Bible Question: can 2 people of opposite sex who have no sexual relationship with each other, even though we share a double bed, have an intense friendship, companionship, and who co-habit in the same household and have no wish to be married to each other have a relationship with christ and the church. |
Bible Answer: bill kane: Are you serious? The kind of relationship that you describe strains credulity. A man and woman who cohabit in the same household, share a double bed, have an intense friendship and companionship, yet have no wish to be married to each other and have no sexual relationship with one another -- even if this is a real situation and not a hypothetical one, who among their neighbors and fellow church members is going to believe it? What would this extremely odd cohabitation do to their witness as followers of Christ? What is there about this situation, given the intensity of affection and intimacy you describe, of living together and sharing the same bed, that precludes marriage? Economic considerations, sexual dysfunction, or what? These are really rhetorical questions and no answer is anticipated. Some Bible verses you may wish to study are Genesis 2:24, and perhaps you may be enlightened by the principle laid down by Paul in 1 Cor. 8:8-13 concerning stumbling blocks, even though in this instance he was addressing the specific issue of eating meat. And Jeus said, "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden...Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:14,16). The follower of Christ has the mighty and awesome guidance of the Holy Spirit through the instrumentality of the Scriptures. He has the precious privilege of going to the throne of grace in prayer. He can avail himself of the collective wisdom, succor and counsel of God's people, the church. But ultimately the terrible burden of choice falls on his shoulders. He must choose the course he will take. --Hank |