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Ninjaearth -> RE: Sex Before Marriage? Is it against the Bible? (6/23/2008 8:26:06 AM)
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ORIGINAL: MamaPyratekk
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ORIGINAL: Prairiehiker
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ORIGINAL: MamaPyratekk
To put it bluntly, the Bible actually says that God is not married and therefore it's unnecessary for man to be married if he is to be like God. However, it does say that if you are tempted into sex sins (pre-marital sex) then you should only do it in the context of marriage.
Is this a perversion of the bible? Where did it say that if we want to be like God, it's not necessary for us to be married? It just doesn't connect. It's almost like Satan saying if you want to be like God, eat this apple, only with this statement, you're saying if you want to be like God, don't do something.
This is why there's a lot of sexual issues within a Christian marriage. Sex is supposed to be good. Paul adviced people not to be married during that time because of religious persecution that they are facing. If a man is to be married, he would have to face the reality that he will have a wife to worry about if he dies because of his faith. Read the context of the verses before you interpret it for people because it's really misleading and it's resulting in an unhealthy view of marriage when God made marriage to be good.
I've read the context of the verses, and I'm not saying that we shouldn't get married - I merely said that it isn't necessary unless we plan to partake in sexual activities. I'm not going to say that I didn't misinterpret, because maybe I did. However, there are so many verses that I have written down about this that I can't understand how I could have taken anything out of context. Other than the quotes I mentioned...
"But if a man has the bpower to keep from getting married and konws in his mind that he should not, he is wise if he does not get married."
~ 1 Corinthians 7:37
"These are men who have kept themselves pure by not being married. They follow the Lamb wherever He goes. They have been bought by the blood of Christ and have been made free from among men. They are the first ones to be given to God and to the Lamb"
~ Revelation 14:4
"You asked me some questions in your letter. This is my answer. It is good if a man does not get married. But because of being tempted to sex sins, each man should get married and have his own wife."
~ 1 Corinthians 7:1-2
Again, I may have completely interpreted this the wrong way (although I'm a very devout Christian, I'm still quite new to all of this). And if I did, please do feel free to nicely correct me. It just seems that these verses make it clear that there is no need to get married (it's not a sin), however we should get married because of the temptations of sex.
So sorry if I misinterpreted, it just seemed clear what was meant with these passages and the context they were in. But I know I could easily be wrong :)
I do appreciate your honesty in letting us know about the context of these verses. I do want to caution you, though, that just because is mentioned in these verses, understanding the concepts within is them very important. I will note a brief explanation (with the expectation that other biblical teachers will add their input, lovingly, later after me). First of 1 Cor 7:37 is within the context of a man who decides to keep his virgin daughter from being wedded; Paul advocates that keeping her is better than giving her away in marriage because single people have more advantages and time to serve the Lord undivided. However, if he decides to let her marry, he does not sin. So, while this is talking about marriage the context in which sexual before marriage has no regard to this case (it is not a direct reference, per se, but shows the importance of being single and being wise in giving daughters to marry a man.) In reference in what you were saying about Paul advocating them not to marry due to religious persecution, it doesn't fit the context. On the contrary, the Corinthians were extremely immoral and were not persecuted for their faith; immorality and disputes were a common thing in this church and is why he gives more attention to addressing the issues relating to their body, service to God, and the importance of living a Christian life. In this context, Paul is telling them, in response to immorality, that it would be better if some of them took a wife because the time is evil; hardships and immorality plague this church and by doing that they will be pleasing to the Lord in honoring their bodies as the temple of the Holy Spirit. However, he discusses that if they choose to take a wife, the man who does doesn't sin at all. He uses this time to address all singles, widows, and the married couples. Hi verdict is that the one who remains single for the purpose of doing God's work does better, but needs to marry so that they don't burn with passion. This can be a reading used in conjunction with Matthew's gospel (about eunuchs) because it makes the same point. 1 Cor 7:1-2 are still within the contextual frame of it's later brother, so I won't go into that except to say that it also deals with maturity: if a man is able to not touch a woman, that is a good thing. I know a guy (and some guys) that haven't and they are full steam ahead for the Lord. The later context supports what is said in these two verses.
