A couple of things.
First - when I speak, I speak from the personal space of someone who was both married and then divorced under Islam, according to Islamic law, prior to being saved.
Just a small point, but Islam is contractual marriage - not covenantal as Christianity is, and my former husband caused me lifetime disability due to physical abuse.
When I remarried to a Christian man many years later, I didn't so much as hold my husbands hand prior to marriage.
I don't see my former marriage counting against my Christian marriage, as I was unsaved. My husband is a widower. His wife died of cancer many years before I met him.
So when I give advice that's where I'm coming from.
As far as encouraging youth toward marriage, I think most people do but the youth's have to meet the right person first. You can't advice anyone to marry the first person who says yes - that would lead to a poor choice if "yes" becomes the main criteria.
You have to be realistic, and give advice according to the individuals situation without exceeding the boundaries our Lord has given us.
My stepson married at 18, but they had to have tons of family support to succeed in the marriage - but they both had supportive families that could help them early on. Now they are doing great financially and otherwise.
Not everyone has the above support systems, but in many Christian homes they exist.
If you want to make a change in your local church concerning groups for the unmarried youth there - speak to the elders and see what you can do together as a church. Instead of complaining about x,y,z be the change you want to see there - just make sure to they are clear as to what your proposing.
First - when I speak, I speak from the personal space of someone who was both married and then divorced under Islam, according to Islamic law, prior to being saved.
Just a small point, but Islam is contractual marriage - not covenantal as Christianity is, and my former husband caused me lifetime disability due to physical abuse.
When I remarried to a Christian man many years later, I didn't so much as hold my husbands hand prior to marriage.
I don't see my former marriage counting against my Christian marriage, as I was unsaved. My husband is a widower. His wife died of cancer many years before I met him.
So when I give advice that's where I'm coming from.
As far as encouraging youth toward marriage, I think most people do but the youth's have to meet the right person first. You can't advice anyone to marry the first person who says yes - that would lead to a poor choice if "yes" becomes the main criteria.
You have to be realistic, and give advice according to the individuals situation without exceeding the boundaries our Lord has given us.
My stepson married at 18, but they had to have tons of family support to succeed in the marriage - but they both had supportive families that could help them early on. Now they are doing great financially and otherwise.
Not everyone has the above support systems, but in many Christian homes they exist.
If you want to make a change in your local church concerning groups for the unmarried youth there - speak to the elders and see what you can do together as a church. Instead of complaining about x,y,z be the change you want to see there - just make sure to they are clear as to what your proposing.
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