Results 1 - 17 of 17
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Results from: Notes Author: JuanMas Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | How are marriages created in the Bible | Ps 1:1 | JuanMas | 160091 | ||
Tim, Thank you for your response. You are right about civil law traditions. But just speaking from a theoretical point of view, Jacob and Rachel [Genesis 29:20] probably did have a wedding celebration since she was his betrothed. However, the same could not have been true with Leah who became his wife first. The implication of this is that couples who consider themselves "just living together" may actually be creating a "marriage".:-) |
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2 | Did Michael Shiavo Commit Adultery? | Bible general Archive 3 | JuanMas | 159845 | ||
The family is the foundation of our society and The Bible contains the "Rules" that govern their creation and maintenance. According to some recent surveys I've read, individuals who describe themselves as "Born Again Christians" have a higher divorce rate than athiests and agnostics. So where are we going wrong with our teachings? Why are so many Christian families breaking up? Maybe it's time for our churches to put more emphasis on "The Rules of Marriage" found in the Bible and maybe that will reduce the amount of societal self-destruction that is so prevalent today. |
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3 | Did Michael Shiavo Commit Adultery? | Bible general Archive 3 | JuanMas | 159844 | ||
Most people want to know how to apply the Bible to everyday life. I am not seeking a "legal" interpretation, but a "Biblical" one. You are right, it is a high profile case, but a number of Christians have publicly commented on the case. One group openly stated that they thought Michael should have divorced Terry, turn her over to her parents and move on with his life. My study of Mat 19:9 indicates that advice goes against the teachings of the Bible. So you can see there are lots of opinions out there. What can we learn from this case? What Biblical principles/Scripture should we apply if we find ourselves in a similar predicament? That's why this forum is the perfect venue for this type of discussion. |
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4 | I'm confused about salvation | Matt 19:9 | JuanMas | 115350 | ||
What is more important than the family? It's not the Christians following the blueprint I'm concerned about - it's those who are not. Let's be real. Look at the divorce statistics among Christians and don't be afraid to remove the "blinders". We have rampant divorce. We have Christian couples (many with children) going through cycles of marriage and divorce. We have blended families, created from these unions that become breeding grounds for hatred, immorality and other evils. Both younger and older children begin acting out because they resent what has happened to their family. This translates into more crime, more immorality and more familial instability - all passed from one generation to the next. So tell me why this topic is not important enough to be a priority. The Biblical "blueprint" is more than about sex - It's a recipe for the creation and maintenance of a stable, moral society. The family IS the basic unit of all humanity. I once had a Christian lady, a pastor's wife, tell me that in her opinion, a good man is someone who pays his child support. I was offended by this statement because a father is more than a child support check. Many men today are not fulling their responsibilities as husbands and fathers because they don't follow God's blueprint. A father plays a crucial role in the molding, development and maturation of his children. And a part-time dad who only contributes money is certainly not an effective contributor according to the "blueprint". As someone once told me, you're either part of the solution or you're part of the problem. So if you as a minister, bless a marriage that is in reality an "adulterous" union, Are you part of the solution or part of the problem? I'm not asking anyone to treat other people as 2nd class Christians or anything else derogatory. Just speak the truth and let the parties decide what should be done. That's why some ministers counsel an engaged couple prior to performing the marriage ceremony. If they discover the couple is in the midst of or about to create an adulterous relationship, they politely refuse to conduct the ceremony and truthfully and tactfully explain why to the couple (Mat 19:9, etc). The appropriateness of this forum is education. I too am a victim of pastoral misinformation. And I remained in the dark until becoming enlightened with the truth through personal research. That's why I encourage everyone to read, study, discuss and learn as they conduct their own. Praising the Lord is more than shouting "Hallelujah" and "Praise The Lord" at the top of our lungs. It's also following his Word. Talk is cheap. Actions speak volumns. |
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5 | I'm confused about salvation | Matt 19:9 | JuanMas | 115160 | ||
Thank you for your response. I differentiate between what disciples like John, et. al have written on their own and those who quote Jesus directly. And so the central question has to be, Why did Jesus say what he did (in Mat 19:9, Mat 5:32, Luke 16:18 and 1 Cor 7:10-11) if it was not meant to be followed?. Are our religious leaders supposed to turn a "blind eye" and condone violations of Jesus' message? or are they suppose to show us the "right" way? The point of confusion I believe is, what is meant by "receiving" salvation? The Bible says you are a "new creature". That "all your sins are washed away". However what this actually means and what it implies is where the confusion lies. For example, if a wife who has committed adultery confesses her sin and receives salvation, what should she do from that point on? Jesus said clearly, "Go and sin no more". But what does "Go and sin no more" mean? In the context of this example, her sin was removed, but her marriage was still intact. Therefore to "go and sin no