnant again, yet still have no intentions on marrying. While it's hard to know how to respond (many act so happy and congratulate them), I give thanks that at least they aren't getting abortions. My heart aches for the kids who deserve to have parents that are married and committed. It's sadly getting to be the norm around here... Couples living together and having children, going to the bars often and living immorally, then splitting up a few years down the road. Then often doing the same thing all over again with someone else. The children will probably grow up to think its normal and do the same. It just seems sad to me. My friends and I tried to reach out to a few of them and invite them to church or bible studies and show love, but they choose not go or end up only attending once or twice. It's something that's been in my mind lately and I'd love to know what more we can do. It's a small, fairly conservative town we live by (less than 900 people yet we have eight different churches in the community, so many options for them) and I think they know deep down what they're doing is wrong and they don't want to have to think about it.
Lori Alexander 122p · 444 weeks ago
2happy4 66p · 444 weeks ago
Contrary to that I have heard the world saying to "have it all!" and "all" is a husband, house, car, two kids, etc. etc. etc. (The "American Dream"). God says that we are to worship Him alone and have no other idols (or ideas/dreams) before Him.
Lori Alexander 122p · 444 weeks ago
Karen · 444 weeks ago
Sex is certainly part of marriage, but it's just a part. Are you suggesting that no Godly man would get married for any other reason, or that they wouldn't get married if sex was available outside of marriage? What about companionship, building a Godly home, raising children together, loving and supporting each other, serving God together, etc.? That's the other 23 hours of the day, after all.
Lori Alexander 122p · 444 weeks ago
Ash · 444 weeks ago
Just wanted to add this interesting tidbit: She allegedly is divorcing him because she doesn't like the way he interacts with their 6 kids and is seeking full physical custody. He allegedly said that this is what's best for the kids.
Lori Alexander 122p · 444 weeks ago
Ash, the Lord tells us to learn contentment so it takes practice but it becomes easier the more you practice. Remind yourself to be content with what you have, what you look like, and who the Lord made you for godliness with contentment is great gain.
KiwiGuest · 444 weeks ago
I like both Brad and Angelina as actors, and I admire their humanitarian ways, but their divorce is very sad for all concerned, although unfortunately, it's not at all surprising. It is very rare for couples in Hollywood to stay together for long.
EHC · 444 weeks ago
Also, so many shows, even ones that are rated PG, use the Lord's name in vain. How can we as Christians sit and indulge in those shows as the Lord will not hold guiltless those who do?
Here is a very sobering post on entertainment and the Christian: http://www.bibleanswerstand.org/Tom_1.htm
Thinking about this puts the fear of God in my heart. But in the past, I would have considered Christians legalistic for thinking this way.
Lori Alexander 122p · 444 weeks ago
Many people call Christians legalistic since they want to be their own god and live their lives the way they want, not understanding that all of the Lord's principles He has given us to live by are for our own good.
Pam · 444 weeks ago
Pam
Lissa · 443 weeks ago
I wholeheartedly agree that modern society takes marriage too lightly. It is a wonderful thing that you have had a wonderful marriage and act as a role model for young Christian couples. Although, I have a personal story I would like to share with you.
When I was young I married a man that I felt was was my soulmate. We married and soon were with child. He was in the military and he was attending additional training in Virginia. This is where control started. He refused to get my ID card until the last minute meaning I could not move freely around the base or go to the store even because I would not be able to get back without him. This also meant I had no prenatal care except for a blood test and an ultrasound I paid for on a visit at home. I had to rely on him solely for food even. He wouldn't bring food for both of us... just him. I prayed and prayed for God to show him his errors and for guidance as to what I could do as his wide to help. Due to high stress and being undernourished, we lost our son.
He then left to go spend time with his high school sweetheart 1000 miles away. I was so upset that he would do this after what we had both just lost. I forgave him. We finally got to our permanent duty station. I committed to being the best wife for him. Giving him attention, support, an abundance of love, gave hime respect and paid deference to him treating him like a king,truly making him my number one priority, caring for all things so he could relax after work, make sure that when he talked I listened not just waiting for my turn.He originally wanted me to stay home, once he started finding pornography and other women on the internet he demanded I find a job. So, I did. He then started taking the money I was making for his subscriptions to naked girl chatting sites, pornography, Ashley Madison and other sites meant for affairs. His whole boat knew he did this and mocked me for it.I refused to sponsor adultery in our marriage, however I didn't blow up at him I knew it would only make things worse. He recklessly spent money and relied on me to pay everything.I even tried to have a calm conversationI asked if we could do counseling to save our marriage. He refused when I calmly suggested that we sit down and talk about what we can both do to make this better. I told him I wanted to understand what needs of his weren't being met. This is where it started to get bad. He hit me over the heads with a heavy liquor bottle and told me I was his property to do what he wanted with. He cut me off from my family (told our cell company they were scammers and to block those calls) I had no one to talk to.
Marie · 443 weeks ago