GPS to a Joyful Marriage

Ephesians 4:25 “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.  I personally believe that many Christians have abused this verse to justify their harsh words.  “But the Bible tells us to speak the truth,” I’ve heard couples in counseling say.  Yes, we don’t want to tell lies to our spouse or our neighbors, but we also don’t want to tell them every thought, good or bad, that arises in our head.  Many times, it is wiser to say nothing than to risk speaking unwholesome talk.  Verse 29 in this same chapter says, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”  If your words are not going to ‘build someone up according to their needs’, then don’t say it.  Proverbs 10:19 says, “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.” The...

I want to expand a little on my ideas on truth because I’m not certain the message on my last posting came through clearly. By no means do I suggest you lie to someone or say nothing to avoid the truth. If the truth affects the health of a person’s soul, then it should be addressed. We don’t want to cause another to stumble or miss out on eternity because we neglected to share the truth with them. What exactly is truth though? The absolute truth, or what the Bible teaches, no longer influences our society, so our thoughts on truth have been compromised. We’ve moved so far from it and regard it as ancient history from days gone by. (Actually, not that ancient. I clearly remember the strength of the truth in our society as a child.) How quickly it has catapulted to a matter of opinion. Elizabeth Cady Stanton said, “Reformers who are always compromising, have not yet grasped the idea that truth is the only safe ground to stand upon.” Maybe that’s why our country is in such d...