What Causes Adultery

[philknowles]

What are some of the reasons adultery is committed by Christians?

 

[EmSchmem]

That they love themselves before their partners or God.

 

[philknowles]

I believe adultery is committed by some of the following:

Very selfish people and every one is their playground
No basis on what marriage really means
Anger at the spouse and does something that will hurt them.
Directed by the flesh

 

[Yitzchak]

The bible speaks of two catagories of christians. Carnal and spiritual. When someone commits adultery, it is clear that they are operating in their flesh and not being led by the spirit. Adultery is a work of the flesh. To answer the question of why a Christian would commit adultery, one needs to answer the more general question of why a christian would operate in the flesh in any area. Selfishness is a pretty good answer, in my view.

There are legitimate needs that everyone has and adultery is an illegitimate way to get a legitimate need met. But I think that the need oftentimes goes beyond physical needs. It is usually more emotional than it is physical.

 

[MERCY@GRACE]

1)For the thrill.

2)Physical and or emotional connection

3)Ego.

4)lost respect/love for spouse.

5)Moment of weakness.

All carnal reasons-but I think the reasons listed sum it up!

 

[philknowles]

Well, here's a good question then, do carnal christians have the same salvation to enter heaven as the spiritual ones?

 

[angelwings67]

I've always felt that it stems from ones needs not being met by thier spouse and visa versa

 

[I'ddie4him]

What are some of the reasons adultery is committed by Christians?

My ex commited adultery and told me point blank she didn't want to deal with my bipolar disorder and wanted someone stable. Plain and simple.

 

[searle29678]

Christians commit adultery for the same reasons they commit any other sin--we're human. Temptation gets the best of us in a lot of situations. If your spouse isn't nice enough, or hard working enough.....if you have low self esteem.....you just met someone you like more than your spouse......any of those separately or combined can override a person's respect for their marriage or love for their spouse if it's not kept in check.

 

[InTheFlame]

A couple of additions:

• Pride - in the guise of 'this will never be a problem for me'
• Lack of sensible precautions against temptation

 

[Daily Miracle]

With my husband, it was an alcoholic father that taught his boys how to hurt the ones they're supposed to love, and a mother that would do anything to keep her boys all to herself.

 

[tru_believer]

becoming friends with the oppossite sex when you are married and spending alone time with them
you should always have others around and dont get to close, emotionally or physically

 

[jmcgowan2]

I would hope that most Christian husbands don't get caught up in pride, or selfishness to such a degree that it would lead to adultery (I'm not saying that I believe this to be true, I just hope that it is...) but I know that I struggle most (never fallen... thank God!) when I simply connect with someone. It's not even a matter of spending time alone with a girl, it's about spending time with a girl that I connect with. Personally, I work with mostly all girls (in a retail setting) and some of them present no temptations at all. Other girls I work with present great temptations, because I somehow connect with them. We have a similar sense of humor, or something unique in common, or maybe they just have an interesting personality. Either way, my answer is always the same... talk about my wife every chance I can and make sure it never gets to be an 'alone' situation!

Jeremiah McGowan

 

[Yitzchak]

Well, the term "carnal" simply means "physical" especially in sexual needs and activities..

Our basis for salvation as Christians is based on our acceptance of Jesus Christ into our lives.. we sin, because we are not perfect, we repent, we ask honest forgiveness of Jesus Christ, and we are forgiven all the same for all sins. So I'm not sure what you mean by "carnal" Christians.. but if you are asking if Christians sin physically do they get into heaven, then the answer is yes they do if they are truly in repentance for their actions and are seeking forgiveness and guidance through Jesus Christ.

But as I see it, you have to be HONESTLY truly repenting.. anyone can say "I'm sorry, forgive me" but not everyone can mean it. So which ones of the people asking forgiveness ACTUALLY get saved? No one can answer that question, its between individuals and God.

~ ~

The term carnel Christian is a biblical one. I will try to find the reference.

