encouragement wedding

[a.baker]

I need some encouragement. Do you remember me telling you about my friend who is going to get married to a girl who is a Wican? Well it is fastly approaching. He has no religion and thinks Christianity is nutty because his dad I guess went nutty the short time he was a Christian; I guess this was when he and his 6 siblings were growing up in a divorced setting. He won't talk about it.

Any ways his fiance is a Wican and so they are going to have a literal tie the knot ceremony. This is where they literally tie their hands together and do other weird things like at the end of the ceremony they jump over a fire or broom together. If they get divorced they have to do the same things but backwards; like untie their hands and jump backwards over a fire or broom.

This commitment is traditionally known to be as long as the couple contracts in the ceremony. They could say 1 year, only as long as love lasts or forever. They choose how long this ceremony/ contract will last. So this is more than likely a wedding viewed as not permanent from the get go. In many countries they don't even view this as a legal marriage. I have no idea who marries them either.

I guess my husband is going to be one of the guys in the wedding. I am not sure what they call them in this ceremony. He said he is going to get a pamphlet on what he is to do in the wedding. I guess both the future bride and groom have Christian family members who they are not going to invite because they said they would come to the wedding and start chaos because of the religion it being held in.

Oh boy. I myself can't stop thinking of my friend who is making a big mistake. He is all for it though so I can't say nothing. I feel, for my friend, I need to go. He is not a Wican, he is not anything. His fiance controls everything and he lets her and doesn't mind he says. I don't like the idea of my husband being in this ceremony. But he also is nothing with any religion so it doesn't bother him too much; he just thinks its silly. I can't say much to my husband either because he will get angry at me and accuse me of not supporting our friend. I feel forced to go. Maybe I am silly but this feels like a stab in my heart for some reason; why? How can I go and witness this ceremony and be quiet with a smile on my face and a congratulations?

They haven't handed out invitations yet but my husband said it will be happening late summer or early fall.

[CTZonEdit]

Well when we sit by and do nothing we tend to get run over.

The best you can do is tell your friend how you feel about this and make it clear you do not approve of what he is doing but that it is his choice to make. Its his life. If he still wants you to attend and you feel comfortable in doing so then perhaps you may be able to witness by just your being there. And his wife is going to lead him on a path to destruction if you dont keep witnessing to him and her. Do what you can, help them to understand our God better and if they cast you out as a friend then so be it. Sometimes we are just there to plant the seeds and move on.

He thinks Christianity is nutty yet he is the one going thru with this circus of a ceremony?

Wicca is a serious gatway to the demonic. They claim they are "good" witches, but have no idea about the spirits they are dealing with. They are being deceived by these spirits to reject God. Nothing good about that at all.

[a.baker]

Thanks CTZ! :hug: Thats what I needed to hear. Will do.

[a.baker]

But why does my husband need to be a part of it though? I need to talk to him more about this.

[InTheWind]

Can`t add any more advice than CTZ but will be praying about it. :pray:

[kay-gee]

wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole!

all the best...

[a.baker]

Thats kinda how I look at it Kaygee. So I am sure you understand why I am upset my husband has to be a part of it. He claims he is going to have to do nothing more than just stand there and basically witness. He said if they do want him to take action in a part instead of just standing there he said he won't do it. I am not so sure about that and he says its nothing to him same as he says Jesus is nothing to him. So I am sure you see my struggle with my other half. I tried talking to him about it last night telling him my concerns but you know he went ton to say exactly what I said he would say. I need to talk to my friend before he pursues this as well. I haven't seen him in little over a year but I need to. He has already had a bunch of Christians which are his family talking to him about it and he reacted like I said above. But I can't just do nothing; like CTZ said I have to at least try. I have no idea how to see him before hand so I thought about writing him a letter. Also I told my husband last night there is a big chance I won't go to the wedding and he reacted like I said he would up top. Situations like this make my husband snare at me for being a Christian. He says I am no different form the rest of the Christians. Well what does he expect really.

[kay-gee]

All eyes are on you a.baker. This is your chance to take a hard stand for God. Your decision will be duly noted by many, I am sure. As for hubby...well he has to do what he has to do, I guess, but he has to do it without you in this case.

all the best...

[CTZonEdit]

Situations like this make my husband snare at me for being a Christian. He says I am no different form the rest of the Christians. Well what does he expect really.

The difference is that you are not closing doors, you are opening them. Alot of Christians would not even get involved. But we are supposed to inform non-believers what we believe and why. We are called to share this information especially with those we are close to.

Since you care about your friend and I assume he cares about you, then what is the big deal about revealing your beliefs? If he rejects you because of it then you dont want him as a friend. You are not rejecting him, you are rejecting his beliefs, because they are wrong.

He on the other hand seems to be shutting out everyone that doesnt follow his beliefs or approve of them. Which is pretty shallow.

Your husband should come on here sometime and talk with "all the rest of the Christians." How many "christians" does he really know? There are alot of people claiming to be "christians" that are not. They are biblically clueless.

