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| questions for Christians (that I have asked myself)
Posted: 3/10/2008 9:38:03 PM |  touch'e MissMealAlways -- coffee is just coffee.... .....the Lord knows that we living the best right way that we can or He knows that we are not right living as best as possible...life goes on....and let us not forget that God created Eve for Adam because He said that it is not good for man to be alone....he needs his girl to not be alone and make sure his socks are clean...happily making sure his socks are clean... Lauire | |
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Joined: 12/12/2007
Msg: 52 | |
| questions for Christians (that I have asked myself)
Posted: 3/11/2008 3:47:03 PM | To answer your question I'll go in order.
Q1)
Do you believe that sex before marriage is a sin?
Q I)Where in the text known as the Bible does it specifically say in one verse where one has to be married before having sex? Without cutting and pasting various versus together to make that assumption? And is it stated explicitly?
A)Unless I am wrong and thus welcome the proving thereof, in one verse it does not. Nor does it state that marrage is a necessity for sex. Within one verse, within one chapter. Again unless I am wrong the matter is not stated explicitly or directly, without some "creative interpretation". Fe: cutting and pasting of multiple Biblical verses to make that case, from unnrelated gospels or books of The Bible. Which anyone of any modicrim of intellect could do to build any case for any purpose, I'll add.
Q2)
If your life is surrendered to God, then shouldn't you not even be on this site because your "jumping the gun" and not waiting for Him to bring you the one He has planned for you?
Q II) Where specifically in the bible is it commanded that Christians or Jews for that matter are to take a "less then proactive" course of action to solve any problem including ones involving romance, and wait exclusively for "divine intervention" to progress in life or any aspect there of?
A) Once again unless I'm terribly wrong, and a Christian is living their life via "remote control" from "god", via all things in their life then truely, that is why romantically or otherwise they are unfullfilled and works are left undone. Again, unless I'm wrong its not "gods" responsibility to live a Christians life for them, rather, "god" is to aid when that aid is needed absolutely, after all other measures a person can do themselves are done. Praying as necessary, and not because of self negligence. I know about the whole "prayer never ceasing" thing, but really with no action by the person themselves, is it any wonder why nothing changes? Including their romantic lives. Faith without works is dead, and the faith left to itself without working with it proactively towards ones romantic endeavors is faith without romance, indeed.
Q3)
Deliver me from temptation: Christians are not to date. They are to court. Meaning, the two are never in a room, in a car, or even sitting at a Starbucks without the company of fellow Christians around. So, if I meet a man for coffee....
Q III) What is exactly the point of the above quoted? Where in the text known as The Bible, in one verse does it grant authority to arbitrarily chaperone unmarried people, by anyone other than their parents? Or for that matter by anyone at all?
A) Now unless I miss my guess, other than the omnicient and omnipotent "god" and of course the supposed "Christian" morals a person has, I gather none do. But if you are going to date a "christian" type who believes in chaperoning as acceptable, then do, deal with those frustrations. Adaults not being trated as adaults and being alowed their privacy in matters of romance "for fear of temptation" is hardly new. Particularly when that involves anything "christian". More specifically, strange Catholic conventions of courtship. Once again if wrong, then I'm "wrong".
More importantly, prove it. Chapter and verse, type of bible, and no cutting and pasting of classic scripture Ie: found within "The Bible" as a stand alone text.
After all anyone can "cut and paste" scripture or any other text, for that matter, to make a case for anything, any decent lawyer can and does that as well. Including conventions of acceptable dating practices, or in extreme cases why "Arien peoples are superior", much like Hitler did, when he gained power over his masses of sheep.
So I say if a person is a Christian then their authority and practices by which they live their life come directly from "The Word of God", not rituals or traditions based on misaplications and "creative interpretations" of The Bible. In all things, including their dating practices.
So "Christians" ask yourself this "how much of my dating ethic/morals are based on the actual Scripture/ "Holy Text" of my faith, and how much is not directly supported by my Bible/ "Holy Text"
I'll leave y'all now to your cutting and pasting of Scripture. Whereas line by line, verse by verse, and usually out of context to the paragraph as a whole, are the arguments made. As to why or why not a matter is so.
