cohabitation

[pretzelperson]

[

I'm still not clear on whether your christians.  You say you believe in Christ but so do a lot of non christians.  The bible says to obstain from all apperances of evil, but since you say you have no intention of changing your situation it doesn't really matter what others think.  I only know that when you go against God's word there is always a price to pay.  You said your looking for a religion to accept you as you are.  However I would be much more concerned about what God's opinion of you is, after all that is the only one that really matters.  I think too you know whats right.  Taking the right way is not always easy, but the payoffs are blessings from God and not acceptance from the world.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Actually, I think God's goal for us is to avoid evil. Jesus did things that appeared evil to the religious leaders of his day. But his actions weren't evil. The appearance of evil is culturally driven and can change.

[Nicks Girl]

I do not think the "appearance of evil" can change with culture. I believe the appearance of evil the Bible is speaking of are things that are against what the Bible says. The Bible is against unmarried couples having sex, and when you live together you are giving the appearance that you are. If you live together people WILL assume you aren't remaining pure.

[Ovedya]

Question: Did Mary and Joseph live together prior to their marriage?

[pretzelperson]

I do not think the "appearance of evil" can change with culture. I believe the appearance of evil the Bible is speaking of are things that are against what the Bible says. The Bible is against unmarried couples having sex, and when you live together you are giving the appearance that you are. If you live together people WILL assume you aren't remaining pure.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Anything and everything can appear evil in the eyes of somebody. The appearance of evil is in large part dictated by culture and culture is fluid and relative. I believe that truth is unchanging and transcends culture. I am familiar with the Bible text you are referring to, but I disagree with your pratical application of that particular passage.

For example, I grew up in a Church where going to movies was evil because it gave the appearance of engaging in sin. This was the cultue of that Church. It was their institutional preference. The act of going to a movie is amoral, but in the culture of this particular church it was deemed evil. It is interesting to note that the culture of this particular church has changed and it is no longer considered to appear evil to go to a movie theater. So what appeared evil at one time is no longer considered to appear as evil.

[Arthur Durnan]

Did our Matchless Saviour, the Lord Jesus, practice co-habitation? And certainly, of course, He was not married. But Jesus' EXEMPLARY life in matters of morality should serve to assist one in a quest re the rightness or wrongness of co-habitation. By the way, what specifically do you have against holy matrimony as obediently practiced by twice-born Christian believers in compliance with the Apostles' direction?

One tremendous important thing I personally harbor against co-habitation is that it is for all intents and purposes the very norm for the populace of HellyWeirdo & San FranSicko! They know hardly SQUAT about Judeo-Christian principles, right?

http://arthurdurnan.freeyellow.com

[Kabowd]

So basically what you're saying is...whether what you're doing is wrong or not, you really don't care and don't intend on changing. All you're looking for is a "religion" that will accept you as you are without expecting you to change?

Just an FYI, a relationship with Christ is about constant change. It's about having a heart that is willing to forsake ANYTHING and EVERYTHING for His name's sake. No offense, but it sounds to me like you want your cake and to eat it too. If you're unwilling to even consider the possibility that there may be sacrifice involved, I'd say you're not interested in following Christ at all.

[pretzelperson]

Did our Matchless Saviour, the Lord Jesus, practice co-habitation? And certainly, of course, He was not married. But Jesus' EXEMPLARY life in matters of morality should serve to assist one in a quest re the rightness or wrongness of co-habitation. By the way, what specifically do you have against holy matrimony as obediently practiced by twice-born Christian believers in compliance with the Apostles' direction?

One tremendous important thing I personally harbor against co-habitation is that it is for all intents and purposes the very norm for the populace of HellyWeirdo & San FranSicko! They know hardly SQUAT about Judeo-Christian principles, right?

http://arthurdurnan.freeyellow.com

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What are you trying to communicate?

[Arthur Durnan]

Precisely what I stated. I'm sorry that you're not picking up what I'm putting down. Co-habitation is essentially shacking-up, not Judeo-Christian lifetime matrimony. How many times should the Lord Jesus Christ have to underscore it (as in Matthew 19)?

http://arthurdurnan.freeyellow.com

P.S. You could start by telling us - as I've already asked - what you have against Judeo-Christian matrimony as enunciated by the Lord Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church.

[Work in Progress]

Well, I guess my opinion won't be popular or considered "christian", but IMO, if you know you are innocent of sin, and God knows you are innocent of sin, don't worry about it. You aren't doing anything wrong. Don't worry about those who are looking for things to condemn - that's their problem, not yours. Like I always say - if they are gossipping about me, then I'm doing someone else who is spared from being gossipped about a favor, lol!

I am curious as to why you believe in baptism for both children and adults though.

[pretzelperson]

Precisely what I stated. I'm sorry that you're not picking up what I'm putting down. Co-habitation is essentially shacking-up, not Judeo-Christian lifetime matrimony. How many times should the Lord Jesus Christ have to underscore it (as in Matthew 19)?

http://arthurdurnan.freeyellow.com

P.S. You could start by telling us - as I've already asked - what you have against Judeo-Christian matrimony as enunciated by the Lord Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I don't have any problem with "Judeo-Christian" matrimony. In fact I support marriage even though much of society does not. My statement was that I don't believe the Bible speaks about people living together in a manner as described in the original post. I did say that I think it unwise for a man and woman to "live" together with the intent of not haveing marital relations with each other. I believe such a living arrangement will likely lead to sin.

As I have asked you in the past. . .Please carefully ready my posts prior to responding to them.

Edited February 4, 2005 by pretzelperson