Parents opinion

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Ashleyanomaly

Guest
#1
I am 22 years old. I was raised by 2 Christian parents. (Semi strict Pentecostal).

I have always respected my parents & been basically the good child lol out of me and my 3 brothers.

About one year ago I met a young man on the Internet. He was intentional in the beginning on getting to know my family before he came to visit. Being that my family is traditional and did not welcome the idea of meeting through the Internet, they didn't take me nor him seriously. Added to this worry, my fiancé is not a Pentecostal Christian. (This shouldn't matter though right because we all love Jesus?) This deeply grieves my parents... I'm supposed to carry out this tradition... Long story short after a year of courting & mutual back and forth visits, he moved here from 2k miles across the country in order to pursue marriage. My family rejects him! This hurts, a lot.

I know this story is getting confusing let me get to my point. I am 22 years old. I make my own money, pay all my bills and the rent is even split between me and my parents. I am only at home because I would prefer to move out once I'm married. My fiancé & I don't have money for a huge wedding, or even a church wedding. We have enough to start a life, & we have our jobs. We planned on just eloping at the courthouse because it's not about my parents or anyone, but God, me & him.

Am I wrong for wanting to elope (to combat sin & begin my life)? How does this hurt anyone? Doesn't God honor marriage? Should my parents just get over it?
 

jogoldie

Senior Member
Mar 20, 2014
1,616
48
48
#2
It sounds to me like you thought about this.....you have covered the bases for your survival.....
With putting God first ...you cannot go wrong.....being that you are grown and paying your own way...
though it would be nice...your parents approval is not needed......live for God....that's my advice...
If we choose what others want for us...then we aren't in control of our lives....your parents love you....
they only want what's best for you....if you live your life by Gods plan......they will soon have their hearts change....when they see you happy...and living for God.....may you find peace in your decision
my young sister.....and understanding......pm me if you need to talk.......peace and love ...jo
 
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Sirk

Guest
#3
You need family counseling so that everyone can process their feelings in a safe place. Aside from that, what you do from here will set the course of relationship in your family. Processing pain with those you love is like blood flow in the body. The moment the flow stops, death begins.
 

santuzza

Senior Member
Feb 12, 2013
1,609
38
48
#4
It does not have to cost a lot of money to have a "church wedding." If I were you, I would have a very small ceremony with a pastor officiating. It simply will not cost you a bunch of extra money to have a pastor instead of a justice of the peace. jmo

I'm also not a fan of elopement -- your parents may not like the man, but they are going to have to deal with him if they want to have a relationship with you. Plan a small ceremony and invite them. They can choose whether to attend or not. But if you elope, you are not giving them the opportunity to witness your union. If I were a parent, I think I would feel left out and a bit cheated.

I admire you for standing your ground and I trust you are absolutely sure this man is a Christian (even if he's not the same denomination as you). If you truly feel the Lord's leading in this decision, then I think you should go for it.
 

notuptome

Senior Member
May 17, 2013
15,050
2,538
113
#5
Use caution. Do not burn any bridges between you and your parents. What are his parents up to in this major life event?

My daughter just got married and I understand a lot of the emotions involved. It is not easy to make some of these adjustments. It really tests your trust in the Lord.

Christ must be the foundation of your marriage. If you both are in a good church and want to honor the Lord then things will fall into place for you. Do not let the passions of the flesh dictate what you do.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
 
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Sirk

Guest
#6
Use caution. Do not burn any bridges between you and your parents. What are his parents up to in this major life event?

My daughter just got married and I understand a lot of the emotions involved. It is not easy to make some of these adjustments. It really tests your trust in the Lord.

Christ must be the foundation of your marriage. If you both are in a good church and want to honor the Lord then things will fall into place for you. Do not let the passions of the flesh dictate what you do.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
I agree with Roger. I wouldn't force the issue. If this union is ordained by God then the doors will open. I believe that you are being asked to exercise restraint and wait to see what God will do.
 

tourist

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2014
41,323
16,307
113
69
Tennessee
#7
I am 22 years old. I was raised by 2 Christian parents. (Semi strict Pentecostal).

I have always respected my parents & been basically the good child lol out of me and my 3 brothers.

About one year ago I met a young man on the Internet. He was intentional in the beginning on getting to know my family before he came to visit. Being that my family is traditional and did not welcome the idea of meeting through the Internet, they didn't take me nor him seriously. Added to this worry, my fiancé is not a Pentecostal Christian. (This shouldn't matter though right because we all love Jesus?) This deeply grieves my parents... I'm supposed to carry out this tradition... Long story short after a year of courting & mutual back and forth visits, he moved here from 2k miles across the country in order to pursue marriage. My family rejects him! This hurts, a lot.

