Bible Question:
I cannot claim to be as wise or knowledgeable about this as others on the forum. I only came upon this thread, and wondered about your answer. We clearly have freedom from the law, when we're under the law of the Spirit. And, we should do all that he blesses. However, following your answer, I wonder if expelling bodily fluids would be blessed by God? If masturbation, and I'm not saying this is the majority or ever the case, expels our sexual urge just as we expel that which we eat and drink, then can it not be just as beneficial? Please respond, I wait for your answer. May God walk with you, in all that you do. |
Bible Answer: Hi, PV! There are waaaaay too many people who take liberties with Scripture as if they were reading through some Sci-Fi text (Lord of the Ring, Excalibur, Dune, Star Wars...) where there is a meshing of good and evil... where there are gray zones that could go either way... Not so with Scripture! When Jesus speaks on adultery and marriage (Matthew 5:27-32; 19:3-12), He does not mention homosexuality, sexual relationships outside of marriage nor bestiality because He is speaking to a people whose idea of premarital relationship meant being espoused with a husband/wife who they hardly met outside of family gatherings or, at times, they only met during their wedding ceremonies... Understanding that the people of God (those living according to the Law) would not engage in pre/extra marital sex, we can understand why Jesus did not directly address some subjects, it was expected of them not to be engaged in such immoral acts! Still, Jesus tells us that it is from the heart that evil thoughts come... these include murder, adultery, fornication and blasphemy! There are those who will attempt (while engaging in blasphemy) to usurp God's Authority by claiming that we are free to commit unrighteous acts because there is lack of Scripture to point out that it is wrong to do... These people are blind and they lead astray all who follow them... they are quick to determine that we do good by satisfying the flesh since we are above the Law... I liken them to Satan, in the Garden of Eden, twisting God's words around and promising Eve that they would not die if they disobeyed God! He used partial truth to poison her mind and spirit against God as she submitted her will to a creature rather than the Creator! We are above the Law in the sense that we no longer need to worry about what we should or should not do, because we obediently desire to do what is pleasing to God... it is this relationship that places us above the Law: our obedience and dependence on Christ: loving God above all and our neighbors as ourselves! Perhaps you may have heard of psychologists and psychiatrists that promote sexual release, and at least by hollow wood's (my pet name for the entertainment industry) standards sexual maintenance is necessary for our mental/physical health (not to mention popularity...), wrong! In the annals of the world I've yet to read any study that proves that any one person has died due to lack of sex! Further, if we are to justify any type of sexual behavior as a release mechanism to avoid sinning, would the same argument not apply to anger (kill/beat only those who deserve it--criminals, addicts, hoarders, anti-Christians); engaging in small white lies to keep us from deep dark lies; stealing insignificant knickknacks to keep us from raiding banks, stores, affluent properties... Jesus tells us that it is better for us to cut off an appendage that causes us to sin than to end up in hell! (Matthew 5;27-30) …of course, Jesus is not looking to have myriads of self-mutilated kinfolk joining Him at His Second Coming... He is asking us to exercise self-discipline... something that we train the lowest of animal forms to have (movies, dog shows, races, sea-land eco systems, etc.), how difficult could it be for us, the higher life forms, to achieve? Christians are above the Law, but that does not mean that we are free to operate outside the Law: The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, (Romans 8:6-8, 13) Above, Paul clearly states that if we live according to the flesh we cannot please God--he is speaking to Believers, not to pagans or Jews! And in Galatians 5:22-25, he offers us a list of traits by which the Holy Spirit's Grace is evident in Christians and he challenges us to walk by the Spirit: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. So remember, we cannot rationalize unrighteousness into righteousness! If we say that we are children of the Light ought we not to live in the Light? (Ephesians 5:5-10) God Bless! Angel |