Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: tja@mullauna.cs.mu.oz.au (Tim ARNOLD) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: The Laws of the Old and New Covenants Message-ID: Date: 18 Mar 91 16:49:47 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Lines: 51 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu jefff@locus.com (Jeff Fields) writes: >I personally know non-promiscous monogamous couples who would die for eachother >their love is so strong. They make sexual love, but are not married. I see no >sin in this. Who cares whether you see sin in it or not? The crucial question is does God? (Other than of course a concern for your understanding of the way God works) >However I do see loveless marriages of couples who follow all the traditional >Christian morals. Although they are sexually faithful to eachother, there >bond is not firmly cemented by love. My heart aches for these people because >there is a great void in their lives. They most certainly have failed the >test of love. This is your test not God's. Show me where God reveals such an attitude to marriage or sexual relationships and I'll have to change my mind. Show me your opinion and I'll test it against the Bible. >We should not hasten in our pronouncements of sin based solely on outward >social appearances. Unless of course the Bible is quite clear on the matter. The Bible tells us that we judge a person's commitment by outward activities and God judges by the heart. We should be reluctant to play God but never-the-less there are some objective tests which require our attention and rebuke of those who profess to be following Christ but deny his commands. >We must look deeper to see if there is a bond >of love in a relationship before making exhortations to not sin. Sin is ultimately an offence against God (even though it may be one against others as well). To define something as sinful we are presuming God's mind. God has left us guidelines as to what he considers sinful. As people declared righteous through Jesus' death we are called into a life of obedience to God. These guidelines are for our benefit. God is concerned for his creation and wants us to fill our correct role in his creation so the whole of creation is renewed. We ignore his guidelines at our own expense as well as at God's. That is why as a Christian I can boldly say that sexual activity outside of marriage will lead to more suffering than if it is avoided because God gave us his laws for a reason and I trust God's judgment better than I trust my own. >-Jeff Fields Tim. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tim Arnold | Law/Science (Computer Science) | simil justus tja@cs.mu.oz.AU | The University of Melbourne | et peccator =============================================================================