The Christian teaching about marriage is unambiguous and not susceptible of confusion: The cult comes first.
(1) The believer in Christ acknowledges him as Savior and Lord, with an allegiance that exceeds any earthly commitment. When two believers are married, they share this mutual commitment and are commonly dedicated to the Lordship of Christ.
And:
(2) As the Gospels make clear, loyalty to Christ exceeds that of any family commitment, even as the church becomes the family of faith, embracing within its life all who come to faith in Christ and into the life of the church.
Those are the teachings of the cult, and these are the regrets of a pastor who lived them:
We were supposed to have a healthy marriage, and here I am putting everyone and every thing ahead of my own family.
What’s wrong with this picture?
That is my greatest regret from over half a century of ministry: I failed to take care of my family.
Notice something: Even as he tolls his regrets, this pastor feels obliged to make a bow toward the company line.
No one is saying a pastor should put his family before the Lord.
Ho-ho — I am. Make no mistake: If the pleasure of an invisible friend is more important to you than the well-being and happiness of your family, then you aren’t married at all.
