WE BELIEVE
(Matthew 19:26)
Forgiveness is a commandment from God. "Do not be unequally yoked" is also. Do your part to both (a) keep the peace and (b) to not be spiritually blind and bound.
Ask Yourself: "Does this unity honour God with my mind, heart, and body according to His Purpose? Has the other person involved repented? Are they humble and willing to do the work?"
Medicine and Science are to be wisely implemented in treatment and recovery, but not idolized above God or used to a numbing effect. Growing and healing pains are human and necessary. Without working and feeling through things, there is no active recovery.
Recovery is a pro-active lifestyle and doesn't end this side of heaven. There is no "quick fix" pill and no fad diet for lifelong recovery. The flesh will always be challenged, but the Spirit can overcome.
We don't look at statistics as: "BLANK % suffers from addiction." No. We look at the Biblical reality of: "100% of humans struggle with temptation," and many of us, unresolved trauma from recycled sin.
We are not alarmed at the 46% divorce rate when we look at where husbands and wives have strayed from obeying God's Word behind the scenes. Marriage takes two and both individuals must be in active recovery from even one spouse's lifestyle sin. ("Lifestyle sin" or "sin cycle" are repeated sins that have become habitual or addictive at any point in life.)
The argument "I was born this way" can often be used as an excuse for poor moral choices, behaviour, and sin cycles. In the flesh, we are all predisposed to sin, and we must not forget that disease (of the flesh) does not excuse sin and wrongful living (against the Spirit).
Back to Basics: If you know this THOUGHT will lead to this ACTION, which will lead to this OUTCOME, don't do it. (2 Corinthians 10:5)
Personal Accountability + Repentance + Commitment = Success. Take up your cross.
Believers are not exempt from worldly consequence. If Paul and David weren't, you're not.
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SCRIPTURE IS LIFE
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"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." Jesus (Luke 9:23)
"Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding." (Proverbs 15:32)
"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:11)
"Therefore, a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." (Matthew 19:4-6)
"Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended." Jesus (Matthew 19:8)
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the Will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."(Romans 12:2)
"Don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." (James 4:4)
"Be perfect, therefore, as your Father is perfect." (Matthew 5:48)
These are the words of Jesus. We must remember that Jesus didn't come to change the Law, but to FULFILL the Law. He didn't come to correct His Father, but to remind us that His Father, including God's Justice, is perfect. God has clearly indicated rightful from wrongful living, and we are to obey Him in Jesus' own words.
WE ACKNOWLEDGE:
- God hates divorce because it is the result of selfish (sinful) choices. Not one choice, but many over time, no matter how small and oftentimes: (a) done in secret because it is shameful, or (b) not repented from because the sin lacks a healthy shame or urgency to repent. "But what is done in the dark, God will bring to light." (Luke 12:2-3)
- Both the bad fruit and the good fruit of our choices will affect the generations. (Generational curses and blessings)
- Not all things are good for me to do. Not all lifestyles will get me into heaven. (1 Corinthians 6:9)
- Faith without Works (obedience) is dead. (James 2:14-26)
- Love without Respect (boundaries) is dead. Even if we do not agree with the one we love, we must respect the Free Will that God has given them. God does not tamper with Free Will, so we should not try.
- "Do not be yoked with unbelievers." (2 Corinthians 6:14) - This is a boundary that people in recovery need to take especially seriously. Jesus invited sinners to repent, but He did not yoke Himself (be in intimate relationship) with those who did not repent. The process of distancing from enablers for the recovering individual or couple is hard, but we walk you through this in our course. (Already being married to an unbeliever is an exception, which we cover in our conversations.)