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| questions for Christians (that I have asked myself)
Posted: 3/16/2008 5:59:21 PM | Re posts 26, 27 and thereabouts.
fornicate/verb/have sex without being married is clearly a very recent and fundamentalist/evangelical/right wing interpretation of the word.
Etymology from Merriam Webster: Late Latin fornicatus , past participle of fornicare to have intercourse with prostitutes, from Latin fornic-, fornix arch, vault, brothel Date: 1552
So. This word is about 400 years old, stretching a mere 1/4 of the way back into the history we are referring to. What was the Aramaic term that Jesus used 2000 years ago and what did it concern? I believe Jesus called a bunch of people this when he turned the tables over inside the temple, right?
Near as I can figure, temple prostitutes were used for religious purposes (I think most have read the Dan Brown book with the sex scene that involved ancient ritual--and many chanting spectators (not quite as heathen as today's professional sports events--but I digress). In a BIG way this has all to do with making sex take on a different meaning than "originally inteneded" which I think is an intimate and emotionally bonding thing, not something the church is supposed to canonize, dictate, or supervise. The Catholic anullment "laws" are so like the Sanhedrin, and I mean no harm to Catholics in general, or the catholic and apostolic church, but I DO mean creating laws about spirituality, about acts and rules derived by man that is not Christianity today, and wasn't Christianity when Jesus was walking the Earth, either.
Let's look a the history of the temple in Jerusalem. There was the inside track of Sadduces, Sanhedrin, et al. They conspired to have Jesus tried and crucified, and they conspired to have Stephen tried and stoned. Those are the folk who were overseeing the fornication rights in the temple. Legalism gone awry, as it is wont to do, even today.
I don't recall seeing this verb/noun/adjective in any of the texts that describe when Mary was "with child." | |
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| questions for Christians (that I have asked myself)
Posted: 6/24/2008 1:12:19 AM | Yes, sex before marriage is a sin.
And any other sexual immorality is sin, too, outside of marriage.
But, I don't believe that God could not bring your mate through these sites where you meet a person and then if you want to use the word "court" instead of "date".
But, where in scripture does it say not to date?
To me dating is getting to know the person.
I think those rules would be good for young people to follow and those who are not strong in their faith to avoid temptations.
I just have not found any scriptures that say we should not spend time getting to know somebody whether its through this means or other means.
I think it does not matter so much WHERE people meet as long as they spend plenty of time getting to know each other BEFORE marriage.
And if being alone with each other is too much of a temptation then I agree they should not be alone together. | |
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| questions for Christians (that I have asked myself)
Posted: 6/24/2008 11:43:27 PM | Dating and courting: both of these (to me) are a way to enjoy each other's company while getting to know one another.
For some folks on POF, dating means/involves sex (check the forums), for some, the idea of meeting is for sex (read some of the dating nightmares). I roll my eyes. There's an old testament story of a woman who had to resort to...sex...to con her father in law to live up to the law. And she stood in defiance of the law, too, of being stoned for being pregnant out of wedlock...those rules died with the birth, death, ressurection of Our Christ. But what DIDN'T die is the bonding of 2 human beings--in an intimate, in a marital, relationship. The two shall become one. That is marriage--and sex. It is a big and unalterable truth about intimacy between a man and a woman.
Courtship, for some folks seems opressive, yet we (on POF) are seeking a marriage partner, not a marriage slave, not a marriage toy, not a marriage convenience. Well, hahah, that is an assumption, because I'm not sure how many are asking themselves about how "convenient" or "serving" the other contact has to be. It is sad. I think a lot of folks on here are girding themselves with the belt of "self-gratification" and "self-righteousness."
Sorry, but if your first marriage didn't work, you ain't gonna "get" what you missed by short-changing me (or others, pick your gender). A good and decent marriage is still, and always will be the same basic concept. No short cuts, no deceptions, no "legal descriptions" are gonna help.
