Now that we are committed to be married, why should we wait to have sexual intercourse? How can there be anything wrong with our love-making when we’ve already promised to spend our lives together?
Relationships & Marriage Q&As
Should my girlfriend and I get married before I graduate from the university? We’re both mature Christians and we’ve both made a commitment to sexual purity before marriage. We’ve been dating about five months, and after much prayer, we’ve decided to get married in two years. Our parents approve of our plans, but mine disagree …
How can I convince my spouse to seek help for possible depression? I have reason to believe that he’s struggling in this area, but he refuses to admit that this might be true or to take my concerns seriously. I’m not sure if it’s pride, fear, or something else that’s standing in the way, but …
Is there anything wrong with men being stay-at-home dads? I’m currently out of work, and since my wife earns a good salary we decided that it might be best if I simply stay home and take care of the kids for a while. It seemed like a good idea in the beginning, but lately I’ve …
When should a couple start thinking about purchasing a home? My spouse and I have been talking about this possibility. We both agree that we want to own our own home — eventually — but we’re not on the same page when it comes to whether we’re ready now. Do you have any recommendations?
How should I deal with my spouse’s unkind words, mind games, and put-downs? This has been a problem for most of our marriage. I’ve never been physically hurt, but the constant verbal and emotional abuse has made my life miserable. Some of my friends say I should get a divorce, but others say I should …
How do we keep my divorced parents from spoiling our wedding? I’m engaged, but as the wedding approaches my husband-to-be and I are beginning to fear that our big day may become an occasion for major family strife. My parents haven’t been on speaking terms for years. It’s a terribly awkward situation, and it’s filling …
How long should I wait before pursuing a young lady who has recently gone through a difficult break-up with a boyfriend? I realize that she’s in a place where she needs time to deal with the hurt and loss. At the same time, I don’t want to wait around too long and possibly lose out …
How can I tell the difference between what’s appropriate and what’s not appropriate in my sexual relationship with my spouse? In particular, is there any place for sexual fantasy in a marital relationship? What’s your perspective on this subject?
How can I get my husband to help keep the house clean? I never noticed that he was a “messie” before we were married because his roommates were neat and tidy. Since I’m the one who likes the house clean and orderly, I’m the one who picks up after him and does all the housework. …
Won’t God protect me from temptation if I pray? Here’s my reason for asking. Though I’m unaware of any immediate threat to the health and well-being of my marriage, I’m still afraid that, somehow, someday, I may trip up and fall into an adulterous affair. I recently heard a man confess that this very thing …
Is it a sin to marry a non-Christian? I’m dating a woman who isn’t a believer, and my parents and friends keep quoting the Bible: “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.” But the context and original Greek language of that verse suggest that Paul is writing specifically about believers’ avoiding idolatry.
Is it wrong that I don’t want to have sexual intercourse as often as my husband does? Is my libido unhealthy or deficient? I try to accommodate him as often as I can, both out of love and a sense of duty, but there are times when I simply can’t respond no matter how hard …
Why can’t I have a biblically based family with multiple partners? Most of the great men of the Bible – Abraham, Jacob, David, Solomon – had many wives. Given your ministry’s strong commitment to the Scriptures, I can’t see why you’re against things like polygamy and polyamory. I consider myself a polyamorous Christian. I love several different women, and …
How can I help my husband who is having disturbing flashbacks as a result of active combat duty during his time in the military? Can you provide any helpful information concerning post-traumatic stress disorder? His condition has become much worse over the past several weeks, and our entire family is deeply worried about him. How …
Do you have any ideas for dealing with a spouse who is overly sensitive, like a land-mine just waiting to go off? I walk around the house on eggshells, trying desperately to avoid triggering yet another emotional overreaction. Is there a better way to deal with this?
Should I hold on to pictures of old girlfriends now that I’m engaged to be married? I’ve had a few relationships before this one that never resulted in marriage. I don’t like the thought of destroying my photos of those girls, but I’m pretty certain that my bride-to-be would react strongly if I don’t get …
Should I marry my pregnant girlfriend? Our relationship has always been fine, but I’ve never really thought we’d be together for the rest of our lives. This changes everything. She will be keeping and raising the baby, and I’d like to do my fair share, as well. My girlfriend has some major issues in life, …
How would you advise a woman who just found out that her husband is viewing child pornography?
How should I respond when my mother-in-law continually shows partiality by giving preference to my husband’s sister and her family? When I called about visiting on Mother’s Day, I was told to come the day after since she had already made plans with her daughter. More recently when I asked about Thanksgiving, she said that …
