hello everyone. i'm just wanting to start a discussion about the topic specifically "no sex before marriage" and the ethical/philosophy behind it.
to give a brief info, i've been a Christian for about 13 years now. i'm probably more "liberal" than most, but my liberalness isn't the reason why i'm questioning this idea that is taught in the predominant church.
and before i get into my questioning of this view, i'm not trying to justify myself by having sex so please don't go and assume this. sorry for this disclaimer it's just, we all know this topic gets underneath people's skins eventually and i'm hoping it doesn't happen here.
i've heard many of the reasons behind this view. one view i've heard and people using scripture to back it up is because sexual immorality is wrong. now while i agree with that, i have yet to see a reason why sex before marriage automatically gets the verdict as sexual immorality and it leaves me begging the question "what is sexual lust" to individuals that define sex before marriage as "sexual immorality"?
some other reasons i've heard is because that is the way God made for human sexuality. i have a hard time believeing such a thing because it's all speculated/metaphorical reasoning possibly hinting towards some view of Adam and Eve.
then i've heard the cultural issues that the scriptures were written in and how they can be played into our society. yet nobody stands by the cultural aspects of the scripture thus making the point rather pointless. if this is a major part of the reasoning because it is the Bible, and since it came from the prophets/God or whatever one wants to believe, it has to stand on every other level whether it relates to the topic or not...and yet no one stands by every literal verse of the scripture but then one will try to justify why they don't.
then i see the concern of marrying so that one can have sex. now it's impossible to say that everyone that waits till marriage is just marrying to finally have sex. i am in no manner trying to say such a gross assumption. but the idea leads me to beg that question. i mean a couple remaining in the flames of temptation because of their ethical view, they realize they want each other then they marry and then they can finally express their sexuality. for some reason that doesn't seem right. why should being recognized by the state or your own mental project that your recognized by God to fondling with your lover's privates in any way or make love? (i know that may have came out kind of crass, but i'm not meaning to be rude or sarcastic here.) the bible, from a literal view clearly gives way to divorce and now in our culture, 1 out of 3 marriages end the first time around correct? so is the institution (regardless of the statistic that seems pretty infamous now) of marriage really worth investing one's sexuality into?
i'm strongly against sexual immorality. i cannot stand to see how humanity lives their sexuality out so carelessly. it negatively affects people's lives so much.
but i see more working one's conscience out in this, than some ultimate ethical worldview for all of humanity. i see sex as the act that binds a man and woman as one and puts a lot of obligations and responsiblities on one's head...which makes it such a tricky road to go down if the couple or one of the couple isn't sure about a lifelong committment (regardless of a symbolic piece of metal on their finger, or state benefits or approval of the church.) and when one fails that, they need to get on their knees and repent and change their lives. not for the fear of hell but because they failed the 2 greatest commandments of Christ. imho, hell isn't something to be afraid, but createing a life of hell on someone else's life because of their failure is something much more to be concerned about to not do/create.
but it's still an issue that i see no philosophical/ethical or even scriptural ground on.
so i'm just asking for those of you who are strictly no sex before marriage, to just have a kind, godly, brother to brother, brother to sister, sister to sister discussion and debate if the time would need about this topic. i have no intention of changing my views, but i am curious to see the ethical/philosophical reasoning behind a view that i do not hold.
God Bless you all! <><
to give a brief info, i've been a Christian for about 13 years now. i'm probably more "liberal" than most, but my liberalness isn't the reason why i'm questioning this idea that is taught in the predominant church.
and before i get into my questioning of this view, i'm not trying to justify myself by having sex so please don't go and assume this. sorry for this disclaimer it's just, we all know this topic gets underneath people's skins eventually and i'm hoping it doesn't happen here.
i've heard many of the reasons behind this view. one view i've heard and people using scripture to back it up is because sexual immorality is wrong. now while i agree with that, i have yet to see a reason why sex before marriage automatically gets the verdict as sexual immorality and it leaves me begging the question "what is sexual lust" to individuals that define sex before marriage as "sexual immorality"?
some other reasons i've heard is because that is the way God made for human sexuality. i have a hard time believeing such a thing because it's all speculated/metaphorical reasoning possibly hinting towards some view of Adam and Eve.
then i've heard the cultural issues that the scriptures were written in and how they can be played into our society. yet nobody stands by the cultural aspects of the scripture thus making the point rather pointless. if this is a major part of the reasoning because it is the Bible, and since it came from the prophets/God or whatever one wants to believe, it has to stand on every other level whether it relates to the topic or not...and yet no one stands by every literal verse of the scripture but then one will try to justify why they don't.
then i see the concern of marrying so that one can have sex. now it's impossible to say that everyone that waits till marriage is just marrying to finally have sex. i am in no manner trying to say such a gross assumption. but the idea leads me to beg that question. i mean a couple remaining in the flames of temptation because of their ethical view, they realize they want each other then they marry and then they can finally express their sexuality. for some reason that doesn't seem right. why should being recognized by the state or your own mental project that your recognized by God to fondling with your lover's privates in any way or make love? (i know that may have came out kind of crass, but i'm not meaning to be rude or sarcastic here.) the bible, from a literal view clearly gives way to divorce and now in our culture, 1 out of 3 marriages end the first time around correct? so is the institution (regardless of the statistic that seems pretty infamous now) of marriage really worth investing one's sexuality into?
i'm strongly against sexual immorality. i cannot stand to see how humanity lives their sexuality out so carelessly. it negatively affects people's lives so much.
but i see more working one's conscience out in this, than some ultimate ethical worldview for all of humanity. i see sex as the act that binds a man and woman as one and puts a lot of obligations and responsiblities on one's head...which makes it such a tricky road to go down if the couple or one of the couple isn't sure about a lifelong committment (regardless of a symbolic piece of metal on their finger, or state benefits or approval of the church.) and when one fails that, they need to get on their knees and repent and change their lives. not for the fear of hell but because they failed the 2 greatest commandments of Christ. imho, hell isn't something to be afraid, but createing a life of hell on someone else's life because of their failure is something much more to be concerned about to not do/create.
but it's still an issue that i see no philosophical/ethical or even scriptural ground on.
so i'm just asking for those of you who are strictly no sex before marriage, to just have a kind, godly, brother to brother, brother to sister, sister to sister discussion and debate if the time would need about this topic. i have no intention of changing my views, but i am curious to see the ethical/philosophical reasoning behind a view that i do not hold.
God Bless you all! <><