I know this story is getting confusing let me get to my point. I am 22 years old. I make my own money, pay all my bills and the rent is even split between me and my parents. I am only at home because I would prefer to move out once I'm married. My fiancé & I don't have money for a huge wedding, or even a church wedding. We have enough to start a life, & we have our jobs. We planned on just eloping at the courthouse because it's not about my parents or anyone, but God, me & him.

Am I wrong for wanting to elope (to combat sin & begin my life)? How does this hurt anyone? Doesn't God honor marriage? Should my parents just get over it?
You are old enough to make your own decisions. You are exactly right, it is about you, your fiancée and God. It is a love triangle. This guy has left everything and everybody that he knows 2000 miles away just to pursue you. I have no doubt that his intentions are honorable.

No, you would not be wrong to elope. The money that is saved by this can go a long way to get you both started in your life together.
 
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Sirk

Guest
#8
You are old enough to make your own decisions. You are exactly right, it is about you, your fiancée and God. It is a love triangle. This guy has left everything and everybody that he knows 2000 miles away just to pursue you. I have no doubt that his intentions are honorable.

No, you would not be wrong to elope. The money that is saved by this can go a long way to get you both started in your life together.
I hope you know I respect your opinion and I'm not trying to pick a fight.... but I see some longterm problems if she isn't careful about how she proceeds with this. If this causes a rift in her family it could have decades long repercussions.
 

JesusLives

Senior Member
Oct 11, 2013
14,551
2,172
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#9
I was 59 when I got married to tourist last year we went through marriage counseling sessions at the church and then eloped after the sessions were over. I recommend at least going through your churches counseling session as this will show you if there are any problems to be anticipated and they will give you tools to work things out in your marriage.

It is always best if the parents accept your fiancée but if they totally refuse the problems that can come up are the separation you will feel from them not wanting to participate in your life. Are you ready to sever all ties with them if necessary? I told my daughter before she got serious with a guy that all I asked for was her to find someone I could get along with because nothing is more heartbreaking than to have to choose between the man you love and your family. She listened and I love the guy she is with as though he were my own son.

I don't know what to tell you about this situation you have other than getting the counseling and possibly trying to include your family in it through your church. God bless you as you will have hard decisions to make and bless your family and fiancée also. Pray and give the matter to God and ask Him to work this out for you according to His will. He can fix the impossible.
 

tourist

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2014
41,323
16,307
113
69
Tennessee
#10
I hope you know I respect your opinion and I'm not trying to pick a fight.... but I see some longterm problems if she isn't careful about how she proceeds with this. If this causes a rift in her family it could have decades long repercussions.
I agree that she should not be burning any bridges behind her. It does seem that her parents are impossible to please and have no intention of accepting her fiancée into the family. At some point a choice and a decision must be made and I pray that she choses wisely. Thank you for your concern in this touchy situation.
 
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Sirk

Guest
#11
It's easy to fall for the thinking that 'love conquers all'. I think you have an opportunity here to make Godly decisions. If your parents are just being controlling... patience will mete that out. If they see something that you do not....giving this some time and seeking God will reveal that to you. I think above all you have to at least attempt to process this with them....you're gonna need lots of practice processing anyway. The marriage relationship depends on it. Additionally, if you're getting married so you can avoid sinning (if you know what I'm saying) it will come back to bite you. Embrace this temporary discomfort.....it is for your growth.

With your parents....I say be bold....tell them you want to explore their point of view and you want them to explore yours in the way Jesus would have you do it. That you want to stay connected with them.
 
Oct 30, 2014
1,150
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#12
I hope you know I respect your opinion and I'm not trying to pick a fight.... but I see some longterm problems if she isn't careful about how she proceeds with this. If this causes a rift in her family it could have decades long repercussions.
If her family are unwilling to accept her decisions as an adult, those decisions being fairly well thought out and her being assured that she wants to proceed, problems will arise between her and her parents at every stage of her life wherein she attempts to make such decisions, because of their attitude when she attempts to make them. Problems in this kind of situation are pretty unaviodable unless she either bows to her parents' will and foregoes the plan she has for her own life, or she makes her parents realize these are her choices to make, they aren't unthought, and her parents should support her in making a life for herself.
 
