SirKenin
Posts: 2994
Joined: 10/31/2004
From: Barrie, ON Canada
Status: offline
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This is a topic I can relate to for sure. However, the way you have it constructed, you have opened the floor to a multi-faceted approach with all kinds of angles to choose from. I am not even sure where to start. I will take My best shot at it.
First, masturbation. The extremist right-wing fundamentalists would have you believe that masturbation is a sin. In fact, this is not the case. They quote the text of Onan and spilling his seed on the ground in the Old Testament as pointing towards the fact that masturbation is wrong. However, this text has nothing to do with masturbation whatsoever. It is in fact telling U/us the story of a man who was commanded by God to give his brother's wife a child so that their lineage would be preserved, and he refused. He was thus condemned for his actions. Nowhere in the Bible does it mention the act of masturbation. The only issue addressed is lust, considered a sin and the same as adultery if you look at the opposite sex with desire. If you can masturbate without doing this then masturbation is fine.
Sex. The Greek word for sex before marriage is pornea. It is literally translated as fornication. W/we are instructed not to have sex before marriage. That is to be saved for consumating a union, procreation and bringing a couple together in celebration of their union and love for each other. Sex can be enjoyed at any time after marriage and is not limited in any form to procreation. In fact the Bible speaks of it in high regards as something to be cherished between a husband and wife.
Living together. The Bible does not ever tell U/us that a marriage ceremony is mandated before cohabitating. However it does tell U/us to respect the Law of the land. In all but 13 US States and Canada it is forbidden to cohabitate as common-law husband and wife. Outside of that, to be married all Y/you have to do is to make a covenant (not a contract) between God, Y/your partner and Y/yourself, leave Y/your father and mother and become one flesh (consumating Y/your union through sex). No stupid paperwork or other fanfare is necessary.
Submission/Domination. This is where it becomes tricky. In Ephesians W/we are commanded to submit to one each other out of reverence to Christ. The husband and wife relationship is likened to the relationship between Christ and the church. The wife is to submit (hupotasso: to subject one's self, to obey) to the husband as the church submits to Christ because the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the church. Husband's responsibilities are likened to Christ's headship over the church. Husbands are to love their wives. To lead by example. W/we are to exercise a purposeful affection, earnestly and willfully seek out the well-being of O/our wives, even if it means the ultimate cost to Y/you.
The love of a husband is defined as sacrificial, selfless, unconditional, tender, close and nurturing. Men look at these verses and perk up when it says that the wives are to submit, yet there is so much more burden placed on the husband. The husband will answer to God about how he treated his wife and his family. With his position he is given great responsibility for the well-being of the wife and the family. He is not to abuse it or he will answer to God Himself.
This sets the stage for a whole different type of domination than what many people are familiar with, but it is the type of domination I use. I love My sub as I would love Myself (this is the rule given supreme importance in the New Testament). What is love? A love is the desire to place Y/your friend first, even if it means "laying down Y/your life" for him/her. Laying down your life includes giving up that which Y/you want for their betterment. I demonstrate by My actions what I expect from My sub. Not only do I tell her how to please Me, I also try to show her how to please. I love her and honour her. In return she desires to please Me. You can boss them around for so long, but eventually they will give up and walk away if you have not done your part.
Homosexuality. Homosexuality/lesbianism/bi-sexuality is a tough one in a sense. In one sense, the Bible forbids these in 1 Corinthians and 1 Timothy. It is stated that they will not see the Kingdom of Heaven. It is Paul's direct response to the Roman emperors of the day being morally corrupted, with the greatest percentage of them being homosexual. Even Nero had a boy castrated to be his wife, after which he got rid of him and married another man. Paul, in his outrage, condemned the practice. However, I do not think this applies to people in general, rather the active practice of it. Being a celibate homosexual or what not is not being sinful. God does not create mistakes and I do not believe there is any evidence that being homosexual is something you learn.
Deuteronomic Law and Christianity. Many right-wing fundamentalists try to apply the Old Testament to their extremist beliefs as justification for cramming people into a small, wooden box of rules. Equally, non-Christians try and use them as an excuse to slam Christians for their beliefs, saying "Yeah, well Deuteronomy says this" or "Leviticus says this". Paul tells U/us explicitly in the New Testament that Deuteronomic Law no longer applies to Christians as a result of Christ's death and resurrection. W/we are told that W/we are now under grace, although W/we are not to test God's grace by continually sinning and asking forgiveness for the same sins over and over again. Therefore, all arguments against Christians using the Old Testament are now voided. The Deuteronomic Law was given as a way for Jews to set their paths straight and to show them that without God there was no hope of entering Heaven. Jesus' death and resurrection gave them a new hope and a new path to follow.
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Hi. I don't care. Thanks.
Wicca: Pretending to be an ancient religion since 1956
Catholic Church: Serving up guilt since 107 AD.
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