[net.religion] Bible vs. non-marital sex

david@ssc-vax.UUCP (David Norris) (01/20/84)

No doubt this has already drawn a flood of responses, but...

> Stefan Gruenwedel:

>    Indeed, the Christian's source does not say anything about being
> forbidden to have non-marital sex.  As the Bible says, "...you should
> avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his
> own body in a way that is holy and honorable..."  Nowhere does it
> forbid mortals to engage in non-marital sex.  What is meant by "sexual
> immorality"?  That is quite debatable.  To take a someone's personal
> opinion, "sexual immorality" could mean rape, but nothing else; to
> someone else it could mean homosexuality, but nothing else, etc.
> What is "holy and honorable"?  As one can see, this quote from the
> Bible (1 Thessalonians 4:1-6, NIV) does not forbid non-marital sex, as what it
> forbids depends upon different points of view.  So the Christian probably
> didn't convince the non-Christian that there is a law in the Bible banning
> sexual intercourse between Christians until they are married. 

Please refer to the following verses on fornication.  Taken as a whole, we get
a pretty good idea what the Bible has to say on this subject.  Please also
note, flamers, that I personally am NOT making any moral judgement against
those who have non-marital sex;  If you want to start a debate on the morals
of sex, fine.  But count me out.  And count me out of a definition argument:
"Fornication = creation of little league baseball bats".  I think the term
fornication is very generally understood.  I merely point out that Stefan may
have made a mistake when he said the Bible had nothing to say on the subject. 

1 Thessalonians 4:3
  "...that ye should abstain from fornication"

Ephesians 5:3
  "But fornication..let it not be once named among you.."

1 Corinthians 5:9-11
  "..not to company with fornicators.."

1 Corinthians 6:9,10
  "..neither fornicators..shall inherit the kingdom of God.."

1 Corinthians 6:13-20
  "..the body is not for fornication.."
  "..flee fornication.."
  "..he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.."

1 Corinthians 7:2
  "..to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife.."

Revelation 19:2
  "..judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication.."

Matthew 19:9
  "..away his wife, except it be for fornication, .." 

	-- David Norris
	-- uw-beaver!ssc-vax!david

twiss@stolaf.UUCP (Thomas S. Twiss) (01/23/84)

	I think David Norris has some valid points, BUT...

BEWARE YE ALL WHO QUOTE THE BIBLE OUT OF CONTEXT!!!!!!!!

	Just as from any other source, quoting from the Bible is a
risky business unless the context is made absolutely clear.

There, that's my 2 cents worth.

					Tom Twiss
				...!ihnp4!stolaf!twiss

jim@randvax.UUCP (01/24/84)

--------
Twiss just told Dave Norris to beware of quoting the Bible out of context.
Come on, now, all he was doing there was telling us where to look the stuff
up, not (this time!) telling us what Dave&God's final words are on the
subject.  Although it's evident from his recent discussion with Tim Maroney
that he has his head wedged, he got a bum rap this time.

		Jim Gillogly    I/ /
		randvax!jim     I_/
		jim@rand-unix   I