That’s wonderful news, B!! Keep believing in your husband. Praying for continued progress in your relationship.

“Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Bek’s report of being skewered on Facebook for stating that sex and marriage are inseparable is a true, tragic reality. At what point bad attitude morphs into persecution of others–and I think even spouses can persecute–isn’t easy to pin down. But Bek has exposed some persecution from the ungodly (and even from some professing Christians) that comes from jealous hearts who wish to see others as miserable as they are–in sin, or because of sin earlier in life. Sexual sin leads to shame, and shame persists in wanting to share the misery. Always.

In SONG OF SONGS, Christian author Iain Duguid writes, “That shame [may] come from . . . desire [for sex] toward people that it ought not be toward . . . habitually viewing pornography, or deliberately using our bodies to attract the [lusting] eyes of others . . . or because of the past sins of others against them.” People who practice sexual sin, or have had sexual sin practiced on them, become better, angry and ridden with guilt. So they pass their angst on to young marrieds in the form of hateful persecution. Like Bek, I’ve seen it happen.

Jesus said, “When they persecute you in this city, flee to another” (Matt. 10:23). How well I remember, as a young schoolteacher in Indiana, being invited by an older male teacher to a weekend in Chicago to “sin a little,” the one inviting me said. I didn’t go. I had already found that “another (city).”

The kingdom of heaven of which Jesus spoke is God’s people on earth under the rule of heaven–His redeemed. We have fled to His refuge, and enjoy His blessings there. Monk Martin Luther was persecuted when he married nun Katherine von Bora, and they enjoyed their times in bed, Luther wrote. None of us has experienced Luther’s level of persecution, but in marriage, the Christian is called to experience, as a member of the kingdom, the joy of being “ravished always” with sexual love (Prov. 5:19). And as Robert Browning wrote, “Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be.”

Eric, who’s slept with one woman for 53+ years, much of the time naked (*wink*).

HAPPY DANCE!!!

Praying for you right now, dear sister!!

This is the best news I’ve had all week! I’m so glad you two are starting to work together. It has sounded to me, for a long time, like your husband loves you, but knowing how to fix things was a hard task for both of you. May God give you strength, comfort, and many blessings for your marriage.

Wow. Heartbreaking. And I’m glad you spoke up. We never know what seeds we plant, even if someone doesn’t take that advice at that time.

Also, I’ve learned that others might take away a good message from something I say, but never speak up at the time. You might have positively influenced someone else who read your response. Blessings!

I’m pleased to tell you my husband and I are FINALLY beginning to work things out. It’s been a loooong road, and I am equally to blame. I’ve had a very negative and selfish attitude. I’m so thankful to God that I’ve begun to understand this, and that we have been given the chance to grow closer.

Now that I’m in a much better frame of mind, I’d like to go back and reread all of your Beatitude posts.

One thing about this particular post that jumped out at me was:
“You start to see improvement in your sex life, and other stressors begin to interfere: job stress, family problems, illness. As if Satan himself is attacking your desire to seek righteousness.”

This is where we seem to be right now. His job and extended family stress has always been a huge issue in our sex life, which as you know I took what I saw as rejection, very personally. But now that we are on the same page, and getting much closer (in every way :o) – at times it seems like the stress is relentless.

Thankfully, now we are trying to fight together, on the same team, instead of against each other. I try to understand when he is stressed out, support him and give him space to decompress. I’m beginning to have a (hopefully minor) health issue that is causing me concern, and at the same time driving me back to relying on the Lord (as I should have been all along). Thankfully my husband is being way more supportive than he’s ever been, as opposed to his old way of saying “you’ll be fine just stop thinking about it.”

But yes, as we try to get closer, it seems like all kinds of things get in the way, but I guess that’s life. I’m so thankful though, that now we BOTH want to work through these things, TOGETHER. I’m finally starting to believe my husband might actually love me, and that seems to please him.

Thank you for all of your support! ~ B

I saw that article. It was…interesting. Thanks, Nick!

http://babylonbee.com/news/american-believer-suffers-brutal-persecution-form-occasional-ribbing-coworkers/

As for righteousness, I like something I heard once. Satan will do everything he can to make sure you have sex before you get married and as much as he can to make sure you don’t have it after you get married. A great sex life in marriage is a threat to the enemy. I look forward to the day when even non-Christians recognize that Christians in marriage treating it as sacred have the best sex lives.