Marriage Restoration Net Work Uganda: Is Marriage Still Holy?

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Is Marriage Still Holy?

This week I got a few people asking if marriage is sacred or not. They were asking if God still take marriage seriously like in the old times because time has changed and Today, marriage and the family are regularly viewed as social conventions that can be entered into and severed by the marital partners at will. It is true time and the people have changed but God has not changed and what he said before, he is still saying it. Hebrews 13:8. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” By contrast, the Bible makes it clear that, at the root, marriage and the family are not human conventions based merely on a temporary consensus and time-honored tradition. Instead, Scripture teaches that family was God's idea and that marriage is a divine, not merely human, institution. The implication of this truth is significant indeed, for this means that humans are not free to renegotiate or redefine marriage and the family in any way they choose but that they are called to preserve and respect what has been divinely instituted. This is in keeping with Jesus' words, uttered when his contemporaries asked him about the permissibility of divorce: "What therefore God has joined together let not man separate" (Matthew 19:6). For this reason, marriage is far more than a human social contract; it is a divinely instituted covenant. In Reality, What Is Marriage? Marriage is a covenant, a sacred bond between a man and a woman instituted by and publicly entered into before God and normally consummated by sexual intercourse. God's plan for the marriage covenant involves at least the following five vital principles: (1) The permanence of marriage: Marriage is intended to be permanent, since it was established by God (Matthew 19:6; Mark 10:9). Marriage represents a serious commitment that should not be entered into lightly or unadvisedly. It involves a solemn promise or pledge, not merely to one's marriage partner, but before God. Divorce is not permitted except in a very limited number of biblically prescribed circumstances. (2) The sacredness of marriage: Marriage is not merely a human agreement between two consenting individuals (a "civil union"); it is a relationship before and under God (Genesis 2:22). Hence, a "same-sex marriage" is an oxymoron, a contradiction in terms. Since Scripture universally condemns homosexual relationships. God will never sanction a marital bond between two members of the same sex. (3) The intimacy of marriage: Marriage is the most intimate of all human relationships, uniting a man and a woman in a "one-flesh" union (Genesis 2:23 -25). Marriage involves "leaving" one's family of origin and "being united" to one's spouse, which signifies the establishment of a new family unit distinct from the two originating families. While "one flesh" suggests sexual intercourse and normally procreation, at its very heart the concept entails the establishment of a new kinship relationship between two previously unrelated individuals (and families) by the most intimate of human bonds. (4) The mutuality of marriage: Marriage is a relationship of free self-giving of one human being to another (Ephesians 5:25-30). The marriage partners are to be first and foremost concerned about the wellbeing of the other person and to be committed to each other in steadfast love and devotion. This involves the need for forgiveness and restoration of the relationship in the case of sin. Mutuality, however, does not mean sameness in role. Scripture is clear that wives are to submit to their husbands and to serve as their "suitable helpers," while husbands are to bear the ultimate responsibility for the marriage before God (Ephesians 5:22-24; Colossians 3:18; see also Genesis 2:18, 20). (5) The exclusiveness of marriage: Marriage is not only permanent, sacred, intimate, and mutual; it is also exclusive (Genesis 2:22-25; 1 Corinthians 7:2-5). This means that no other human relationship must interfere with the marriage commitment between husband and wife. For this reason, Jesus treated sexual immorality of a married person, including even a husband's lustful thoughts, with utmost seriousness (Matthew 5:28; 19:9). For the same reason, premarital sex is also illegitimate, since it violates the exclusive claims of one's future spouse. As the Song of Solomon makes it clear, only in the secure context of an exclusive marital bond can free and complete giving of oneself in marriage take place.