 

[brokenbananas]

This is a bit of a tough post for me to write, since it seems that everyone else is posting in a different manner.

I'll just relay from my experiences. I committed adultery against my ex-husband. I am not proud of myself at all and was 100% wrong.

My reasons:
1. I judged those who did such things and thought they were terrible. I thought I was beyond this sin. -- PRIDE
2. Because I thought I was beyond this sin, I didn't protect myself (put on the WHOLE ARMOUR of God EVERY DAY).
3. There was great needs in my marriage that we not being met by my husband on many different levels. I felt very alone, angry, frustrated.
4. I had a poor self-esteem, did not truly understand who I was in Christ.
5. I worked around 95% men and really never had any problems with men before. Once again, did not keep my guard.
6. I didn't understand anything about boundaries in relationships.

At the time I committed adultery, I was leading prayer groups and making huge progress, but I did not protect all areas of my life and that's where Satan came in. In some areas of my Christian walk, it was going very strong and well. However, not all areas were, obviously. I was extremely lonely and it was never my intention to even flirt or get into a friendship that went to where it did. I totally regret it. For me, after I committed adultery, I was racked with guilt. I couldn't understand how I got to where I got to.

It was with one stray thought, timing, loneliness, hurt, anger, frustration, charm, a need to feel loved and accepted. I think the biggest thing was that originally I thought I was beyond this sin that led to my demise. I now realize, there is no sin that I cannot commit. Acknowledging this frees me to allow God to work in my life and to protect me in ALL areas.

Many people who commit adultery don't wake up thinking "Hey, I want to commit adultery." It happens over a progression of time through a bunch of things. Be on your guard, and put on the whole armour of God daily. The devil seeks to steal, kill and destroy your marriage.

 

[~Nikki~]

That they love themselves before their partners or God.

Exactly!!!

 

[Egghead]

What are some of the reasons adultery is committed by Christians?

-being weak willed
-vows that werent sincere
-a spouse who is satan incarnate

 

[brokenbananas]

-being weak willed
-vows that werent sincere
-a spouse who is satan incarnate

I'm just wondering, have you ever sinned against God in anything? Saying that a person who sins is Satan incarnate is very judgmental. It reminds me of the Pharisees who judged the adulterous woman. They, in actuality, were far worse than her because at least she acknowledged her sin and repented while the Pharisees thought they were all high and mighty.

Of course, I was right where your thinking was before I ever committed adultery. Don't be so quick to judge other people. At least I was willing to admit, ask for forgiveness and allow God to change me. God looks at ALL SIN as wrong, and not adultery worse than a white lie.

 

[jmcgowan2]

I'm just wondering, have you ever sinned against God in anything? Saying that a person who sins is Satan incarnate is very judgmental. It reminds me of the Pharisees who judged the adulterous woman. They, in actuality, were far worse than her because at least she acknowledged her sin and repented while the Pharisees thought they were all high and mighty.

Of course, I was right where your thinking was before I ever committed adultery. Don't be so quick to judge other people. At least I was willing to admit, ask for forgiveness and allow God to change me. God looks at ALL SIN as wrong, and not adultery worse than a white lie.

I could be wrong, but I read egghead's comment as being a little tongue in cheek towards the spouse who was cheated on (as in: I cheated on you because you are Satan incarnate and I can't stand to be around you). Egghead, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong!

Jeremiah McGowan

 

[brokenbananas]

Well, here's a good question then, do carnal christians have the same salvation to enter heaven as the spiritual ones?

With this post, are you meaning Christians who sin? I would challenge each Christian on any given day to NOT sin in any manner. This is very difficult. I don't know if it's impossible or not, but for me, though my relationship now with Christ is much better and stronger, I think for the rest of my life, there probably isn't a day that goes by that I don't do something against God.

It might be a thought, a look, a word, an attitude...those are probably the worst things for me....because most of that is in my head and no one but God sees....Those are just as bad as the outward stuff.