Here is a question...

[Barb]

What is the role of a pastor/pastor's wife if they see a need...say a marriage problem...something that is evident, but the troubled individuals will not seek counsel?

Should the man and woman of God pray and not approach them?

Should they pray and approach, asking if they would like a chance to talk?

[Coonskinner]

Pray for sure.

Approach only if the Spirit leads, or a crisis dictates the necessity.

People are funny about marital problems.

I don't butt in uninvited unless there is a compelling reason.

Of course, some of it depends on the relationship you have with the folks.

[ManOfWord]

Originally Posted by Coonskinner

Pray for sure.

Approach only if the Spirit leads, or a crisis dictates the necessity.

People are funny about marital problems.

I don't butt in uninvited unless there is a compelling reason.

Of course, some of it depends on the relationship you have with the folks.

I couldn't agree more! The quickest way to get one's head lopped off is to jump into the middle of a "domestic" uninvited!

[Ferd]

Originally Posted by ManOfWord

I couldn't agree more! The quickest way to get one's head lopped off is to jump into the middle of a "domestic" uninvited!

I know this is kind of off topic, but along the same lines.
My dad was a cop. He said the most dangerous calls were the domestic ones.

He didnt mind going into a bank robbery or a shots fired call or even a fight in a bar. on those you know what the deal is going in, but a domestic fight has more levels of danger and there is no way of knowing what will happen.

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by Ferd

I know this is kind of off topic, but along the same lines.
My dad was a cop. He said the most dangerous calls were the domestic ones.

He didnt mind going into a bank robbery or a shots fired call or even a fight in a bar. on those you know what the deal is going in, but a domestic fight has more levels of danger and there is no way of knowing what will happen.

This is so true. I work on a crisis team and when there is any trouble at all...911 and they go in with mace!

Blessings, Rhoni

[Ferd]

Originally Posted by Rhoni

This is so true. I work on a crisis team and when there is any trouble at all...911 and they go in with mace!

Blessings, Rhoni

Dad told me that more than once, they would go in and have to peal some dude off the woman. The guy would start fighting dad and the other police. Then they would have to subdue him but the woman would turn on the cops and grab something and start hitting them! crazy.

sorry for being off topic.

[Barb]

Originally Posted by Coonskinner

Pray for sure.

Approach only if the Spirit leads, or a crisis dictates the necessity.

People are funny about marital problems.

I don't butt in uninvited unless there is a compelling reason.

Of course, some of it depends on the relationship you have with the folks.

So, you don't stand on the unspoken rule of some that they will only deal with things if asked...that's good, CS...

[Coonskinner]

Originally Posted by Barb

So, you don't stand on the unspoken rule of some that they will only deal with things if asked...that's good, CS...

That is my basic practice practice, but in dealing with things as fraught with variables as human relationships, there is no way to create a one-size-fits-all rule.

Generally speaking, I don't interfere unless asked.

But there could be exceptions.

[Jekyll]

Originally Posted by Coonskinner

Pray for sure.

Approach only if the Spirit leads, or a crisis dictates the necessity.

People are funny about marital problems.

I don't butt in uninvited unless there is a compelling reason.

Of course, some of it depends on the relationship you have with the folks.

What if communication with the pastor slows sharply and one spouse draws the other out of church in an effort to "save" the marriage??

[Coonskinner]

Originally Posted by Jekyll

What if communication with the pastor slows sharply and one spouse draws the other out of church in an effort to "save" the marriage??

Then it becomes not just a marital issue, and I would be on that like a rat on a cheetoh.

Taking into account, of course, where the spouse was "drawing" the other one toward.