J
James4redemption
Guest
Sorry for the double post here but it was too late to edit. I think it's an important example. Where I grew up, coal mines has always been the lifeblood of the economy but it is very hard and dangerous work. This one particular guy (he is grown now with his own kids) had his parents suffer an unfortunate accident when he was only 15 years old, right before his 16th birthday. He had 4 siblings all younger than him. The state would have managed to split the entire family up if he didn't figure something out quick so he somehow managed to get improper ID that said he was an adult....dropped out of school and went into the coal mines.
He then raised every single sibling on his own, completely by himself working 12 hour days....6 days a week with only sundays off and still got them on the bus every morning and took the whole family to Church on Sunday. That guy was a better man and better Christian than not only myself, but practically every other full grown man I know in real life and this is when he was only 16. Young age doesn't always mean that the person is incapable or of questionable character/competency.
I don't think that's the issue here. The issue is who's going to listen? What you said is true though, great insight is not limited to anyone or any age. It just takes a lot more faith to listen in on the advice from someone who doesn't have the experience. The OP has pinpoint discernment in relation to the contrast between the Holy Spirit and the flesh. But the problems lay within how one is going to exercise the self control to not act in a destructive manor in the heat of the moment, because this is about human relations and how to handle them. How to manage an argument, how to handle conflicts, which are things that come forth regardless of having a map in your hands or not. Something as simple as a bad day can really spiral out of control in a household. Knowing how to approach someone after a conflict, knowing how to prevent something small from getting out of control, these are the make or break scenarios, not just in marriage, but in relationships in general.
Also I don't think the kid who went out to mine for coal would advise anyone to do the same before doing it himself. I bet he stayed to himself, was quiet and listened diligently to who ever directed him in his duties. I bet he blocked everything out and focused on the task at hand since so much was at stake. Which is completely different than giving marriage advice in my opinion. One is handling human relations, the other is about taking a step in faith in the face of fear. One requires you to be still and listen before taking a step, the other requires you to only speak.
So yeah I don't think the OP needs to take offense, it's not as if anyone is saying what he said was incorrect or wrong. Just skimming through what he said, he has pin point discernment in relation to the contrast between the Holy Spirit and the flesh....It's just a strange stance that he took on the topic. That's all.