Intimacy

[No Swansong]

I find it hard to trust the bible because it was guided by god but initially written by men with authority.

And see this is the heart of the matter. How do we know Gods will in the matter? For many the Scriptures are the final authority. Obviously for you it is not, so what is your final authority?

 

[elephunky]

And see this is the heart of the matter. How do we know Gods will in the matter? For many the Scriptures are the final authority. Obviously for you it is not, so what is your final authority?

God is my authority. But, God is not the Bible. I cannot 100% trust waht man has written for man is easily corrupt, man easily misinterperates and man often abuses the power of their position to make things the way they want them.

 

[Nadiine]

Firstly i would like to say thanks for the mature and respectful posts, i appreciate the lack of attacks.

Firstly - The logic in not having sex - There are many ways to protect ourselves these days. Problem is, people use only one method which still leaves a huge risk.

Secondly - I managed to repress those desires for a year (which is pretty big) but it only resulted in me exploding in a big way. I think if i feel restricted then im more likely to make stupid decisions as I have.

I dont like the fact that every intimate movement woudl have to be questionsed and critisized. If im in a rlationship with someone I love, and I wanna kiss em, then I just wanna kiss em without putting a sinful slant on it. Same with hugging, cuddling etc.

I go to church for a while, try to follow this "pure" logic and end up feeling restricted, caged and I actually end up pretty down in the dumps about htings. Maybe its because peoples eyes are alwasy juding you? Your made to feel unworthy? Or because you have to hide parts of your personality that you like. Im getting sidetracked lol.

I find it hard to trust the bible because it was guided by god but initially written by men with authority.

K, what you're explaining here as I understand it, is what I had a problem with - it sounds like you don't have a close relationship with Christ -
no intimacy w/ Him.
So in your mind & heart, you're obeying RULES, not WANTING to obey
them out of love for God becuz you believe in God, you don't have
a deep love built w/ Him personally.

If we're just obeying rules becuz we have to, it becomes like a diet -
you do good & then you binge & pig out becuz you didn't replace the
food w/ anything else.
The food becomes the main focus - just like sex will.

Unless God is replacing the restriction, you won't have good success in
abstaining... there isn't enough reason to and your hormones will
end up ruling the day - the more failure in falling into sin, the
more guilt you'll attain & it becomes a cycle of repetitious failure
& that causes damage emotionally & spiritually if you actually have
a real desire to follow the Lord.

Living in sin knowingly - cuts off our intimacy w/ God - so the longer
we go with unrepented sin & not seeking obedience, the more we
drift away from Him - then the more we fall into sin & backsliding.

I lived that way nearly all my life until I got married & finally got
a real relationship with the Lord.

I'd say seek the Lord & get an intimate relationship w/ Him.
& the way to do that is to hit your bible & read about Him.
If you're going to reject the Bible, you'll just have more trouble
finding Him to know Him becuz He revealed Himself in that bible
& speaks to us thru it...

Gal. 5
16But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
- - -- -

The closer you are w/ the Lord, the less sin & other wordly
desires get strong enough to overtake us.
I wasn't strong enough to have victory - it really overtook me.
So I know it's NOT easy - esp. today, so I pray for you in this.

 

[No Swansong]

God is my authority. But, God is not the Bible. I cannot 100% trust waht man has written for man is easily corrupt, man easily misinterperates and man often abuses the power of their position to make things the way they want them.

Please understand it is not my intention to be confrontational, but I must ask; if you don't believe the Scriptures to be authoritative then how do you know God's will?

 

[&Abel]

I can understand where your coming from but I believe that god planned for specific men to communicate EXACTLY what he wanted to be written

that said, there are minor differences(and maybe not so minor in some places) in translation

and certain books which are scripture were removed

but that said I know god knew it would be exactly as it is and the standard bibles are accurate enough to instill gods message

and his message is to obstain from sexual immorality

I know your looking at this from the perspective that we live in a different time so its ok...but part of the reason things have degraded as they have is because we've gotten so far away from those core values and way of living from those days

men have abused their power and this has led to rebellion from women

if men had treated women with respect this would have never been an issue

its all part of the degradation of our existence here on earth and its predicted and going exactly as the written word has told us it would

the more we turn away from gods truths the worse things will be(its been a slow transition to anarchy) and it seems to be speeding up

just look at the diseases which have arisen due to sexual liberality

men are more prone to abusive sexual tendency's then ever before(rape, molestation), children are brought up in unstable one sided homes

we have sexual identity issues and rampant homosexuality

you don't even need the bible to see how this is an issue

people jump from one partner to another never feeling satisfied with who they have(which is because sex has become a sinful indulgence rather than an expression of love) we have trust issues(and with good reason), commitment issues, lack of responsibility(mostly on the male side of things)

the list just goes on and on

 

[elephunky]

K, what you're explaining here as I understand it, is what I had a problem with - it sounds like you don't have a close relationship with Christ -
no intimacy w/ Him.
So in your mind & heart, you're obeying RULES, not WANTING to obey
them out of love for God becuz you believe in God, you don't have
a deep love built w/ Him personally.

If we're just obeying rules becuz we have to, it becomes like a diet -
you do good & then you binge & pig out becuz you didn't replace the
food w/ anything else.
The food becomes the main focus - just like sex will.

Unless God is replacing the restriction, you won't have good success in
abstaining... there isn't enough reason to and your hormones will
end up ruling the day - the more failure in falling into sin, the
more guilt you'll attain & it becomes a cycle of repetitious failure
& that causes damage emotionally & spiritually if you actually have
a real desire to follow the Lord.

