Re: Debauchery, Barbarism, and Anarchy: Preparing for Our Cultures Future
| Posted On: 03/09/07 10:08:28 AM |
Age 53, IN |
A very fine article. I agree with nearly every point made. The only thing I would question is when the writer got to the part about a couple being at the altar. I realize "going to the altar" has been the practice for hundreds of years but it really is a pagan thing. We really don't require a minister or an altar to be married in God's eyes. When two people have committed themselves to each other in the sight of God and become one they are married. There are no directions in the scriptures that are set out to be followed to marry two people. All those things are man-made. It seems to me that when a man and a woman have "coupled", that is become one, they are married in God's eyes. Which means that young people who have casual sex with a variety of partners, though they may eventually "marry" one of them, have already committed adultery over and over. Or at least fornication. One can be an adulterer before choosing an official mate and going to the altar.
Click here to reply to this post
|
- Re: Re: Debauchery, Barbarism, and Anarchy: Preparing for Our Cultures Future
| Posted On: 03/11/07 09:01:11 PM | | Age 50, VA |
"It seems to me that when a man and a woman have "coupled", that is become one, they are married in God's eyes."
If that's true, there's no such thing as fornication or adultery. Merely short, multiple marriages.
In every society, there are recognized norms of marriage. Every society defines what is marriage and what is not. Currently, our society recognizes a legal procedure under the authority of the civil government. Far from being unBiblical, and therefore something Christians can ignore, God calls us to also recognize those norms. We are told to "be subject to the powers that be" (Rom 13). Interesting that it doesn't say anything about the powers that OUGHT to be - that is, we are to be subject even if the government is illegitimate! See also Tit 3:1 and 1Pe 2:13 and following. Christians who live together without a marriage license are fornicating. They are not married.
Click here to reply to this post
- Re: Re: Debauchery, Barbarism, and Anarchy: Preparing for Our Cultures Future
| Posted On: 03/09/07 10:26:07 PM | | Age 41, TX |
We have to be careful as to how we approach discussing the subject of marriage with others. Your position seems to say "living together" out of (granted, a state-licensed relationship recognized by state law) wedlock is acceptable to God. This is a hard position to take as essentially a pagan practice, as pagans also practiced sacrifices. The Old Testament Israelites practiced sacrificing under commandments of the Lord, and indeed, Christ was the Ultimate Sacrifice to take our place so that we would be righteous before God on Judgment Day. Jesus didn't include "officially" being married when He said in Matthew 5:28, "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." Clearly, lust is adultery in God's eyes, married or not, where fornication IS intercourse with someone who is not your spouse. It is, however, okay to lust after your spouse without restriction! =)
Click here to reply to this post
- Re: Re: Debauchery, Barbarism, and Anarchy: Preparing for Our Cultures Future
| Posted On: 03/09/07 09:29:13 PM | | Age 52, IA |
True enough, that Adam & Eve didn't have to go through a marriage ceremony, but if living together constitutes marriage, what about John 4 and the woman at the well. Jesus said she had had 5 husbands and the one she was now with was NOT her husband. In any case, we agree that there is rampant fornication and adultery today, and believers must set the high standard of one man - one woman for life.
Click here to reply to this post
- Re: Re: Re: Debauchery, Barbarism, and Anarchy: Preparing for Our Cultures Future
| Posted On: 03/12/07 06:06:38 AM | | Age 53, IN |
It appears several did not understand my point.
The point is that in this culture some "authority", either a judge, a justice of the peace, a ship's captain, perhaps an apostate "minister", a "woman pastor", or various other types pronounce a couple to be husband and wife. They do it "by the power vested in me by the STATE...". The same STATE that commits myriad evils. How is being proclaimed "married" by an unbeliever any more legitimate than not going through the mumbo-jumbo but instead being committed to your mate? I am not advocating multiple common-law marriages. I am saying the first time two people have "coupled" they are one in God's sight. They are "married". Having multiple partners, whether "married" or not, is wrong. And why do I never hear any preachers warning their congregations about fornication? If fornication is a sin where are the preachers who are warning against it? The fact is there is so much divorce, pre-marital coupling and adultery that nobody pays any attention to it. If people were warned that their first coupling made them the spouse of their "mate" they might think twice. How did Eve become Adam's wife? How did Sarah become Abraham's wife? How did Rebekah become Isaac's wife? How did Mary become Joseph's wife?
Click here to reply to this post
Re: Debauchery, Barbarism, and Anarchy: Preparing for Our Cultures Future
| Posted On: 03/09/07 08:45:54 AM |
Age 43, AL |
Excellent article! It spoke directly to me. Thank you for writing this.
Click here to reply to this post
|
Re: Debauchery, Barbarism, and Anarchy: Preparing for Our Cultures Future
| Posted On: 03/09/07 08:06:11 AM |
Age 37, TX |
Good article, and a frightening reminder about the future for our children.
This quote from the article is important: "As couples, we must work to have a regular, happy, vigorous sex life....for that is how God intended it." Scripture is clear on this subject, and you hit the nail on the head. Unfortunately, as a man, I have seen that too many Christian women conveniently downplay the crucial significance of this.
Click here to reply to this post
|
|
|
|
