“But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars–they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
-Revelations 21:8, NIV (emphasis mine)
What if pastors led with this verse from Jesus to cheaters as opposed with all the forgiveness ones with the faithful spouse?!
Cheaters have much to fear. Their souls seem to be destined to a burning fire according to this verse. They ought to be fearing the second death.
That fire is reserved for people who live as liars, idolaters, and sexually immoral as all adulterous spouses are.
In my opinion, cheaters lack a healthy fear of God. They think they will get away with their treachery.
Some are so arrogant to believe God is fine with what they did to their spouse and family.
God is not amused.
Pastoral care on adultery seems to major in a twisted view on forgiveness and an almost totally absent awareness of God’s righteous wrath.
Instead of shaming a faithful spouse into “forgiveness,” pastors ought to be warning cheaters of the very real danger their sinful behavior is causing to their souls.
This verse from Revelations is not unclear. The spiritual danger is real.
A loving pastor will be willing to share this difficult word with the cheaters. And who knows what Holy Spirit will do?
I couldn’t agree with you more!
Unfortunately, the last time I heard a pastor refer to that verse it was not as a warning to X. The pastor used the verse to water the severity of it all down. He wanted to show me that adultery was mentioned with other sins…basically to tell me sin is sin. I was very disturbed because at that point X’s salvation was my major concern & I had hoped the fear of God would bring him to repentance.
That is just twisted and wrong. Sorry to hear you experienced such spiritual abuse.