Subject: Adultery always involves married woman? |
Bible Note: Hi Doc, I learn far more from those who disagree with me, and primarilly use scriptures, in context, with a meaning consistent with the context, and a range of meaning that fits with how those same words and roots are used throughout the scripture, than I ever will from those that agree with me. If you agree with me on all my beliefs, one thing is true, you are wrong, ... on some things. Contention is not a bad thing. "Contend ernestly for the faith that was once delivered unto the saints." Meaningless contention is a bad thing. Since I am agreeing that polygamy is a sin in this country, and many others, for the most part, having contention over the issues remainging would seem meaningless, ... to me, other than that I need the well studied opinions of others, like yourself, to sharpen me, and clean up this heresy, if it is one. I am aware that I may have missed passages on the other side of the issues, or that I may have distorted meaning to "fit it to" the beliefs I have expressed. I believe, right now, that I did exactly that for years, on holding to the opposite view on polygamy, and by holding fast to the more modern view of adultery. The contention I have is with my own perceptions of the meaning of scripture, not with any of you. From what I can see, no one here really disagrees with me on any issue whatsoever. Noone has come to me and asked my opinion on any passages other than TItus, and once I stated what I believed they meant, from the context, and the fact that it was obviously an issue in the church at that time or it would not have been mentioned, I got no further input on the topic. Of course, it may be that no one feels I am worth discussing this issue with, even if they believe I am wrong. If I am wrong, I am wrong seeking the truth with all my heart, mind, soul and strength, with an unwillingness to distort, change, or add meaning to hold to cultural changes. This is what I "see", but my eyes and ears are open to where I might be wrong. No further input usually signifies no difference of opinion, or not caring if the opinion is opinion is right or wrong. Or not caring enough about the one with the opposing opinion. Or, not really wanting to examine all of the pieces carefully cutting all of them straight, and then combining all of the undistorted meaning, and historical/cultural practices, ... to see what God really does say and mean, because the risk to your own beliefs is too great. What I am looking for is those that have either thoroughly studied the topic from all angles, using all scriptures, and agrees, which might only make two of us wrong, or someone who honestly believes I am wrong on my views and who is willing to go through all of the passages pertaining to the issue, including those I may have missed, in context, holding to the meaning of the words as they are used throughout the scriptures, ... without adding, subtracting, or twisting meaning to fit my beliefs, or theirs. As you have stated, I haven't done a thorough study through all the posts of all the topics on this site yet. I will attempt to do so later on tomorrow. Since both topics are related, as the modern view is that polygamy always involves the modern view of adultery, I did combine them here. If someone does want to discuss this privately, rather than in public, I have no issue with that. I am not looking for a fight. I am realy "Looking" to be proven wrong. If I seem resistent to a view on a passage it is because I sincerely see that Godly men and women in the Old and New Testament did not believe and live that way, and/or that it requires some addition, subtraction, or distortion to force it to support a belief. Again, it is in my best interests that this happens. I am going to get sharpened. I will be shown things that maybe I missed, ... and again, I am not willing to twist, add to, or subtract from, the meaning of scripture, or what was done by God, and godly men and women to hold to my beliefs, or any other man's beliefs, even if most of the religious people in America over the last 150 years do disagree with me. Without proof, we ust have to agree to disagree. I am looking for help. If there are those that can put up with the idea that someone can seriously study all aspects of a topic, and come to a conclusion that differes from what most have believed, in this culture, for over a hundred years, and has studied this through, I can do nothing but gain. If you agree with me, I gain a small assurance, but my discomfort among those with differing beliefs is not lessened. The gap is too large for comfort. But again, we are discussing my mindset, and are not looking at all of the passages that may apply, their context, the meanings of the words used, the culture, ... If gaining an understanding of my mindset is essential to our digging throuhg the passages, then so be it. If you need more, I am open to sharing. |