Is an age gap relationship wrong?  My parents tell me it is against God, and I don't believe that’s true.  I think God wants us to find the right person no matter what their age or gender.

Sincerely,
All-Approving

Dear All-Approving,

There is nothing wrong with there being an age gap between spouses.  In fact, one of the most beautiful romances in all the Bible was between an older man and a younger woman.  When Ruth made it clear to Boaz that she was willing to marry him, Boaz said, “May you be blessed by the LORD, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich.” (Ruth 3:10).

However, there is a major problem with your statement that gender doesn’t matter.  Homosexuality is wrong and is clearly condemned by Scripture (Rom 1:26-27, Jude 1:7).

My fiancée looks at porn, and I tell him that it's wrong in the Lord's eyes.  When I say that, he thinks I'm getting weird on him and says that it's not like he can ever meet these girls.  How can I tell him that it's still wrong?

Sincerely,
Appalled

Dear Appalled,

Your fiancée has a major problem with sexual sin.  God tells us to flee fornication (1 Cor 6:18) and that it is wrong for a man to lust after a woman (Matt 5:28).  His major sexual problem will very quickly become your major problem if you marry him while he still holds these views.  We cannot stress enough that you should think very carefully about marrying someone who will not cherish you as his one and only (Eph 5:33, 1 Cor 7:2).

Will God forgive adultery because I have committed adultery (and I am really ashamed, and I don't know what to do)?

Sincerely,
Ashamed

Dear Ashamed,

Yes, you can be forgiven, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t consequences for your actions.  Paul said that he was chief amongst sinners, and yet, Christ forgave him (1 Tim 1:15-16).  Forgiveness is available when we confess our sins to Christ (1 Jn 1:9) and repent of them (Acts 3:19).  ‘Repentance’ means to ‘change your mind’… literally to make a change in how you think and act.  If you haven’t already stopped the adulterous relationship, you need to – now.  You also need to come clean about it; honesty and truth are a foundational concept in Christianity (Jhn 8:32).  Deception destroys; open truth illuminates (Jhn 3:19-20).  You have dug a big hole for yourself and your marriage… it is time to get to work filling that hole back in.

Of course, all of this is moot if you aren’t a christian yet.  To see what the Bible says it takes to become a christian, read “What Must I Do To Be Saved?”.  It is obvious you want God’s forgiveness, and the Bible is the only book that can tell you how to get it.

My husband and I have been together now for five years.  He has always believed that he makes all the decisions for the household, and it is that way because he is the man.  He believes that even if I disagree with a decision that he is making, my job is to support him (even if it against what Christ intends) and be good with it.  I want to be the woman that God created me to be, but I have a real hard time keeping my mouth shut when he makes really dumb decisions about things that I know are going to mean disaster for not only our marriage, but for our children, too.  Even when I make a stand and say to him that what he is doing is a bad idea for the family and is wrong in Christ's eyes, he gets mad and tells me to shut up and that I should just stand beside him no matter what.  What Scriptures can I look up to find the strength to keep quiet and be good with his decisions no matter what?

Sincerely,
Frustrated And Struggling

Dear Frustrated And Struggling,

You should always obey Christ before your husband.  Every thought and behavior should be mastered and made to obey Christ (2 Cor 10:5).  If your husband desires for you to do something that is wrong… you have every right to stand up to him and say, “No.”  Christ knew that the gospel would be divisive at times (Matt 10:34-36).  Ultimately, we must choose Christ above all others (Matt 10:37).

You are right to obey your husband (1 Pet 3:1), but he is also bound to show you love and gentleness (1 Pet 3:7).  A godly marriage is built upon both spouses choosing to serve the Lord first – and then each other.  Show strength to yield when the issue isn’t a moral one, but show strength to stand firm when it is a matter of Bible truth.

Please settle this debate for my husband and me.  Clarify to him that a woman that takes her clothes off for money is sinning and what commandment this falls under.  Please help me make him understand.  Thanks.

Sincerely,
Grieving Wife

Dear Grieving Wife,

It is a sin for a man to lust after a woman that isn’t his wife (Matt 5:27-28), and it is a sin for a woman to purposely tempt men with their bodies (Pr 23:27).  Read Pr 7:10-24 to understand the evil of women that sell (or give away) their bodies for viewing to men other than their husbands.  Nakedness is meant to be reserved for a marriage (Heb 13:4).  Uncovering your nakedness is a shameful thing (Ezek 23:18, Rev 16:15).  A man is designed and commanded by God to take joy in the wife of his youth (Pr 5:18)… and no other (Matt 18:9).