Want a great marriage? Â
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Hello, !
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Here's tip #1 - Never take marriage advice from people who don't enjoy their marriage - in ALL aspects.
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I was raised to believe that a "godly" marriage should look a certain way -Â
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 - Husband leads in all things,
 - Wife
submits in all things,
 - Children obey in all things,
 - And dogs are better than cats as
pets.
      Dogs are loyal. Cats are too independent.
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Okay - that last part was a stretch, but not by much.
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Here's the problem I see. We are looking for the "perfect formula" to avoiding divorce, and having a great marriage,Â
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Not realizing that the Bible is about FAITH, not formulas.
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And the "perfect formula" for marriage was - if the
wife submits, the marriage will be great.
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Maybe. Maybe not.
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Maybe the marriage will be about 2 people devoting all their time, energy and attention to the selfishness of one person.
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And that's not a great thing - not for either person.
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Listen, I both LOVE to help couples stay HAPPILY married forever AND ALSO believe that "avoiding divorce at all costs" is the WRONG goal. Â
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Is marriage a picture of Christ and His Bride, the church? Â
Yes.
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But an abusive marriage? That is an EVIL corruption of God's beautiful design.
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Let's not turn a blind eye to it.
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Let's not be guilty of telling a woman to "submit" to abuse.
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Let's not make "a forever marriage" an idol in our churches, and ignore the real needs of the people in the marriage.
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A STRONG
marriage, a HEALTHY marriage, a MUTUALLY loving marriage - that's the best buffer against divorce. Â
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Let's not rely upon a simple
"submission" formula to replace the work of admonishing, exhorting, teaching, bearing one another's burdens, and mutual submission that we as Christians are called to do.
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