The True Christian Family by Gisela Yohannan

All marriages have times of conflicts. But sometimes, especially in the Asian context, these are caused, stimulated and aggravated by parents – especially the in-laws.

In the battle for their daughter’s allegiance and affection, they often hold on to their daughter, use money and other material benefits to exercise control and even encourage their daughter to come home when any small problems surface in their marriage. Little do they know that they are sabotaging God’s design for marriage.
How can this be resolved and build a strong foundation for a Christian marriage?

You will be blessed as you listen to this podcast.

We have already seen that if we follow God’s 3 step instructions found in Ephesians 5:31, we can experience a fulfilling Christian marriage.

But for someone who’s not married yet, step one of leaving (physically & emotionally) her parents is terrifying. Added to it, after marriage her new authority is to be her husband and her commitment and allegiance must be to him. How can she do it? For those already married, what should the wife do if the husband is not interested, or learns about these instructions much later in their married life? Should she preach at him or pray for her husband?

Listen and learn as we live to please the Lord.

In part 14 of the series, Gisela Yohannan compares ‘cleaving’ - the 2nd of the 3 steps designed by God for developing an intimate relationship with you spouse, to super glue - a strong adhesive. Separating something super-glued is almost impossible.

Just like nothing is able to separate us from His (Jesus’) love for us, nothing should separate the husband from ‘cleaving’ to his wife. Even if a relative sows discord, the mother in law accuses the daughter in law or the wife commits a mistake, the husband must defend, protect, listen, correct and forgive his wife.

A tall task for any husband; but surely possible with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 5: 31 is God’s 3 step instruction to that end - ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’

Part 13 of this series focuses on the 1st among the 3 steps - which is to ‘leave.’

What did God mean by that? Rising above culture and tradition and equally applicable to the poor and rich, literate and illiterate, those in villages and cities, this teaching clearly explains what the husband should leave and how he should do it.

Let us listen and learn to deepen our relationship with our spouse.

‘Correction’, says Gisela Yohannan is ‘God’s grace and love towards us, because it opens our eyes to those things in our lives which are not pleasing to Him’.

One of the God given responsibility of a husband is, like Christ, to bring correction to his wife. But any sort of correction is difficult to receive! So, what should be the wife’s right attitude and appropriate response be towards the correction she receives?

Listen and learn how to let correction become a blessing, as we seek to build up a True Christian Marriage and Family.

It’s easy to say, ‘I want to have a good Christian marriage.’ But obeying the Biblical principles on which such a marriage is founded on, is not at all easy.

For example, the Holy Scripture tells the husband to “cherish” or 'value' his wife. But what if doing that will go against the culture and make a husband look weak and ‘spineless?’ At the same time, neither can we ignore the Scriptures just because our culture practices something else!

Firmly, but politely, Gisela Yohannan will ask the question - do you as a husband cherish your wife, just as Christ does the Church?

Listen and be blessed!

Husband - is your wife starving - not physically of course, but emotionally? What are the signs of spiritual starvation in your wife? And more importantly, what is the solution? 



The solution is found in Ephesians 5: 29 - ‘husbands nourish your wife just as Christ also does the church.’ But how does one do it?

As we listen, let us be encouraged to truly nourish our wives.

If a husband and wife would understand this principle, then most, if not all of the strife, mis-understandings, and selfishness would be replaced by and peace, joy and love in our homes.

Using multiple scriptural references and simple illustrations, Gisela Yohannan points out that one foundational principle to live as a Christian Family.

Often husbands exclaim in exasperation- ‘Why can’t my wife act and think like me? She’s so complicated; who can understand her!?’ Husbands, remember that your wife has been created differently to fulfil her assignment!! But then what is her assignment?

While the leadership responsibility of the family rests with the husband, what is the role of the wife in decision making in a household?

Gisela Yohannan in her simple and lucid style, brings out real life and often humorous examples to show the beautiful balance God intended in marriage.

Let us listen and learn, as we live together as a Christian Family.

A question to the Christian husband - ’have you taken deliberate steps to help the spiritual growth of your wife?

As a husband get’s busy with his role of working, leading and providing for his family, he often forgets that he has a high calling in marriage - to be like Christ (is to the church).

Using Scriptural principles and practical examples, Gisela Yohannan once again points the way to having a fulfilling and Christ centered family life.