Subject: Adultery always involves married woman? |
Bible Note: Beja, I look forward to having a discussion on Calvinism vs. Armenian, as I believe that the scriptures teach that neither is 100 percent accurate. As far as being willing to look goes, on complex topics, where both tying in all of the passages that might apply to the topic, all of the related topics, and how they interact, what Godly men and women did, and what the ungodly did that relates to the topic, and how God reproves or corrects, or fails to reprove and correct them, … all pertain to issues like this. There are those that already have far too much on their plates who may give this issue a more thorough look later on, but do not wish to make the commitment. I know I have given this issue over a hundred hours of study time, and searching the scriptures to see if what is said is true is a lot of work. There may also be those studying all of this through right now, so that they can give an educated answer one way or the other. Praise God for them. I wish they would tell me, but most are already busy with their own studies and preparations, and to acknowledge that they are doing research might be seen as a commitment on their part as I would be awaiting their responses. There are also those that are angry and upset that anyone could possibly call their lifelong beliefs, and those of their religious leaders and experts that came before them, in this culture, into question. How dare I do so offensive a thing. To go against hundreds of years of what they “know to be true”, “Unquestionably so”, is a very serious offense to them. They would blot out my posts, and remove me from any room where they had the power to do so, and if possible, silence me in every other area that they could, in effect responding like an angry wild dog. There are also those that just know I am in error, and know that nothing they have to share will change anything, and so just ignore me. They would be wrong. But then, it is not my job to change anyone, just present the truth in love. Do I feel wounded, or hurt, by any of these responses? Nope. Each man is responsible for his responses before the Lord. The responses of others are not my issue. My responses to them are. Does Jesus command that we should worry about those that respond towards what we share like those in Mat. 7:6? Nope. He just says to make sure we do not have the same thing, but to a greater extent, when others present their pearls, and what they consider holy, to us. Then, we are to leave those that are not interested in helping us rightly divide, examine the scriptures diligently daily to see if what is said is so, continuously prove all things over and over again, and hold fast to that which is good/true, … for the wrong reasons, alone. Like I said, there are times when church responsibilities, family responsibilities, … preclude the thorough study necessary to discuss the issue responsibly, and I cannot get into a deep discussion on topics I have not thoroughly researched previously. I just note them, and set time aside at a later time to examine the topics, and the scriptures, discussed at a later time. No “doctrine” or “belief” is about me. It is about the truth. Some people aren’t hungry for the topic(s) I present just like I am not always interested in the topics they present. Feed the hungry, not the full. Just because I am not interested in steak tonight, and I want chicken instead, from a scriptural perspective, doesn’t mean that I am bad, or a poor Christian, just because I don’t want to do a study on adultery and polygamy, or do it right now, doesn’t say anything at all about my spirituality. Nor does it say anything negative about anyone else who doesn’t want to do the studies I do. It’s about the mind set of closed eyes and ears, of hostility, or casual disregard of opposing beliefs because of the arrogance of having “infallible” beliefs, and teachers who agree with us who have “infallible” beliefs. Those, I pray for. And I obey God’s command to leave where they are at, as much as is possible. They aren’t my responsibility. Hopefully later today, I will have the chance to go through the related topics area and see what has already been written. Perhaps my answers are there. Also, if there is a way that I can send you my e-mail, or anyone else that wants to do these studies, an e-mail, privately, let me know. |