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Sirk

Guest
#13
If her family are unwilling to accept her decisions as an adult, those decisions being fairly well thought out and her being assured that she wants to proceed, problems will arise between her and her parents at every stage of her life wherein she attempts to make such decisions, because of their attitude when she attempts to make them. Problems in this kind of situation are pretty unaviodable unless she either bows to her parents' will and foregoes the plan she has for her own life, or she makes her parents realize these are her choices to make, they aren't unthought, and her parents should support her in making a life for herself.
Maybe..... so that is all the more reason for her to learn to be assertive and set boundaries and this is fertile ground for her to do so.
 
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psychomom

Guest
#14
it's hard...for parents to move to the thinking of
'my child is now an adult'.
we can be somewhat recalcitrant in that.

my husband, probie, and i eloped, and my mil was, i believe, always sad she wasn't there.
if i could do it again, i think i would do it differently.

my parents couldn't afford a wedding, so mom's pastor came to her parents' house
and they were married in grandpa's living room without fanfare; with immediate family.
but my grandparents loved my dad and had known him from the time he was 12.

Ashley, you will have to do what you and your fiancé think is right.
speaking from experience, i would say your folks will come around.
my mom and dad were horrified when i eloped in April, and the following
Christmas wrote a letter to my husband thanking him for loving me so well.

see? we really can learn. :)

many blessings.
 

Nautilus

Senior Member
Jun 29, 2012
6,488
53
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#15
this is what happens with strict pentecostals...id say follow your plans and find a better church.
 

presidente

Senior Member
May 29, 2013
9,091
1,754
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#16
I'm going to disagree with a lot of people and discourage you from marrying without your father's approval.

I suggest a Bible study about what makes a marriage real or official.

In the Bible, we don't read about a pastor performing a marriage, no elders of the church performing wedding ceremonies. Most marriage passages are in the Old Testament. God gave Eve to Adam as his wife. After that, we read of fathers giving their daughters in marriage. We can see in Deuteronomy that it was the role of the father to give the daughter away in marriage. It was done as a covenant by means of a bride price. If a man fornicated with, or even raped, a young woman who was not betrothed to another man, he had to marry her. But the father of the girl had the right not to give her to him in marriage, and he still had to pay the bride price. It doesn't say if the girl is 22, she can just go off and get married. And girl's whose father's died, married of course, like Zelophehad's daughters.

Look in the New Testament, and there aren't a lot of details about how marriages are conducted. But Matthew 24 lets us know that there will be marrying and giving in marriage until the coming of the Son of Man. Men marry their wives and give their daughters in marriage. If you look at the footnotes at the old NIV, the translation actually interprets a passage at the end of I Corinthians 7 to be about a man marrying a woman. But the other interpretation about a man 'giving his virgin' is about a father giving his daughter in marriage. It may be a reference to fathers giving their daughters in marriage.

Our modern Christian wedding ceremony is apparently a Christianized practice from Roman culture. Pagan Romans would marry by going before a priest and saying certain words. The bride would give her consent by saying, "Where you are Gaius, I am Gaia." Wearing a ring on the ring finger is a Roman custom. The groom doesn't run away with the bride while others pursue, but it looks like much of the ceremony was Christianized. The church elder replaces the pagan priest. instead of some pagan words, there is a little sermon and exchanging of wedding vows.

So Isaac got married when Abraham sent and had a bride price given for Rebecca. She consented to marry and went with the servant. They had a big party. Isaac took her into the tent. They were married. Her father had given her in marriage.

Nowadays, Jews have a kind of wedding ceremony. But we don't see this ceremony in the Bible. There culture evolves as well. When Boaz took Ruth to wife, he was allowed to if the next of kin passed up on her. And he just redeemed the property and announced to his relative and the elders that he was taking Ruth to wife. Then she was his wife. No wedding ceremony.

What I am saying is that the Bible doesn't say anything about a preacher saying words or you two saying vows that makes a marriage a marriage or makes marriage 'official.' What the Bible does say about it has to do with the father giving his daughter away in marriage.

Now I met a maid in Indonesia who'd converted to Christianity, and her dad wanted her to marry a Muslim. She had a moral and ethical dilemma. Fortunately, most fathers there aren't too demanding. The idea that you can just choose your spouse on your own is something from our culture, something spreading into other cultures, something Jane Austen promoted in English society a couple of hundred years ago that really grew into what we see in our culture today. But the Bible talks about fathers giving their daughters in marriage.

Besides that, the Bible says to honor your father and your mother. Getting married is one of the biggest things in your life. It's when you leave your father's house to join your husband's house. Your name changes from your father's name to your husband's name. When you grow up, unless you have a lot of money or live close to your parents, you may be struggling to find ways to honor them. This is a situation where you can either honor your parents or not.

