A cautious or “soft” charismatic position is a secondary doctrinal issue, not a question of salvation. Some churches simply remain open to the possibility of miraculous gifts today without pressuring members to speak in tongues or treating a later spiritual experience as necessary for full Christian standing. The more important question is whether a dating …
Pastor Mike strongly advises against using someone whose only ministerial credential is an instant internet ordination. A Christian wedding solemnizes a serious covenant before God, and the officiant should understand Scripture, marriage, pastoral responsibility, and the meaning of the vows. Online credentials do not demonstrate theological training, recognized character, accountability to a church, or qualification …
Pornography is a serious form of sexual unfaithfulness in the heart and can cause profound damage to a spouse and marriage. Pastor Mike nevertheless distinguishes it from the physical sexual immorality described in Matthew 19 and does not regard pornography alone as the same biblical ground for divorce. The distinction does not minimize the sin. …
Pastor Mike encourages pursuing carefully supervised reconciliation rather than moving directly toward divorce when a separated spouse professes conversion, is baptized, participates faithfully in church, respects boundaries, and appears to be changing. Marriage is a covenant, and genuine repentance can produce real transformation. Begin pastor-led counseling now and involve mature believers who can provide accountability …
Withholding information and lying are not the same thing. People are not morally required to disclose every fact in every situation, and compassionate caregiving often requires limiting information that would cause unnecessary confusion or repeated distress. A caregiver may redirect a conversation, omit details the person cannot process, or offer reassurance without explaining everything that …
Christian men who desire marriage should take thoughtful action rather than assume suitable opportunities will appear within a small congregation. Begin by identifying doctrinally aligned churches within a reasonable distance and asking their leaders to cooperate in creating social settings for Christian singles. These gatherings need not be forced Bible studies or matchmaking programs. They …
Based on the circumstances described—an unbelieving spouse abandoning the marriage, forcing a divorce, and rejecting reconciliation—Pastor Mike understands 1 Corinthians 7 to permit the abandoned Christian to remarry. The new marriage must be “in the Lord,” to a genuine believer. The specific facts matter, so someone in this situation should seek counsel from faithful pastors …
In 2 Corinthians 6, “unequally yoked” describes the fundamental spiritual mismatch between believers and unbelievers—light and darkness. It should not be redefined to describe every difference in maturity, personality, strength, or behavior between two Christians. Two genuine believers can nevertheless have serious marital problems. One spouse may be harsh while the other becomes bitter; one …
A husband is already called by God to love his wife. Ephesians 5 commands sacrificial marital love, and the Song of Solomon celebrates the affection and connection of marriage. Seeking God does not eliminate the responsibility or desire for loving closeness between spouses. Ask your church’s pastors for help and request a meeting with your …
Assurance should rest on what Scripture says, not merely on another person’s reassurance. If someone has examined her life in light of biblical teaching and concluded that she lacks the fruit of regeneration, friendly approval should not be allowed to silence that conviction. A husband may speak privately with the person offering reassurance. The conversation …
Pastor Mike advises against pursuing a serious dating relationship with someone committed to a liberal or progressive church led by female pastors. The concern is not merely a secondary disagreement about baptism or end-times chronology; it reflects a fundamentally different approach to biblical authority and interpretation. A Christian considering marriage should look for a spouse …
It is better for an unbelieving spouse to recognize that he or she has not been converted than to rest in false assurance. A Christian spouse should continue encouraging what is right, because restraining sinful behavior is good even though outward reform cannot replace the new heart that comes through salvation. Keep exposing your spouse …
A father who commits adultery, divorces his wife, and abandons his family has acted dishonorably. Honoring a parent does not require pretending the conduct is respectable or maintaining the same closeness that existed before the betrayal. Forgiveness begins by surrendering personal vengeance and entrusting judgment to God. Full relational reconciliation is different: it requires repentance …
Repentance does not require recounting every past sexual sin to a future spouse. Scripture commends wise restraint, warns that repeating a matter can separate close friends, and calls believers to speak what builds others up and gives grace. Full disclosure can sometimes cause needless harm, especially when it merely revisits forgiven details or identifies someone …
Beginning a marriage by excluding loving Christian parents is ordinarily a serious mistake. Marriage joins more than two individuals; it also creates lasting relationships between families, with future holidays, grandchildren, and shared responsibilities. An adult child does not require parental permission in every circumstance, especially where parents are abusive, manipulative, or opposing a biblically faithful …
Persistent profanity, intimidation, and the use of Scripture to berate a spouse are serious sins. A professing Christian who refuses to repent after pastoral confrontation should face church discipline. If he continues to deny Christ by his conduct, the church should no longer affirm his profession merely because he claims to know the Bible. That …
Begin by asking your husband to establish a regular time for prayer and spiritual conversation together. Expressing that desire is not the same as taking over his role; it gives the two of you an opportunity to agree on a simple practice. Family meals provide a natural place to begin, especially now that you have …