I suspect that when he is confronted with challenging real Christians he either shuts down completely or gets offended because he doesnt want to dig any deeper than necessary or challenge his current beliefs.

[a.baker]

I wish he would come here sometime. I have invited him because he has asked me questions and I don't know the answers. I told him many here are well studied and stick to the bible and what it says and don't change anything. So he could find some questions to his answers. But for some reason he is fine where hes at because I don't think he wants to take the energy to really search for his answers even though I know it bothers him. Thats why he uses me as a short cut. He is convinced that no other Christian can tell him anything he doesn't alreday know. He does know a whole lot about Christianity. In fact he was the first one who told me the history of the Roman Catholic Church among many other things. He started studying Christianity other religions when he was a young kid. He is very well read. I am not well studied and I am still building a foundation. I am still learning about God let alone anything with history or stories. I don't know maybe thats a good or not so good way to put it. But he can't ask me questions about trigonometry if I am still learning geometry. Some of his questions are things us as Christians need to have faith for the answers. My husband is dead stuck on he cannot trust faith but see for some reason he has faith in me. Doesn't make sense. In the past I told him I am not going to ask these questions for him he can come and ask himself. And yes he does get offended so if I want him to hear what I have to say and consider it; hopefully one day it will plant a seed; than I knowing my husband will have to be careful how I word things. Very difficult to not offend someone but yet sticking to the Truth. Sometimes it doesn't matter how you say it they just get offended anyways. Thats usually when I just retreat to be with God. My husband has known many Christians because of his mom and her career. His mom was not a good example. He has been to many different churches and events as well. It has always been in his life in one form or another. So with him there is nothing I can say just things I can outwardly show in hopes one day he will see something in someone. I wish he would come on here.

[Jessie]

excellent replys CTZ , I've been following this and really did'nt know what to say.A. baker I did'nt want you to think I did'nt care I just did'nt know how to approach this issue. as its very different.

[Jessie]

one thing if a person went I've always been taught that was condoning the thing (whatever it might be) if necessary to not derail the thread might have to start a new one on this question.so its not condoning although one would go?

[Jessie]

also, would 1 corinthians 8 apply to her going to this thing?

[a.baker]

See I wonder if I went would that be a sin because its a ceremony; not just hanging out with unbelievers? Or would it be a sin to not go; shoot I could give a wrapped present of a bible with a nice letter inside. Now I do believe it would be a sin to stay 100% quiet. I have spoken to my husband but I need to with my friend. I wonder with him alone or with her too. She is someone I know but not really a friend at all. She is pretty mean and cold and I am afraid if she or my husband were there they would distract the message and encourage him to immediately blow off what I have to say before I get the words out of my mouth. In the past we have talked before with problems he has had and he says I am one of the few who listens or understands him. So I hope he hasn't changed too much and will take that into consideration to listen to me whether he takes it to heart or not. I think a quiet one on one would be best. Is she the jealous type? I know for a fact my husband is not and I don't have to keep anything from him; but her I don't know. No reason for her to be. I have hung out with him many times for the past 12 years or so. He was in my husbands band. None in this group is Christian or take it seriously that is why I have left them and haven't seen them in awhile. Still friends but have kinda went our separate ways with our interests. I have changed a lot and for the sake of my relationship with the Lord I feel it would hurt Him if I hung around these people regularly. I have no interest in doing so anyways since they still do things I have long gotten out of my life and been forgiven for. My heart for our Lord nor my conscience does. They say things to my husband about me being a Christian in a negative way. Most of them were never really friends in the first place but how can they be if they lack love with lack of Christ? We as Christians testify to unbelievers but at the same time scripture teaches us to not be yoked with such. I think this goes beyond marriage. I have seen some of them a couple of times in the past year and they act the same around me but don't seem to really miss me at all. Nonstop proof of who took my friendship seriously and who always spit in my face. So they have seen my change but not one of them link it to Jesus. Now this boggles my mind. The way I was before and the way I am now is absolutely no credit on my behalf. All the credit is Christs and His alone. My past, in ways I tried to change, shows proof to unbelievers how true it has to be God and no other thing or person. My heart aches for these people but they are quick to cast me out beyond a doubt. I need to talk to my husband tonight about helping me get to talk to my friend alone. If it doesn't work out I still need to see him before he gets married. i know another one of our friends is gettiung married in August so I may see my friend there and can find an opportunity. Maybe I will ask my husband if he is going to go to that wedding.

I am not sure if that scripture would tie into this or not Jessie. It really depends on this ceremony which I wouldn't find out until it happens but what I hear it sounds I shouldn't go. What would God want me to do. I will do whatever He wants with going or not going. I know no one can answer for Him but what do you think? You know our hearts can be deceiving.

[kay-gee]

What do mean a.baker, what would God want you to do? It is a WICCAN ceremony! What fellowship has light with darkness? What harmony has Christ with Belial?

all the best...