I think the words "and the two shall become one" means that they MUST have common goals, common values, and a common pocketbook, a common home, and a common lifestyle. This isn't a punishment, or a legalism, it is an absolute truth. And well-worth dedicating sweat equity to.
I have a "defect" in that I don't find our bodies the issue; I find our minds, hearts, and values to be the issue.
In a marriage, a relationship--even a WORK relationship--we owe each other dedication and integrity. It is so rare to find a sense of integrity--and I am not talking self-righteousness.
It is rare, as we age, for folks to admit "I don't know" or to ask the question "can you show me what you mean"...we want to avoid repeating failures, and so the "next" person winds up paying for a failure in our past because we never formulated the QUESTION to ask for or provide clarification--that alone would solve SOOOOO many freakin' inappropriate dating scenarios on this site.
OK, the question is about/for Christians and I'm far afield. Yet not. Yes, Christ died for our sins and redeemed us. And New Testatment: we are NOT under a law, but called to love and forgive. There is such an incredible amount of forgiving and healing to be done on this site. DATE these people. SHARE your story. SHARE your expecation. DON'T sway yourself to...meager accounting practices (we marry with our hearts as well as our bank accounts as well as our bodies. To give one worth to the exclusion of the other is false. It just IS.
Here. Look at this, and try to imagine the give and take...in the real world. A blessed marriage. They weren't worried about Roberts Rules of Order, they connected from the heart. This is marriage, not romance, yet...(stay with it; the 20/20 style reporter shows a fabulous relationship in Wisconsin)
http://videos.komando.com/2008/06/22/
Matthew 22:36-41
Deut. 6:5, Lev. 19:18 | |
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| questions for Christians (that I have asked myself)
Posted: 6/30/2008 8:23:40 AM | Under the religion catagory, if you put that you are a Christian...
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Do you believe that sex before marriage is a sin?
We all Live in Sin,,Sex before marrage,,well lets see. Is not looking in lust a sin?? is not just thinking you WANT someone for sex a sin?? Yes to all
Again we all live in sin,
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If your life is surrendered to God, then shouldn't you not even be on this site because your "jumping the gun" and not waiting for Him to bring you the one He has planned for you?
God has given us choice,if we had no choice we would be no better then a dog or cat..Just think if a dog knew it was going to dye??
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Deliver me from temptation: Christians are not to date. They are to court. Meaning, the two are never in a room, in a car, or even sitting at a Starbucks without the company of fellow Christians around. So, if I meet a man for coffee....
I have never heard of this rule, and being Orthodox I know what strict is..
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Jesus is #1 in my life. Is He in yours?
GOD IS MY NUMBER ONE,JESAS is my best friend, I just hope the walk for my other rib dosn't take so long.. | |
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| questions for Christians (that I have asked myself)
Posted: 7/8/2008 7:57:50 AM | I think of Christ at this point in my life as the son of God...not God? Following the teachings of Christ...ergo being a Christian is an interesting path since nothing Christ even said was never penned to paper until a hundred years after his death and it wasn't in English. So...people follow the words of men that wrote about Christ and God in general translated to English a hundred years and more after Christ's death and spit out passages as though they came from Gods own lips...were God to have lips.
No...Jesus isn't number one in my life, but God is. Jesus died on a cross and reached out to God verbally. Some people think God was talking to himself at that point. I don't.
There isn't even a mention of a holy trinity in any bible, but man just sorta adds things as it suits him and sheep sort of just follow along. So...is a Christian a person like me who follows the teachings of Christ about God or a person who believes Jesus IS God?
People who live for Christ, live for a dead man if you think about it? | |
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| questions for Christians (that I have asked myself)
Posted: 10/20/2009 1:42:18 AM | I would start with these questions first:
Is the old testament a fairy tale?
Why does the literature instruct me to think like a child?
Why am I instructed to be a fatalist and accept what life throws at me?
Why did God create an environment to determine who is good and bad?
Did he really create this world as some sort of playing field so He/She can determine who is loyal to him/her?
Who or what is this God and why do I believe it?
How much of tradition was passed down to me from my family and why is it bad to question it?
Why do I need to be saved and from what?
Why am I spending my life living for death when I could be living for it now?
