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Marriage
Episode
236
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The Power and Poison of Labels: How Name‑Calling Destroys Intimacy in Marriage
30:41
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In a culture where name-calling and toxic labels fuel contempt and division, this powerful message warns how the same poisonous words—like “narcissist,” “crazy,” or “toxic”—are creeping into Christian marriages, destroying intimacy, hardening hearts, and predicting divorce. Discover why labeling attacks identity instead of addressing behavior, how it mirrors cultural polarization at the kitchen table, and real stories of couples who pivoted to Christ-like speech that restored trust and friendship.
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Emerson Eggerichs, Ph.D.
Author, Speaker, Pastor
Questions to Consider
- What if the labels you're using in anger—like “narcissist” or “toxic”—are not motivating change, but actually hardening your spouse's heart and destroying the intimacy you long for?
- Have you ever stopped to ask whether the words you speak to your spouse reflect the way Jesus would speak to someone made in God's image?
- If contempt is the greatest predictor of divorce according to research, how might replacing accusations with curiosity and gentleness rebuild trust in your marriage?
- When you feel justified in labeling your spouse because of their failures, what would it look like to instead honor their identity while addressing the behavior, just as Christ does?
