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NASB | Matthew 18:6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 18:6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble and sin [by leading him away from My teaching], it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone [as large as one turned by a donkey] hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. [Mark 9:42; Luke 17:2] |
Bible Question:
In Matthew 16 Jesus tells us to avoid the appearance of evil. Is this advice for all Christians, mature Christians or just for Christian leaders? In particular, should 2 new church members be baptised if they are engaged and living together? |
Bible Answer: Have you ever read, "Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of a harlot? God forbid. What? Know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh." [1 Cor 6:15-16] Or, "And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." [Gen 2:23-24] And here this other one, "And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother." [Gen 38:9] And then this one, "She shall put the ramaint from off her, and shall remain in thine house, and bewail her father and her mother a full month: and after that, thou shalt go in unto her, and be her husband, and she shall be thy wife." [Deut 21:13] And this one as well, "If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry unto a stranger: her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her." [Deut 25:5] Fornication: porneia (por-ni-ah); from porneuo (porn-yoo-o): harlotry (including adultery and incest). porneuo (porn-yoo-o); from porne (por-nay): to act the harlot; indulge unlawful lust; practice idolatry. porne (por-nay); fem. of pornos (por-nos): a strumpet; fig. an idolater. pornos (por-nos): from pernemi (to sell): a (male) prostitute (as venal), i.e. a debauchee (libertine). Fornication is not sex outside of marriage, as it is currently taught. Fornication is prostitution or debauchery. If one man and one woman are living together in a genuinely monogamous relationship, they are not guilty of this particular act. Point of fact, the real sin would be the leaving and finding a new partner, which amounts to adultery. The real marriage in truth occurs when the man "goes in unto her." The act of conjugal joining IS the marriage, because the two have become one flesh. Sex outside of marriage with a boyfriend/girlfriend is not a sin, because there is no such thing as sex outside of marriage. The sex makes it a marriage. Cheating, leaving (except for certain acceptable reasons), or whoring yourself out puts you in the position of adultery, fornication, and other infractions. The answer to the question is yes. If they are willing, and their hearts are right, they can be baptized. It isn't anyone's business what goes on between you behind closed doors, unless said acts are grossly immoral in the sense of prostitution (in which case, we should uphold one another, etc., and it would be their business to keep you right with God and to admonish you to turn away from sin. We are our brother's keepers). Go and be baptized. Get married in the eyes of men by the standards of tradition, because if they see your situation as sin, then you should strive to NOT be a stumbling block to others. I hope I've helped you with a bit of truth. It defies modern doctrine, but it is Biblically sound, despite the anticipated opinions I shortly expect because of the radical nature of this post. Truth does not depend upon popular opinions. If you can wrap your conscience around the truth of the idea, you will find a new and interesting sense of freedom from the guilt and condemnation people would surely lay on you for your chosen lifestyle. Theo-Minor P.S. If this question is in regard to someone else, and you are just asking on their behalf, relate the information. |