Why are we the center of the universe when there are more suns (not just planets) in it than there are pebbles on all the beaches on earth?
Why is there this dichotomy between the after life?
Why do I listen to people who have studied the literature and claim to have a special connection to an almighty being?
Why does the literature fail to mention anything about the previous ages and the other eras that clearly predate the literature?
Why does the literature continually evolve and who is evolving it?
Why do I trust mortals who have never experienced death?
Why do I trust things that claim to have all the answers?
Why are there so many pedophiles behind the cloth?
Why do I think my God is greater than somebody else's God?
Why am I afraid of death?
Am I bad person for questioning the existence of God?
How can anybody possibly claim to know what happens after our death?
Is my guilt being used against me in an attempt to control me? | |
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| questions for Christians (that I have asked myself)
Posted: 10/20/2009 12:11:22 PM | Ok Toto You have asked some really valid questions. Ones in which I have no answer for except to say that I am glad I am not the only one questioning the "one true God".
I was raised Mormon, very strict in our beliefs, although not as strict as other families. I didn't question the docturine then, I took it at face value. As an adult I do now question it constantly. I believe in the sanctity of marriage, and family. I believe there is one god, however depending on your beliefs he is called by many names. I really truely believe that he is watching out for us. But I also question as to why we are living to die instead of for the here and now.
You pose so many great questions above and I think this is a great way to get some insight from a variety of point of views.
As for the original posting from 2005. The definition of Christianity is the belief in Christ and living his teachings. How you manifest that belief is up to the individual. | |
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| questions for Christians (that I have asked myself)
Posted: 10/20/2009 12:36:42 PM | I doesn't take long for those doubters and unGodly to jump on this thread to share their opinions and intellect to those that care not how you feel.
I believe her question was TO Christians, and not to others with an opinion... If people who are Christians wanted opposing opinions, there are plenty of religious or anti-religious threads and blogs to share their wisdom with. But no, people who are either mean spirited or like to cause problems decide to "enlighten" those foolish believers in an attempt to make themselves feel better about themselves.
Jesus said that the simplicity of the scripture would confound the "wise" and it is obvious that this is happening.
So to other Christians that read this thread, it is a waste of time to argue or debate your belief with non-believers, and to not take words out of context, cast your pearls before swine... | |
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| questions for Christians (that I have asked myself)
Posted: 10/20/2009 3:07:28 PM | | lf everything started with Adam, then Eve, and then they had 2 sons, how did humans continue as a species? l figure if you start with a lie, just like on POF, it raises many, many red flags. | |
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| questions for Christians (that I have asked myself)
Posted: 10/20/2009 3:16:41 PM | I believe the Bible is a guideline
I was raised Catholic but I don't practice Catholicism, I am proud to be Catholic, however, and I'm proud to be a Christian ~ I believe in God, I pray and I don't delve too deep into the mysteries. I believe in eternal life and I'm eternally grateful for the gift of life
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| questions for Christians (that I have asked myself)
Posted: 10/20/2009 3:23:09 PM |
lf everything started with Adam, then Eve, and then they had 2 sons, how did humans continue as a species? l figure if you start with a lie, just like on POF, it raises many, many red flags.
I was going to add this to one of the many questions I posted above.... that humans were perpetuated from the same gene class (and sex at some point between brother and sister) ... which would mean we'd all be genetic mutants and retards.... but then I realized that this would be possible because I'm not sure all of us already aren't. | |
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| questions for Christians (that I have asked myself)
Posted: 10/20/2009 6:09:51 PM | I havent read the posts but I felt the need to comment on this..
To me the definition of Christian is believer in Christ.. not perfect follower of the bible.. Jesus came to do away with religion and judgemental people.. Why is it soo the opposite??
As A christian.. and I prefer the term believer.. We need to love people where there at... We all have different beliefs..Lets be good examples instead of preachers..God knows we have enough of them... I have been on both sides of the spectrum.. Went 6 years without sex.. waiting for a husband that I'm not sure I want now..
I am looking for my happy balance.. Spread Love... no judgement.. | |
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