more" would imply that she should follow 1 Cor 7:10-11: "remain single or reconcile". This would remain in effect until and if she becomes a widow. Even in the context of an "illegal" divorce, the above would still be true and would preclude a relationship with another man. As I have pointed out previously, Christians advocating/using apparent loopholes in the Scriptures to justify committing sin are stuck in a "cycle of sin". It is not for me or anyone else to pass judgement - that's God's province. It's up to each individual to become educated and conduct himself/herself accordingly and take responsibility for their own decisions. It's difficult enough to do the right thing, but especially when so much misinformation is being diseminated by our religious leaders. I know quite a few ministers who are misleading their "flock" on this matter. These same ministers also want their "flock" to check their intellect at the door and never raise questions about their pronouncements. Whether it's out of malice or out of ignorance does not matter - the result is the same: destruction of the family. Everyone needs to become educated about God's "blueprint" for the family. After all, the family is the foundation of humanity and it has been weakened considerably since the time of Christ. Adherence to God's blueprint is the solution and it's time for everyone to get with the program. I'm not asking people to be condescending "busybodies". I'm asking people to be loving, kind, generous and patient as they convey their teachings. Those who stumble "out of ignorance" will not be held accountable. But those who deliberately mislead and cause others to fall; and those who continue in the "cycle of sin" will ultimately be held accountable for their actions. |
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6 | I'm confused about salvation | Matt 19:9 | JuanMas | 114800 | ||
The purpose of declaring a man an "unbeliever", who "illegally" divorces his wife, is so that the wife can use 1 Cor 7:15 to marry someone else - thus circumventing Mat 19:9. An "illegal" divorce is one that occurs for a reason other than "unfaithfullness". The portion of Mat 19:9 that is being circumvented is: "... and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.". If the wife can declare her ex-husband an unbeliever, there are those who believe she can exercise the escape clause in 1 Cor 7:15 ("Yet if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us to peace.") and remarry without sin. I've always said "Two Wrongs don't make a Right". In the case cited, a wife should follow 1 Cor 7:10-11 (".. remain unmarried or reconcile to her husband"). But instead, risks her salvation by committing sin - perhaps out of vengence. The bottom line is still the same - one person's sin causes that of another. Mat 5:32 said so: "but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery". It is my opinion, after examining the factual evidence, that the "Biblical" blueprint for marriage has been long abandoned and adulterated. Unfortuntely some of our spiritual leaders have unwittingly(?) contributed to this problem through their ministries and their actions. The part |
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7 | I'm confused about salvation | Matt 19:9 | JuanMas | 114709 | ||
Thank you for your response. On previous posts I have noted how some Christians use 1 Cor 7:15 as justification for remarrying inspite of Mat 19:9. Specifically, they arbitrarily declare the Christian spouse initiating the "illegal" divorce as an "unbeliever". Then they apply 1 Cor 7:15 to justify the "innocent" spouse remarrying. In my humble opinion, this is simply "an end around play" to circumvent Mat 19:9 and 1 Cor 7:10-11. I'm not saying that those who do this are malicious in their intent. They truly believe that they are correct in their actions. The blue-print for marriage found in the Bible does work. Unfortunately, it is being adulterated by those who "should" know better but spread misinformation anyway. |
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8 | can the abused wife (spouse) remarry? | 1 Cor 7:15 | JuanMas | 113645 | ||
You are right. If a wife finds that she must leave her husband, 1 Cor 7:10-11 tells her what she must do. "But to the married I give instructions, not I, but the Lord, that the wife should not leave her husband.(but if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband should not divorce his wife." So you don't have to stay and take the abuse - however divorce and remarriage to another is a different story. |
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9 | re-marraige yes or no | 1 Cor 7:15 | JuanMas | 113644 | ||
When you have children as is your case, a greater sin would be to abandon your new family. I certainly would not have advised divorce. Without the children, my answer would be different - "go and sin no more". | ||||||
10 | re-marriage after divorce | 1 Cor 7:15 | JuanMas | 113643 | ||
It's not tricky at all - but very simple. Mat 19:9 and Mat 5:32 both state that "... he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery". This would imply that forgiven or not forgiven, remarriage in this case is still forbidden until she becomes a widow. The previous marriage was not sinful, therefore it still exits in spite of the "illegal divorce". And it certainly was not wiped away with the persons other sins if Salvation was received. It was Jesus who told the adulterous woman to "go and sin no more" and these same words would have applied to her. At the time of their divorce, she should have read and followed 1 Cor 7:10-11 and "remained unmarried or reconcile to her husband". However, since she has remarried another, it is not possible to reconcile (Deut 24:4) and so the answer to your question is: They are in an adulterous marriage. To "go and sin no more" would mean getting out of this state of sin. |
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11 | Does abandoning make you an unbeliever | 1 Cor 7:15 | JuanMas | 113642 | ||
