An adulterous woman consumes a man, then wipes her mouth and says, “What’s wrong with that?” -Proverbs 30:20, NLT I am convinced some cheaters have so blocked off parts of their lives that they genuinely believe the lies they tell to their partners. They believe God is good with them. Their dark other life–or lives–are … Continue reading “Split Selves”
Category: Sin
Make the rules
Cheaters believe they get to make the rules. This is part of the reason they go into a rage when they discover court consequences. The control is no longer theirs. It isn’t a high school break up. Part of “justifying” their sins is making up rules that “excuse” it. These are rules like “we weren’t … Continue reading “Make the rules”
False Hope Enables Cheaters Abuse
Sharing only testimonies of reconciled and restored marriages following adultery… …feeds false hope in “reconciliation” for faithful spouses dealing with unrepentant cheaters. Show of hands. How many here thought their marriage was going to “make it” and then you would have a testimony about marriage reconciliation to share with others? I know I did. The … Continue reading “False Hope Enables Cheaters Abuse”
You do NOT have to take the lecture!
You do not have to take the lecture from the morally bankrupt Cheater. Walk away. Hang up the phone. End the session. A responsible pastor would do this for you in a session. Minimally, the pastor would correct the Cheater. However, you do not have to be passive in these situations. You have agency! If … Continue reading “You do NOT have to take the lecture!”
Still getting demands
If your cheater is still making demands…. …then you can be assured that they are not really sorry about cheating and did not really “get” the devastation of their sin against you. A person who cheats and grasps how awful a betrayal it is will not then turn on the faithful party to make relationship … Continue reading “Still getting demands”
Cheater-Speak: “But I protected YOUR reputation!”
“But I protected YOUR reputation with our friends,” says Cheater. The manipulation is the Cheater expects the “same” in return. (I use scare quotes as I doubt the Cheater actually did this.) They assume here the faithful spouse will lie for the cheater in order to make them look good to their mutual friends. I … Continue reading “Cheater-Speak: “But I protected YOUR reputation!””
Two Big Pastoral Errors
After the Lord had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has….” -Job 42:7, NIV Over and over, I see two common pastoral errors in “helping” faithful spouses. They … Continue reading “Two Big Pastoral Errors”
No Circle Backs
Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions. -Proverbs 18:2, NLT No Circle Backs People who were hard on me did not apologize once it became known that my (now) ex-wife was cheating. They did not circle back and acknowledge that their perspective might have been overly harsh and … Continue reading “No Circle Backs”
Grateful for God’s Anger!
In my distress I called upon the Lord, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry came before Him, even to His ears. Then the earth shook and trembled; The foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken, Because He was angry. -Psalm 18:6-7, NKJV My God gets … Continue reading “Grateful for God’s Anger!”
Souls are eternal, NOT marriages!
For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. -Matthew 22:30, KJV This verse is very clear. Jesus tells us human marriage does not endure in heaven. Since this is true, spiritual counsel ought to take this into account. The priority ought to … Continue reading “Souls are eternal, NOT marriages!”