As far as the religion thing goes, are you Oneness Pentecostal? I can see some regular Trinitarian Pentecostals maybe having a preference for in-laws who go to the same kind of church, but I think you'll find that among people of all kinds of denominations. Is your boyfriend a Christian? Is he serious about his faith?

I heard a testimony from a Baptist preacher named Paul Washer. He wanted to date this woman down in South America. He was a missionary and she loved Jesus. But the dad said he couldn't date her. So he didn't. He respected his role as father. Later, though, the father thought about it and saw how the young man wanted to date his daughter, asked for permission, and actually didn't when he said no, and then changed his mind. They ended up getting married.

I lived in Indonesia for many years, and it is culturally very important for parents to approve of and be involved in weddings. It's not common for young folks to run off and elope. It's considered disrespectful to parents. So some folks will wait for years. I knew a Chinese man whose parents wanted him to marry Chinese. Once you mix, the kids aren't considered Chinese anymore, so it is associated with their ethnic identity. His dad was a pastor, and he was pastoring small house churches, and his girlfriend was a pretty Batak girl who seemed really sweet and very helpful and supportive of his ministry. So he just held out for years and eventually the dad agreed. I think he was saving money during that time anyway.

I'd encourage you to be patient about this. Think about Daniel. Daniel didn't want to eat defiled meat--even that, something he considered outright sin. But he didn't knock the plate off the table and scream in the face of the steward responsible for him. He humbly negotiated in a submissive manner, asking to be tested eating vegetables, he and his companions. And they passed the test. With a humble and submissive attitude, he still got what he wanted. God gave him favor. I'd encourage you to do the same with your parents.
 

presidente

Senior Member
May 29, 2013
9,091
1,754
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#17
Whether your parents are right or wrong, they are probably being difficult from your perspective only because they want what's best for you.

Before I married my wife, it was important to me that her dad approve of the wedding. My parents were cool about it. They are Americans and they also trusted me to find a good spouse, and I think my wife has impressed them since. :) But her dad, when he heard we were spending time together and she called and started talking about us getting married, was upset. He wanted to do something to that white guy who wanted to be with his daughter. He thought I wanted a contract marriage. He's Indonesian and he'd worked for an oil company in Sumatera. I didn't know this at the time, but some of those oil men will have 'contract wives', who are basically short-term mistresses. They might marry, but with an agreed upon contract to divorce after a certain time. She keeps the kids and a house he buys for her or something like that. I didn't know of that in Jakarta, but I heard later that goes on with some of the oil men, and found out later that he'd worked for an oil company. It didn't take long, though. My wife convinced him I had good intentions, etc. By the time I made the trip and met him, he was ready to plan a wedding.

Do you want to have one of those relationships with your folks where you are distant and they don't get along well with your husband? Them not approving or attending the wedding is not a good way to start out. If you think about sowing and reaping in your life, the Lord may bless you with children. It's better to take a patient way, and trust God to work things out. Do you believe God wants the two of you to get married? He can make it happen. I had uncles in my wife's family, including the head of the family in their culture, opposing us on certain aspects of how we wanted to get married, but if the Lord wants you married, He can help you make it happen, so trust him, pray, and try to do things in a way where you honor everyone you have to honor. If this man can win your parents over first, that will be much better going forward in the relationship.

Btw, I was raised Pentecostal, too, and semi-strict for part of that time.
 

notuptome

Senior Member
May 17, 2013
15,050
2,538
113
#18
I agree that she should not be burning any bridges behind her. It does seem that her parents are impossible to please and have no intention of accepting her fiancée into the family. At some point a choice and a decision must be made and I pray that she choses wisely. Thank you for your concern in this touchy situation.
We have not heard from her parents nor have we heard from his parents. There is obviously more to this story and I suspect much more that does not favorably reflect on this couple. Might just be my Dad radar but I'm not buying the story she's selling.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
 
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Sirk

Guest
#19
We have not heard from her parents nor have we heard from his parents. There is obviously more to this story and I suspect much more that does not favorably reflect on this couple. Might just be my Dad radar but I'm not buying the story she's selling.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
casting blame serves no value. Telling someone what they are not vs what they can be isn't helpful at all imo.
 
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Ashleyanomaly

Guest
#20
I appreciate you taking the time to comment. I am going to seek out counseling although this is not something that people do in my culture. We normally just fix issues or ignore them and find a way around them. Counseling sounds like it could help us.