Should I Tell A Potential Girlfriend About My Past?

Dear Pastor,

Im in need of some serious advise!! Can u please help?

I’m a single 28 year old man. I’m a recovering alcoholic. I’m a christian man who was brought up in a christian home.

I have committed a sin with guilt and shame that consumes me.

During my drinking days, on four separate occasions, I got very,very drunk, and called an escort service. I would never even think to do this, but for some reason it happened. The thought of it makes me sick to my stomach! I cant look at myself in the mirror. I know I am forgiven by Gods grace, which I am eternally grateful!

I would die if anyone found out my sin!! My question is, do I need to tell a potential girl friend or wife this part of my past? The thought of it kills me!

~Anonymous

 

Dear Anonymous,

From the tone of your email I can tell that you have genuine remorse. This is good. We can thank God for 1 John 1:9! You are right, God forgives when we come to Him in sincere repentance.

When you are first meeting other people you do not need to tell them everything about your past. This is true with first dates, too. It is not good to share everything about ourselves indiscriminately. It is a good “rule of thumb” to only share the intimate details of your life with a very few trusted friends. Most people cannot be trusted with intimacies.

It is a different situation when you find someone you want to marry. At some point as the relationship develops (before you get engaged) you should tell your fiancee the truth without going into all of the ugly details. You might say something like this: “You already know that I am not perfect. I have made some mistakes in my past. I took all of that to God, confessed it, and turned from it. The Lord has forgiven me and I have had to learn how to forgive myself. I want you to know that I love you and that I do not want to hurt you. I do not want you to discover something about my past from someone else. Therefore you need to know that I am a recovering alcoholic. When I was drunk I did some things that go against my Christian values. That is who I was. It is not who I am now. I am learning to walk in the Spirit of Christ. He gives me strength to follow Him and serve Him each day. I pray that you will forgive me for my past sins just as Jesus has forgiven me.”

If the lady cannot forgive you for your past then you do not have a relationship that will go the distance. If she can forgive you then she still needs to know so that she can be aware of those places where the devil will try to trip you up and lead you into sin. She can help be part of God’s defense for you against the enemy and the flesh.

~Pastor Chris

How Do I Rid Myself Of Continuing Sin?

Dear Pastor,

If something that is not of God was happening in your life before you become born again and continues still after you get born again, what should I do to get rid of that thing? I’ve planted a seed , fasted,  and prayed in tears but its still there. 

~ Monyadiwa 
Dear Monyadiwa,

The key to ridding yourself of continuing sin is to keep your heart focused on Jesus. When you say that you are going to defeat a certain sin you are already in trouble. Why? Because you are trusting in yourself and you are thinking about the sin.

You cannot trust yourself. The heart is deceitful and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). Trust Jesus. Call upon Him. Ask Him for His strength to do right and to think right.

The Bible says in Colossians 3:1-2, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

The battleground is your mind. Therefore, choose to set your mind on Christ. Do this and the power of sin will begin to fade and get weaker. Think of it like a muscle losing its strength when you stop using it.

~ Pastor Chris

 

 

Is Marriage O.K. with God?

Hello Pastor,

I am Asian and got married by my parents and my husband parents 4 years ago.  We did not get it done legally.  I have know my husband for 10 years and have been married to him for 4 years.  We now have a 2 year old together.  I am currently learning about God and my question is if my marriage is ok with God or am I commiting a sin? Please advise.

Sincerely,
Chi

Dear Chi,

Why not go ahead and have another wedding ceremony?  Your pastor will be happy to officiate I’m sure.  It can be done with only a few people present.

~ Pastor Chris