What Is the Closer Tie?

[Aaron]

You question presupposes an hierarchy must be in place. There is no "superior or inferior" question to answer.

Christ loved the disciples because they were part of the church which is His bride. (He loved the church and gave Himself for it...)

As I adore My Bride, I example Christ adoring the church.

I cannot rightfully place one above the other. I cannot properly worship God as first and my wife as second. We are one flesh and united in that bond. If I were to place her as second best, I would in effect bring disrepute upon Christ. Christ prayer was eluding to this element of the union of the bride (which included the disciples as the first examples of the relationship) and the work it takes to keep the enemy from making ungodly ventures into that union of the husband and wife relationship.

Just as Christ works to bring a pure and holy bride to the presence of the father, I work to bring a pure and holy bride in worship.

One just cannot erect a hierarchy of relationships in this matter and expect to extrapolate sound Scriptural principle.

So, if one is to alter his life for the sake of the conscience of his natural mate (say, in the matter of drink), it is no more than what is commanded for the sake of his brother.

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

Why do you say that?

This ...

My bond to my wife is until death. Our bond as brother and sister in the Lord is eternal. I'll choose the latter.

:thumbsup:

 

[Aaron]

You say the bond to your brother is the greater.

When did you change your mind?

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

You say the bond to your brother is the greater.

When did you change your mind?

I didn't. Look at what padredurand said:

My bond to my wife is until death. Our bond as brother and sister in the Lord is eternal. I'll choose the latter.

He isn't talking about the bond to brother, sister, or wife. He is talking about his bond to Christ. Hence, when he chose "the latter," he was responding to the wording in your OP:

Marriage, or brotherhood (or sisterhood) in Christ?

 

[Aaron]

No. My wording (and Padre's) is clear. You're misconstruing it.

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

No. My wording (and Padre's) is clear. You're misconstruing it.

I see that I am. You are not saying, "Which is stronger bond, marriage or Christ?" You are saying, "What is stronger, marriage or Christian brotherhood (fellowship)?" I knew that a few days ago when I answered the question, but in returning to the thread yesterday, I forgot the intent of the OP. Sorry.

In that case, I must still choose marriage. As we are not to be unequally yoked, our marriages are to be to our sisters or brothers. We have that eternal bond with our spouses, as surely as we have that eternal bond with our brothers and sisters in Christ. They are both our brother or sister, and our wife or husband, which is (as I said originally) second only to Christ in commitment and spiritual bonds.

Sorry I confused the thread and sort of derailed it.

 

[Yeshua1]

I see that I am. You are not saying, "Which is stronger bond, marriage or Christ?" You are saying, "What is stronger, marriage or Christian brotherhood (fellowship)?" I knew that a few days ago when I answered the question, but in returning to the thread yesterday, I forgot the intent of the OP. Sorry.

In that case, I must still choose marriage. As we are not to be unequally yoked, our marriages are to be to our sisters or brothers. We have that eternal bond with our spouses, as surely as we have that eternal bond with our brothers and sisters in Christ. They are both our brother or sister, and our wife or husband, which is (as I said originally) second only to Christ in commitment and spiritual bonds.

Sorry I confused the thread and sort of derailed it.

assuming Christian married sounds right, but what if indeed unequally yoked?