Tag: Marriage

From the Desk Jim Alseth: Dealing With Hidden Covenants With Death, A Possible Application: Marriage Covenants With Death, Unintentional Implied Things and Welcoming Death Maybe Where We Should Not

by theparacleteshammer, posted in Covenants, Covenants With Death, Curses

Jim Alseth is a friend and physician from Alberta, and he penned the following, that I would like to set forth as a way to better reframe marriage vows. Something to ponder and apply as you see fit, gang.

Jim writes:

Much has been said about the necessity of renouncing our hidden agreements with death.

Michael C. King spends time on that one in his book.

This morning I found myself going over that ground—in particular, our wedding vows, of all things. “Till death do us part”, and “in sickness and in health” are common components of those vows. We said them ourselves (or at least the pastor did, of which we came into agreement).

Isn’t it interesting how an event so innocent and precious to the human community can get unknowingly infected with sickness and death! This is not hyperbole, friends. Remember, the unholy realm are legalists, to the extreme.

I understand we had only good intentions and romantic notions in uttering those vows. We all want to be loved when we’re down, but the fact is they weren’t necessary. In our allegiance to Christ we already made the vow to love: “love one another”, “love your neighbor as your yourself”, etc., etc.

When we say to our future spouse, “I love you”, this ground is already covered. There simply was (is) no need to open the doors of sickness and death to the predatory legalists—in front of a house full of witnesses, at that—in such a binding agreement.

In Matthew 12 when Jesus says we would have to give account for every careless word we have spoken, He’s not being the legalistic, harsh judge I just mentioned. He himself is Love and He knows how powerful words are, for good or for evil, AND what a predatory legalist our enemies are. He doesn’t want us to get caught in our words. Praise his Name.

So I spent time confessing, repenting of and renouncing those words uttered in innocence, yet ignorance, and sending them and all their effects to the Cross of Christ; and further, asking Him to close those doors to sickness and death forever. Hallelujah.

May the Life and Health of the King be upon you undiminished this day, beloved. Amen and Amen.

The End or Clause of Three Segments in Ephesians 5-6: Qualifying Statements on Authority and Submission

by theparacleteshammer, posted in Ephesians, Exegesis, Interpersonal Relationships, Male and Female, Uncategorized

The above image shows a parallel between these three items. Not to rule over, but to LEAD well into the things of Christ. And now, look at for each of you, what that looks like, and increase the understanding of what that love looks like.

Husbands, what does it look like to lead wives with love without demanding submission, but rather with a tenderness and affection that nonverbally commands their respect? There is a massive difference between demanding respect and commanding respect. One difference is in your earned authority. Think deeply about what it looks like to earn authority and walk in your office of husband properly.

I understand that abuse of spouses has led to lack of basic trust. I was the victim of spousal abuse.

Before we launch into a diatribe of how one side or the other of this equation is missing the boat, let’s handle our own issues, woundedness, trauma, parts, and sin, rebellion, iniquity, and abomination. We have to grow into all things in Him, which means, we speak to the fullness of these dynamics.

So, our responsibility is to flesh out the hard questions.

Indeed, we will have to eventually look at the concept of submission. Wives, once trust has been actually restored, beyond mutual respect, what does that ugly S-word a look like in the context of a husband’s affection? Affirming the design of your husband or wife (the building and warrior dynamics of your spouse) and affirming the where of their design for leadership, what does that complex thing look like?

Fathers, what kind of method includes instruction and training that does not exasperate or provoke to wrath or exasperation?

Masters, what does it look like to lead those who serve you without threats?

Believers, what does it look like to supply/making supplication for your household of fellows in Christ?

Ponder this with me, builders and warriors.

Not, “what has John MacArthur or Beth Moore or Arthur Burk said?”, but what are the Lord and your spirit saying about these items?