In regards to the next Scripture, Revelation 14:4, this applies to the 144,000 who are with the Lamb and seems to be a special group. This doesn't apply to this subject whatsoever, given it's context (not saying it's not inspired, but rather the context would suggest another interpretation). So unless you're one of them, not many of us would need to worry about this passage.
In reads to what you said above, "Read the context of the verses before you interpret it for people because it's really misleading and it's resulting in an unhealthy view of marriage when God made marriage to be good," that's exactly what you just did. While I know your intentions were good and I know you were using this to justify your position (as you have the right to) on the stance against sex before marriage (God bless you for that), the contextual argument in using these as supports fall a bit short and weak because the context still suggest that enjoying sex in marriage is a good thing (he does not sin). Based on what you said before about God wanting us to be like Him and not get married unless we are planning to partake in sexual activities, I would suggest you read Scripture a bit more closely; nothing in the Scriptures indicate to be like God and not get married. Rather, it was God who instituted marriage and is honored by Him greatly. Furthermore, consider the fact that Jesus Christ (who is God, the Son of God, second member of the Trinity) married the church.
"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is great – but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church." Ephesian 5:31-32
So, I would even say that based on this Scripture marriage is a parallel (in a sense) to Christ and the church and that's why married is honored so highly and taken seriously in God's eyes. Not getting married, unless for the glory of God (a specific calling) is against God's will. The Scripture points back to Genesis when God said that it is "not good" for a man to be alone and why He made a suitable mate for him. In Genesis 2, a more focused view on the Creation account, God calls everything good, except this one thing. This suggests to us that God never intended a man to live a single life on his own, unless it is strictly ordained by God to set aside him (or her) for a purpose that involves being "married" to God for a lifetime which is a life full of service. Another way to say it is this: if a person doesn't desire to be married, then God has appointed them something will be fulfilling in the work of the Lord so that they will be focused on serving God for the rest of their single life. This has a number of factors (which are included in Matthew 19:12) but to remember that the whole counsel of God speaks on this issue (by that I mean all of Scripture read together in their individual context). So, with the exception of wanting to serve the Lord undistractly, marriage should be the answer for many people because they "burn with passion." It is a right and good thing to marry and it should be something that is honored and sought; Proverbs does say that the one who finds a wife finds a good thing (in some translations) Proverbs 18:22. If that's the case and 1 Corinthians 7 says not to seek a wife if you are not bound to one, then it creates a nice little discussion. I'll give room for more explanation here for those who are wanting to comment on this.
So, I would actually believe that God intends marriage for most of His people because it will keep them sinning like the passionate lustful heathen that doesn't know God and will be able to be in God's will to enjoy his wife/her husband. Also, it models Christ and His love and sacrifice for His church that He married on the cross and is waiting to consummate the relationship with her during the Tribulation period. Also, consider the background given of the rapture which is the picture of a Jewish marriage; I believe all of this is intentional. So, then, to conclude, the statement of being like God and not marrying is strictly not Scripture and needs to be very careful (God Himself said that He was married to Israel, prior to Christ..read Hosea) understood. This is not a personal attack against, you, as I do thank you for sharing your thoughts, but anything claiming to be Scripture must be thoroughly tested with Scripture. I would the same justice in my analysis will be give over to Scripture as well, despite my view and explanation on things. I do not want to do a great dis-service to the Word of God (as you have notably said earlier about wrongly mistinterpreting the Word of God). The overall issue of course, is that God is against enjoying sex outside marriage because He designed it to work only within it; within it's context, it works and keeps a marriage together greatly (as someone has already noted) and I agree that if that was the case marriages will not have a high divorce (for us) in this country. I welcome other questions and comments from others (in regards to my post) or PMs if you are willing. God bless!!!
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