Not being married, how well do you do at this and how important is it to you?
WOW - to post #5
I don't focus on one area TOO much. I want a balanced 'psyche' - if you will.
If I'm going to abstain, then it needs to make sense across all areas - I wouldn't just do it because I felt it was right. Saying "I should because it's Godly" honestly doesn't wash. I need practical reasons to do things.
Run through your faith and your OWN personal journey with a fine toothcomb and come to the determination yourself. How would abstinence aid your journey? (Don't be bullied by guilt, you should actually WANT to do this.)
Isn't keeping the Lords commandments a practical enough reason?
Keeping in mind that this is just ME talking, and not a expert...
It's not enough to just read from a list and say "yes sir" - that's not what He wants you to do. Most people in that case obey willingly enough, sure, but in doing so they'll tend to retain the frustration. That constant sexual frustration is often more of a road block than the actual sinful act itself. (Just read ANY of the threads in this Singles forum. I'm sorry to be a 'jerk' but in the past it's been rife with 35 to 40-somethings who are stuck and NEVER start. How is that good? I'm angry for them. It's a waste of life.)
God put you here to fulfil a purpose. The key is to focus solely on that and etch out the road map. With a road map in place the ENTIRE big picture becomes apparent. What you need to do, and what you need to avoid - and why, how and when - all of THAT needs to be crystal clear for maximum effect.
'The PURPOSE' is the culmination of all of God's commands coming together. Any deviation from it is sin. Think of the road map as the magnets that keep the wheels from derailing - see how each one has an ACTUAL purpose. It isn't just an autocratic rule.
It's a question of actively engaging with the walk and being the inquisitive student - and NOT the passive note taker. Obeying without total understanding is as bad as sin (it might even be!)
*Edit: It's also important to note that I'm not 'life coaching' or preaching. I expect people over the age of 21 to know all of this already. It's just a reminder.
Usually I'd have something to say, but with all of the outrage and hypersensitivity in society today I sidestepped it.
I'm emotionally burnt out with this diversity kick.
You think I am sensitive?
God wrote the owner's manual and sex outside of marriage is like running a car without oil. 1 Corinthians 6:18 (KJV)
18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
'It harms your conscience, keeps you out of right standing with God and even will detour your life in some cases quite significantly. For instance, while you are hooking up, the real mate God intended for you is moving on.
But in your other post it seemed like you were trying to justify it by saying that it's a road block to our main purpose due to the sexual frustration.This is the biblical answer to what I was BASICALLY getting at - especially the last point.
It needs to coincide with free choice though. Free choice is as important to the faith as the cross. Without it, you'll find God through tyranny and not love.
Heaven is achieved through belief in Christ - it's not for MAN to use as a punishment and reward tool. I'm actually tired of seeing it being abused in that way. (No referring to the member I'm quoting.)
This is the biblical answer to what I was BASICALLY getting at - especially the last point.
It needs to coincide with free choice though. Free choice is as important to the faith as the cross. Without it, you'll find God through tyranny and not love.
Heaven is achieved through belief in Christ - it's not for MAN to use as a punishment and reward tool. I'm actually tired of seeing it being abused in that way. (No referring to the member I'm quoting.)