Notes

Outline

Marriage Communication: The Rules of Engagement Jim Sutherland, Ph.D. Reconciliation Ministries Network www.RMNI.org

Marriage is Magnificent Eve was presented to Adam as a gift—the most beautiful girl in the world!   His response, in the Hebrew, was “WOW!!” A wife is a sign of God’s favor (Prov. 19:14)—a “good thing.” Married men live longer than single or divorced men.

Marriage is Awesome Mutual sexual joy (Prov. 5:15-21) A noble wife “crowns” him (Prov. 12:4) She is man’s “glory” (1 Cor. 11:7). The gift (grace) of life is enjoyed together (1 Pet. 3:7).

Communication Derives from the Trinity

Words come from the heart—Matt. 12:33-37—either regenerate or not. Evil words come from an evil heart, although good words may be flattery. Salvation should improve our conversation (Eph. 4:29; 5:4). Neither sex is morally superior, even considering socialization.

We DO Communicate By Word, Deed, Omission, Non-verbal communication (actions speak louder than words) The question is: How Christ-like is our communication? When reviled He didn’t retaliate or threaten, nor was there any deceit within Him (1 Pet. 2:22-23). Genuine communication is self-revelation, which has risks.  No risk, no deep hurt.

The Wedding—a summit of Communication Lovers reveal more and more of themselves, until in marriage they are naked*. At marriage we’ve revealed enough to mutually decide that we want to spend life together.  You’ve selected each other. Your phone bills have been crazy and you can’t get spend enough time together.

Communication potholes appear Physical issues: Hormones or lack of hormones Sexual dysfunction We grant a sexual monopoly—when frustrated God allows nowhere else to turn and a spouse can become bitter. Aging—sickness and loss of beauty and physique

Gender Issues

Communication Issues Over-familiarity (“For richer, for poorer, but not for lunch.”) Wrong priorities Workaholism Focus upon children rather than upon spouse Intrusion of in-laws Self-centeredness—lack of interest in mate

Sin Issues Acted-upon attraction to others Pornography, adultery, flirtations, coveting another spouse (Ex. 20:17) Attraction to others increases with unhappiness in marriage— failure of a spouse to perform his/her roles negative communication little recreational companionship boredom in the bedroom

Sin Separates Unforgiveness and resentments Contentiousness and chronic nagging Prov. 27:15-16—can’t restrain her Prov. 21:9,19—seek solitude Lying undermines all future communication (one of the qualities sought in single’s ads is honesty)

Sin Separates A house divided cannot stand (Matt. 12:25).  If his half of the marriage boat sinks, so will yours.  If you strike at each other, you’ll put holes in the boat, and you’ll both go down. We lose when we wound our mate.  A wounded spouse is a liability, not an asset, to the marriage.

God comes before our spouse. Luke 14:26—God comes before our spouse and sometimes His service comes before our spouse. However, we must provide for our family, even if it means less time in ministry (1 Tim 5:8). Jonathan Goforth and Rosalyn Goforth in China around 1900 faced long separations for the Kingdom. The issue: “Is God asking me to do this, or am I driven by something else?”

The Double Helix

The Double Helix

Communication myths 1 Good communication = agreement 2 Cor. 13:11— “one mind” ≠ same opinion “Christians…should be united in what is essential, namely, in the love and doctrine of Christ” (Philip E. Hughes)  See Phil. 2:1-2. Otherwise a minority opinion in the church would be a sin, we’d all have to be in the same political party and the Protestant Reformation would have been sinful.

Communication Myths 2 If you disagree, keep talking We should not let the sun go down on our anger (Eph. 4:26) Maybe we should go pray or calm down. Then make an appointment to continue the discussion. Prov. 30:33 “For as churning the milk produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife.” Don’t cross the threshold into strife—even when ridiculed.

For Better Communication: Live a life of love—Eph. 5:1-2—which will solve half of communication problems. Love is patient, kind, doesn’t envy, doesn’t boast, isn’t proud, isn’t rude, isn’t self-seeking, isn’t easily angered, and doesn’t keep a record of wrongs (1 Cor. 13:4-5) Love doesn’t “delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 13:6-7 Now, how can you pick an argument with that kind of love?

Better Communication Lose your life (Mark 8:34-35) Die to self in sacrifice to the spouse. Do what you can’t stand to do, for the sake of the other. Decide to lose your life for your spouse on a moment-by-moment basis. “In humility consider others better than yourselves.” (Phil. 2:3, NIV).