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Pasotor Moses Kerejji and Ruth are leaders of marriage restoration network Uganda

I am the fifth child in the family of six. My father married nine times before marrying my mother. This was so because of the choices he made were not the choices of his parents. As I was growing up, I saw all the injustice which was in the families. I saw the fighting the bad words which made me fill bad and I purposed in my heart that when I grow up and get married, I will not do like the people around are doing. I said that I will have one wife to avoid what I was seeing in our family and in the families of our neighbors. Also what I was seeing in the families of my two elder brothers. For my eldest brother had three and my other brother had two but their homes were battle fields. Fighting seven to ten times every month. I said that I will not beat up my wife and that I will have only one and that when I grow up I need to tell the people not to beat up their wives. I was 14 years when I made this resolution, but I was not a Christian. When I was 16 I started talking to my two elder brothers about their fighting all the time that it was not good. And that may be having one wife can solve the problem. My eldest brother thought about it and told my father what I told them and he told him that if a young person can see this then I need to act. So he sent away the other two wives and remained with one and that was the end of fighting in the Home. And they are still married. That was in 1978. the other brother refused and he had had the same problem and he has never had a happy marriage. During this time there was a pastor who was teaching about God and three years latter I gave my life to Christ. S when I gave my life to the Lord, I started to see things differently, I knew it is God’s will for the man to love his wife and it is God’s will for the wife to respect her husband. So from what I saw in the life of my elder brother and how things were going in their home, it gave me courage to speak to my cousins who were having the same problems. Those who thought about it are having a good marriage. But I did not know that this is what God what’s me to do. I would not fill happy when I saw people fighting their wives and I would not respect the people who would advise their sons to divorce their wives because of the cultural beliefs. But I would fear to tell them that what they are doing is not right. When I grew in knowledge of the word, then I knew that this is a call on my life, like when I could see the children from the divorced families on the street of towns. So I felt the burden for the marriage and of the children on the streets. Many people have come here to help the street kids but every time we have new ones. So I decided to tackle the root cause which is the marriage of their parents. That is when I, my wife and a few couples started meeting every Sunday evening to study Gods word, pray together, and also pray for the families. We did this for one year and we thought that praying alone will not help much. The Bible says that faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God. So we said it will work more if we can go to them and teach them the word of God. That led us to start the marriage restoration network Uganda. Ruth is the second born in her family and for her case, she grew up in a Christian family unlike my self but before that it was not fine for her parents also. Before they had children and they died and the father thought that it was the fault of Ruth’s mom and they had a rough time in their marriage. After some time, her father heard the gospel, he went and asked the preacher if he got saved will God give them a child? The preacher told him that every thing is possible with the Lord. That is how he got born again and true God answered them and they had children. Two boys and one girl who happens to be Ruth. Her studied the word, and he became a pastor, his two young brothers did the same and they are pastors up to today, her elder brother is a pastor and over sees the church in three districts of eastern Uganda and happens that he is our coordinator for marriage restoration network Uganda in eastern region. So that is some thing about us and how we came to be involved in the married ministry. God bless you as you work with us to bring back marriage to God’s principals. Be blessed.

Godfrey and Sarah Ouma are the publicity coordinators for the Marriage restoration network Uganda

Calvary Greetings; About Mr. and Mrs. Ouma. Mr. and Mrs. Ouma met in 2002. Sarah was 34 yrs with two children (girls) when we got married.  With today’s high divorce rates, the phrase “ What God has joined together no man can put a sunder” has lost meaning , it has been abused so much that nobody takes it seriously .But not for Sarah and Godfrey .  Despite the difference in age that are a threat to marriages , Godfrey and Sarah have been happily married. Ours is a marriage that has unbalanced the Old social Order that the must be Older than his wife for marriage to work out ,and traditionally most people have been made to believe that marrying a woman with children is like a curse, but Godfrey died from the criticisms he got from his family and friends and accepted me with hands open wide looking beyond the children and age to pursue a long lasting relationship. It takes God’s Grace for someone who has never been a parent to begin even thinking a bout the idea, it is very involving.  Marriage is from God. There is no formula for relating. Godfrey met Sarah in the neighborhood. He was from a different Church and different social- cultural background. Sarah comes from Bushenyi District western (ug) while Godfrey hails from Busia Eastern (ug).  Tribal differences did not bother him because as born again Christian, he believes marriage is meant to fulfill God’s programme.  Marriage in Christ is enjoyable. We didn’t look at the differences and children disadvantages, but we saw them as spring boards to take us forward.  Our marriage has flourished we didn’t involve the whole clan or the society in it.  Marriage is between the two people involved and not the whole world, the world will fail.  When he proposed to me I didn’t say no outright, but in my heart I didn’nt take him seriously. was only being polite. I didn’t want to marry a poor man, I wanted a man who was well off. I prayed about it and I heard a voice during day time that he is the one.I prayed again and God showed me how riches can come to nothing. Then I knew it was God’s plan  We have not yet got children together but we believe God in everything.  To us marriage is a bout learning to forgive one another Though most people put love at the top of the list for relationship to workout, but for us we believe that the one who forgives is the one who loves.  Although she is older than her husband she respects him. A man deserves to be held in high esteem whether you have more money than him, you chose him.  We advice you people to stop hunting for beautiful faces one ought to look for the beauty of the heart, that’s when God’s promise will come true.  Sarah is agrade III Teacher and an adult Education instructor with ten years experience Adult Education, specializing in languages, and primary Education.  Godfrey has a Diploma in Human Resource management and certificate in Art and Design owning a printing workshop where he does screen printing,digital aided printing and logo Designing as well as visual paintings and prints.  The couple has joined hand and established a junior school purposely to help the urban poor, Educate their kids at the lowest costs likewise there few orphans and vulnerable children are also a warded free Education by the same school.  As a couple being both directors Goodsphepherd Education centre have not found any difficult in helping the community through Education sector, we sit down and we discuss on any part that needs attention and resolve to do something and it works because the lord is always in the control. It seemed to be a difficult venture to put up such a project, with a lot of criticism expected to make a school for business but then we did the opposite.  In all these we have really seen the hand of the lord support our projects through prayer and unity. We want to encourage you to work, Together, serve the lord together invest together you will see the returns from Jesus Christ Ecc.4.9. GOD BLESS YOU!!!!! WE LOVE YOU

