Wednesday 15 February 2012

What Is Fornication? Why Is It Wrong?

 
Trying to define the word "fornication" accurately and precisely is almost like trying to lasso a bolt of greased lightning. Even the experts disagree.

Some define fornication as sexual intercourse between a man and a woman who are not married to each other. If that's the case, then what differentiates fornication from adultery? Evidently nothing, because some Bible dictionaries and encyclopedias simply say "See ADULTERY" when we look up the word. According to 1 Corinthians 6:9-10: 



Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God (KJV)


Yet if there is no difference between a fornicator and an adulterer, then why mention both fornicators and adulterers within the same context, and even in the same sentence, as being among those who will not inherit the kingdom of God? Why even have two different words if both words mean the exact same thing? 


Others say that if one of the two parties engaging in sexual intercourse is married, then that makes it adultery, but not fornication. Others say the exact opposite. Or perhaps, if a single man has sexual intercourse with another man's wife, he is committing fornication while she is committing adultery.


Still others say that both people engaging in sexual intercourse have to be single in order for it to be classified as fornication


And what if the two people who are not married to each other engage in some form of sexual activity other than intercourse? We all remember President Clinton's famous line: "I did not have sex with that woman." As far as we know, the only sexual activity that Monica had with Bill was fellatio . Later, Clinton said he did not consider fellatio "having sex." Perhaps he had a point. After all, there is nothing in the Bible that says anything about fellatio. And since no woman has ever become pregnant as a result of fellatio, and since there are no known harmful effects from fellatio - in fact, it may even be beneficial - then it's difficult enough to try and prove that fellatio is even a sin, let alone trying to prove that fellatio is an act of fornication.


Consider all the many sexual activities that a single man and woman can engage in with each other that do not include intercourse. Are those activities sinful?  





FORNICATION WHAT IS IT ...?

Here are the persons who can commit fornication:
1.) Those who commit adultery (the act of adultery must also contain then an act of fornication).
2.) Those who commit incest (can only single persons commit incest? If a man has relations with his daughter that is incest and fornication. If a mother had relations with her son this is incest and fornication (1Cor 5:1). If a brother and sister (married or not) have relations it is incest. Incest is fornication married or not)!
3.) Idolatry is fornication. (Idolatry is in the Spirit what adultery is in the carnal. But what is it in the act of idolatry that makes it also fornication? The Greek meaning then and today in the same Greek language means some act of fornication has occurred).
4.) Unlawful lust. (unlawful lust includes the married and the unmarried. It is a falsehood to say that only single people can commit unlawful lust. Some claim "Lewdness is the unlawful indulgence of lust (porn is included in this)." So in their own words "lewdness" is a sin of fornication. If only single persons can be lewd and be involved in porn or the like: please, would someone PROVE IT )!
5.) A harlot or a whore. (can only single females be a harlot or a whore? It does not make sense to say that a married woman cannot be a harlot or a whore. The Bible is full of places where married women were harlots and whores. God accused Israel his wife of being a harlot (Jeremiah 3:1), a whore (Isaiah 57:3), a fornicator (Ezekiel 16:29), and an adulterer(Isaiah 57:3). These facts will not disappear.
6.) A male prostitute. (This classification of an act of fornication includes homosexuals and also single or married males who offered their services for hire. Fornication is identified here as sexual relations for money. We will take it that if it includes the male it also includes the female under the name whore, strumpet, or harlot).
7.) A female prostitute. (this is covered under harlotry).
8.) Whoremongers.  (to be a whoremonger is to have sexual relations with a whore or more then one whore.  What is a whore?  A whore is a woman who will have sexual relations with any man she chooses.  All prostitutes are whores but not all whores are prostitutes.  Some whores think that because they give free and do not charge they are not whores.  This is false.  The moment any wife has sexual relations with a man not her husband she is a whore.  The moment she exposes her body to other men for sexual purposes she is a whore. She is guilty of fornication and adultery and has broken her marriage covenant. The moment any husband has sexual relations with any woman or girl not his wife he is a whoremonger. If he also exposes himself to other women or a woman, he is a fornicator and guilty of adultery.
We can see that the word fornication includes a whole range of sexual conduct not connected to single persons who have unmarried relationships.

Saturday 11 February 2012

Praying for All Men

First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” - 1 Timothy 2:1-2
For whom are we to pray? Not just for those we like or who agree with us. Not just for friends and allies. No! For “all men”—the Godly and ungodly, moral and immoral, Christians and non-Christians, even those who persecute us, irritate us, and cause us problems. Everyone!It can be easy to pray for friends and family members, other Christians, and causes we believe in. But Paul said there should be no distinction. In fact, he urged us to pray for all people in four ways:
We are to make entreaties—caring enough to seek God on behalf of people’s burdens and needs. We are to offer prayers—not just praying politely, but spending quality time in a suitable place where we can pray with intensity and commitment. We are to make petitionsfor them—interceding and bringing them before the throne of God, genuinely concerned about their needs and problems.
We also are to pray with thanksgiving—even for the ungodly, immoral, and anti-Christian. We’re to be thankful for the opportunity to pray for them…grateful for all God has done for us…confident He can do anything or change anyone…and thankful He is Lord over all.
How would the world change if God’s people followed these instructions from Paul? If we regularly prayed for governments and rulers, no matter what their philosophy? Celebrities and soldiers? Terrorists and atheists? Our friends and enemies? If we would pray, not just politely, but passionately? Intensely?