Living in sin knowingly - cuts off our intimacy w/ God - so the longer
we go with unrepented sin & not seeking obedience, the more we
drift away from Him - then the more we fall into sin & backsliding.

I lived that way nearly all my life until I got married & finally got
a real relationship with the Lord.

I'd say seek the Lord & get an intimate relationship w/ Him.
& the way to do that is to hit your bible & read about Him.
If you're going to reject the Bible, you'll just have more trouble
finding Him to know Him becuz He revealed Himself in that bible
& speaks to us thru it...

Gal. 5
16But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
- - -- -

The closer you are w/ the Lord, the less sin & other wordly
desires get strong enough to overtake us.
I wasn't strong enough to have victory - it really overtook me.
So I know it's NOT easy - esp. today, so I pray for you in this.

Even when im at closest with the Lord, it still felt like an unnatural restriction. I wanted to obey what the bible said, but i have issues with the bible and i have issues with the unnaturalness of it.

 

[elephunky]

Please understand it is not my intention to be confrontational, but I must ask; if you don't believe the Scriptures to be authoritative then how do you know God's will?

I think we can know gods will by speaking with him and wiating for an answer. I think there is too much emphasis in words on a page rather than a relationship

 

[elephunky]

I can understand where your coming from but I believe that god planned for specific men to communicate EXACTLY what he wanted to be written

that said, there are minor differences(and maybe not so minor in some places) in translation

and certain books which are scripture were removed

but that said I know god knew it would be exactly as it is and the standard bibles are accurate enough to instill gods message

and his message is to obstain from sexual immorality

I know your looking at this from the perspective that we live in a different time so its ok...but part of the reason things have degraded as they have is because we've gotten so far away from those core values and way of living from those days

men have abused their power and this has led to rebellion from women

if men had treated women with respect this would have never been an issue

its all part of the degradation of our existence here on earth and its predicted and going exactly as the written word has told us it would

the more we turn away from gods truths the worse things will be(its been a slow transition to anarchy) and it seems to be speeding up

just look at the diseases which have arisen due to sexual liberality

men are more prone to abusive sexual tendency's then ever before(rape, molestation), children are brought up in unstable one sided homes

we have sexual identity issues and rampant homosexuality

you don't even need the bible to see how this is an issue

people jump from one partner to another never feeling satisfied with who they have(which is because sex has become a sinful indulgence rather than an expression of love) we have trust issues(and with good reason), commitment issues, lack of responsibility(mostly on the male side of things)

the list just goes on and on

In some faith driven societies rape is considered ok cos its the mans right apparently.

I wont comment on the homosexual front cause this probably isnt the right thread and ill get flamed for it i thnk.

Its only those with no respect for the person they are with all themselves that jump from partner to partner.

 

[&Abel]

without the words its impossible to decern between spirits

I've always been a very spiritual person and yet even when sensing gods presence I was completely clueless until I started aligning myself with his word...the more I do that the more he reveals himself both in spirit and information

the word keeps us grounded in truth while decerning the things of the spirit

 

[&Abel]

In some faith driven societies rape is considered ok cos its the mans right apparently.

I wont comment on the homosexual front cause this probably isnt the right thread and ill get flamed for it i thnk.

Its only those with no respect for the person they are with all themselves that jump from partner to partner.

if they are not christian then its more then expected and not relevant here

let me ask you this:

are you still with the guy you had sex with?(I only mention it cause you said admitted you were not sexually pure)

if you are not then you have shown that you are not immune to this behavior

even if it wasn't your decision to separate its still evidence of the results of sexual liberality

 

[elephunky]

if they are not christian then its more then expected and not relevant here

let me ask you this:

are you still with the guy you had sex with?(I only mention it cause you said admitted you were not sexually pure)

if you are not then you have shown that you are not immune to this behavior

even if it wasn't your decision to separate its still evidence of the results of sexual liberality

I was 19 when i discovered sex. We did not stay together because his life priorities changed.

I have never been adn will never be the type of woman that sleep with someone just cos im in a relationship.

 

[&Abel]

I was 19 when i discovered sex. We did not stay together because his life priorities changed.

I have never been adn will never be the type of woman that sleep with someone just cos im in a relationship.

 

[david_x]

without the words its impossible to decern between spirits

I've always been a very spiritual person and yet even when sensing gods presence I was completely clueless until I started aligning myself with his word...the more I do that the more he reveals himself both in spirit and information

the word keeps us grounded in truth while decerning the things of the spirit

A Christian should never say "impossible" it is ironic.

 

[Tissue]

It is impossible that God should exist and simultaneously not exist.

 

[david_x]

No, it's not.

 

[Tissue]

Yes it is. You can't exist, and at the same time, not exist. It's impossible. To say God exists is to say he actually does exist, which is the exact opposite of non-existence. To say God doesn't exist is to say he actually does not exist, which is the exact opposite of existence.

He can't be both. And as silly as saying God has all power and no power.

 

[elephunky]

lol. how on earth does a topic such as this end up in a thread such as this

 

[david_x]

I can not exist and not exist. The Lord is above our rules and reality.

In much the same way Christ was fully God and fully man, a basic principle among Christian groups.

 

[Tissue]

*shrug*

That doesn't work, logically, and has implications you likely wouldn't like. But we can argue that elsewhere.

 

[Nadiine]

lol. how on earth does a topic such as this end up in a thread such as this