Pr. Samuel and Magaret Kato are the eastern region coordinators.

About pastor Samuel and Mary Kato. I grew up it the family of a preacher of the word. I am the first born in a family of three and my father says that we are a result of prayer, for he says that every child they produced died young and they had six before us. My father was a pastor who taught about holiness and wanted me to follow him. So he took me to the bible school to become a pastor. I went and graduated in 1986. From that time I have been a pastor. I pastured Pentecostal assemblies of God church in Tororo, was a district overseer and now am now the regional overseer still in the Pentecostal church. I also teach about holiness and I travel the whole country teaching the word of God about living a holy life. From the many trips I have made in this country I found out that marriage was suffering and that as the church we need to do some thing. Many people were not committed to their marriage and there was a lot of divorce around. So I wanted the church to come in and solve the some of the problems. That is how I contacted the brothers in the Lord who were having the same conviction for the married people and we started marriage restoration network Uganda. And that is how I became the regional coordinator for ministry. I am married to my wife Mary a teacher by profession, and we have been married for the last twenty years and God has blessed us with six children. She is the leader of the women in our church and has been a source of encouragement for the marriage couples in the community. So I would request whoever has the heart for marriage who believes that God made man and woman for marriage to come and work with us at marriage restoration network Uganda to bring marriage back on God’s principals.

Mike and Teddy coordinates prayers for the ministry and teachs about prayer.

ABOUT MIKE AND TEDDY ETWALU. PRAYER KEEPS A MARRIAGE TOGETHER. Praise God my sisters and brothers in the Lord, I learnt the power of prayer when I was a young man. As a single young man, I took a step of faith and went before the throne of grace making my request known to God by prayer according to Philippians 4:6. God was faithful and answered my prayers by leading me to my beautiful wife Teddy Awori Etwalu. Now as a couple we have been in marriage for a period of14 years and what has sustained our marriage is prayer and as a couple we have learnt that prayer is a weapon that can be used shatter and destroy the enemy in the family. Isaiah 54:17; the enemy forges many weapons against the married couple i.e causing quarrels, disagreements, bitterness unfaithfulness and many others in order to destroy your family. I have a lot of examples about these things as a result of praying with couple. They tend to be so bitter to their spouses and as we pray about these particular things and ask them to repent of them I have seen families change and have happy marriages. So I realized that there is a great need for the married to pray, have family alters, forgiving one another and to pray for their spouses. So that is why we at marriage restoration network Uganda encourage married couples to maintain the spirit Love burning their hearts so that their prayers ca be effective both in their lives and also in the lives of other married couples who sees them. So join hands with us for this noble cause that our families should go back to God’s principles.

Marriage Restoration Net Work Uganda

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Is Marriage Still Holy?

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