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Baptists/Am i married??
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Question
I went through a Christian ceremony with a man in the Dominican Republic
to be married ( before a minister, but not legal in the U. S.) . I was
told by him that he was unmarried prior to the ceremony. I believed I was
marrying a divorced man. Following the ceremony ( a month or two later) he
told me he was still married to another woman, but that they had been
separated for years and she was seeing others. That is true. Am I
married to him before God?? Am I his wife??? Or am I free to be with
another???
Diane, thank you for your question. I am sorry for the situation you are in. This man from the Dominican Republic is not a Christian, but you should have known that before you got married. But to answer your question "Am I married to him before God?" And the answer is No. You have committed fornication with this man and he has committed adultery with you. Now you have a sin issue that you have to deal with. You need to get on your knees and ask God for forgiveness, and trust in HIM to find you a Christian husband and not do it on your own.
Diane, you need to annull this marriage and get away from this LIAR. You may want to seek a Christian counselor so you can work through this loss and why you seek such men. Do not marry anyone unless he is born again Christian man, given to you by God, and he is citizen of the US.
Blessings to you,
Dr Don Howe, RN, PhD, ThD
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Answers by Expert:
Dr Don Howe
Expertise
I welcome questions that deal with theological issues, relationship issues, church history, world religions, current events from a Christian worldview, "gray areas" that are present today, church growth movements, false prophets, spiritual abuse issues, end time events, prophecy, medical ethical issues, hermeneutical questions, and how Israel fits into God's economy today. I will answer all questions in a grammatical/historical normative interpretation of God's Word. If I can not answer a question, I will do the research and find the answer if available. If you are looking for a liberal theological answer or agrument, do not ask. I am not an expert on church planting or evangelism.
Experience
I have over 27 years of experience doing ministry as a bivocational minster/professional nurse. I do ministry as a volunteer with ministries that are nonprofit and not able to pay for ministers. I have experience working with youth, children, elderly in different placement settings, mentally ill and mentally challenged in different settings, felons in state prison and county jails, hospital chaplancy, choir ministry, and deacon ministry. I am an ordained SBC minister. I am a Professional Chaplain. I am currently doing hospital minstry, ministry to shut-ins, and a chaplain with Victim Relief Ministry working with victims of diasters and domestic violence. I work as psychiatric nurse in large county jail system.
Organizations
American Association of Christian Counselors, Baptist Nursing Fellowship, Nurses Christian Fellowship, Therpon Institute, Victim Chaplain & Counselor Association of America, International Board of Christian Counselors, American Society of Christian Therapists.
Publications
N/A
Education/Credentials
PhD, Therapon University, USVI, 12/07 in Biblical Counseling,
DCC, Southwest Bible College & Seminary, Jenning, LA 04/05 in Christian Psychology and Counseling.
ThD, Slidell Baptist Seminary, Slidell, LA 02/04
D.D., Slidell Baptist Seminary, Slidell, LA 07/03
Tyndale Seminary, Fort Worth, TX 2001-2003
BSN, Univ. of Texas in Arlington, Tx 05/93
ADN, Midwestern State Univ., Wichitia Falls, TX 5/77
Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock, Externship 08/04-12/05, 4 units of CPE earned.
Awards and Honors
Board Certified Christian Counselor by International Board of Christian Counselors. Issued 01/24/06.
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