Better Communication Listen (James 1:19) so that you could repeat what was said. Don’t interrupt. “He who answers before listening—that is his folly and his shame” (Prov. 18:13). Don’t admit to wrongdoing just to keep the peace.  That is lying (affirming something is true that isn’t—see Colossians 3:9).

Tune up your sex life I think that half of all marriage problems could be precluded if sexual desires were properly met.  Have fun!  Read the Song of Solomon together. Good sexual communication enhances good verbal communication and vice-versa. Look and dress attractively for your spouse. A good sex life covers a multitude of evils.

Avoiding Arguments Consider your words before speaking “The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer.  But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.” (Prov. 15:28). “There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” (Prov. 12:18). Avoid attributing motives—we can say what motives appear to be.  God knows the heart. Use “I” messages instead of “you” messages--less threatening.

Avoiding Arguments Avoid getting physical.  Don’t push, slap, shove or hit. Stay out of the face. Avoid extreme thinking and talking.  “You always…You never…Every time I…”  Rarely is the other person at the extreme. Avoid the burdens of history—dredging up the past. Col. 3:12 “And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.”

Arguing Fairly Don’t deal with criticism by shifting blame. Admit when you’re wrong and ask forgiveness. Don’t deny or ignore it.  Otherwise you are dishonest, and the wound will take longer to heal between you. Say “You’re right, I’m wrong, please forgive me.” There’s a place for rebuke (Prov. 28:23), and a wise person values a proper rebuke.

Unresolved Arguments If accurate rebuke has been meekly given and ignored or rejected, this qualifies the person as a mocker (Prov. 9:8). If there is no resolution, perhaps it is best to “cover over” the offense (Prov. 17:9) with love. How often are we to forgive our spouse for unresolved sin?  Jesus suggested 70 times 7, probably indicating a perfect number of times (Matt. 18:21-22).  If we stop forgiving, the marriage will wither and die.  At this point we may need to seek marriage counseling from a mature Christian counselor.

Communication areas: Sexual communication Share specifically what pleases you and what doesn’t.  We don’t have to conform to every desire, but we may find a middle way. Rejection in sex is particularly painful, going to the roots of our basic identity—as male or female. We’ve already given sexual rights and cannot rightly take them back. The husband needs to sacrifice his own pleasure at times, for his wife’s.

Communication Issues Sexual communication What we wear for our mate is a powerful communicator.  Try to at least look tasteful.  If you’re undesirable with the lights on, you may be undesirable with the lights off. Dress to please your spouse. Stewardship includes developing your body.  Keep muscle tone and keep in shape.  By 2008 39% of Americans may be 30 lbs. overweight*.

Communication and Kids Children must not usurp the place of the husband.  We aren’t married to the kids—nowhere are supposed to take vows with our children.  They will leave. Our mate shouldn’t. The wife should provide counsel to the husband and he should evaluate the counsel. Children, as you know, will try to divide parents to get their way.  So communicate with each other if you suspect the kids are playing you against each other.

Communication and Money Don’t have financial secrets. Share what and where assets are. Have joint accounts, generally. Avoid large “his” and “her” accounts, which foster an independent spirit. The husband shouldn’t keep back funds for himself without giving such funds to his wife. Agree upon a monthly budget Establish an emergency fund of at least $2-3,000.

Communication and Money Allow the more gifted one to keep the figures, but cooperate. Provide financial security to the wife. Agree upon long-range financial goals, such as being debt-free, savings goals, etc. Slothfulness and lack of self-control—both spiritual problems—are exposed with finances.

Communication and Prayer Probably the deepest levels of communication come as you share prayer needs and pray together. Worries and concerns, otherwise undiscovered, emerge. Evangelicals divorce at a slightly higher rate than the general public.  Satan targets these marriages. God provides a ready-made prayer partner with whom you can agree (Matt. 18:19).

Stewardship of the Wife A husband is his wife’s “gardener.”  Communicate, wife.  How you feel you need to develop and maximize God’s gifts to you in the areas of hobbies, vocation, talents, and interests. Developing her gifts will cost money. I believe husbands will be called to account for his wife’s talents.

Stewardship of the Husband Encourage him to develop his abilities.  Don’t compete with him, but encourage and even admire. When he is in most harmony with his work, the home will have more harmony. My wife fully supported me in getting further education, even though it meant my being far away for 9 months with 3 kids at home and that she would be the general contractor of our the house we were building.