Unfortunately, many Christians are using 1 Cor 7:15 as justification to remarry by declaring the divorcing party an unbeliever. This leads to that cycle of marriage, divorce and remarriage I spoke of earlier. Books I've read have placed this verse in its proper historical context. At the time it was written, many were converting to Christianity. The situation Paul addressed was the case where one spouse converted to Christianity and the other did not. What some (not all) modern day Christians have done is take the verse out of its original context and use it in a way that fosters the cycle of marriage, divorce and remarriage - frequently with the blessings of the Church. The passages I referred to in my earlier posts on this subject were Mat 19:9 and Mat 5:32. It has been my observation that these passages have been effectively negated by the "excuses and rationalizations" conjured up by those involved in divorce. There are some churches in which the pastor or minister inquires into the marital history of the couple requesting his services. These pastors refuse to perform weddings they believe would create an "adulteros" marriage per the Scriptures. Unfortunately, there are those who turn a blind eye and righteously proclaim "it's better to marry than to burn" and perform the wedding ceremony anyway. |
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12 | Does abandoning make you an unbeliever | 1 Cor 7:15 | JuanMas | 113637 | ||
I agree totally. However, my pastor neighbor has told me that any "Christian man" who performs an unChristian act becomes an unbeliever. Specifically, if a Christian man abandons (divorces his wife illegally - for reasons other than unfaithfulness), he becomes an unbeliever and therefore under 1 Cor 7:15, his wife is free to remarry without committing adultery per Math 19:9 (... and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery). He also has told me that one can become a Christian again if one confesses his/her sin and becomes truly repentent. It is his belief that Christians cannot go to hell since being a Christian requires one to be "Christ like". Consequently, according to this logic, one can be a Christian one moment and not one the next and so on. Personally, I believe that anyone who believes in Jesus is a Christian. We are not perfect and we may indeed sin as we go through life. However, whether we sin or not does not change our status as being a believer. |
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13 | What makes a christian an unbeliever? | 1 Cor 7:15 | JuanMas | 113137 | ||
Thanks for your response. However, you missed the point about the inconsistent application of scripture. Why did violating one of the ten commandments NOT make him an unbeliever while illegally divorcing his wife DID make him an unbeliever? This, to me, seems to be an inconsistent application of scripture. I don't believe either scenario makes the individual a non-believer. Those Christians who declare that an "illegally divorced" man becomes an unbeliever, ARE looking for a loophole to allow the innocent wife to remarry cleanly and not be considered an "adulteress" by Mat 19:9. I might also point out that you've taken Deut 24:1-4 out of context. The proper context has nothing to do with a wife coming back to a re-married husband - It's about a husband remarrying his ex-wife who has remarried and divorced (Whew! that's a mouth full). |
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14 | "and he who marries.." Added or Deleted? | Matt 19:9 | JuanMas | 113136 | ||
The King James Version prominently displays the full text. As far as I'm concerned, the other versions are "adulterated". Leaving out that clause, changes the meaning of the verse in a very significant way. And you have to remember that this isn't a disciple uttering these words, these are the words of Jesus. It has been my observation that Christians have rampantly disregarded this passage. They've made all kinds of excuses why this passage should not apply to their lives and divorce and remarry, with the blessings of the Church, to their hearts content. |
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15 | What makes a christian an unbeliever? | 1 Cor 7:15 | JuanMas | 61800 | ||
As a point of clarification, this whole discussion was spawned because of an ongoing conversation I have been having with a neighbor. My neighbor (who is a pastor) insists that a christian would never desert (divorce) his wife for non-biblical reasons. That any man who does desert his wife like this was not a christian to begin with. Therefore the wife would be free to remarry under 1 cor 7:15. This same neighbor says that the man in scenario 2 (bears false witness) is still considered a believer. This position is totally illogical because although both actions would be considered a sin, bearing false witness is one of the 10 commandments and deserting your wife is not. Therefore I cannot see how "bearing false witness" does NOT result in the individual being considered an unbeliever but deserting your wife (which is not one of the 10 commandments) DOES result in the individual being considered an unbeliever. I personally don't agree with his position. Will someone explain this to me in a way I can understand? |
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16 | Can a single man commit adultery? | Gen 2:24 | JuanMas | 57892 | ||
If only married people can commit adultery, then how do you explain Mathew 19:9 "And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery." The act the "exception clause" refers to is obviously "adultery" - marital unfaithfullness, but the term "fornication" was used instead. Also it is implied in the latter part of the verse (whoso marrieth her...) that the marital status of the man does not matter and that it is theoretically possible for a single man to commit adultery by marrying (having relations) with a divorced woman. I'll have to admit that I'm confused. |
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17 | Can a divorced person remarry? | 1 Cor 7:15 | JuanMas | 54496 | ||
Only women are prohibited from remarriage after divorce. See Mark 10:12. Men are only prohibited from marrying divorced women. See Matthew 5:32, Matthew 19:9 and Luke 16:18 | ||||||