For Bboy,
Here we go again. When are you going to actually study the subject you so love to talk about? You know, the apparent contradictions in scripture.
First of all, the scriptures from the N.T. that you quoted were the requirements for elders (pastors) and deacons, the two Biblical offices for church leadership.
In Genesis, God joined together a man and woman as the ideal but not the law as such. This continued into the Law Covenant dispensation (do you remember that term?) though it is obvious that God did not ban polygamy. Men were allowed to have more than one wife, it was not adultery. In the N.T, Paul much recommended the single life but he of course did not stand against even polygamy, nor can I remember anywhere that it is considered 'adultery'.
Incest is another necessary thing that was not harmful to man who was much closer to original creation, You should also notice that this was rarely full brother/sister incest after a few hundred years. It was more often cousins or halfs, which is not technically incest.
Now it is a traditional thing and often it is a law in societies. It's all a thing of balance with excesses either way being harmful. Just like most other endeavors in life, eh?
Hi Jan,
You're very much missing the point on sexuality. Unbridled sexuality leads to these things (in general):
1) Unplanned pregnancies, which leads to abortions and more disfunctional families. There is no question that the traditional family is the most stable environment to raise children to become resposible adults.
2) Abortions or we have situations like the woman recently who was having her fifteenth child by several different men and we, society in general, get stuck with the bill.
3) Children basically raised on the street when their father is nowhere to be found and mom is a drunk or druggie. 9 out of 10 of these offspring get into trouble with the law.
4) Rampant illnesses and disease related to promiscuity, which is a big reason that one whould avoid this.
5) Devestation of solid families by one party or the other who is disloyal to his or her mate.
Even humanism teaches that some sexuality is destructive.
BTW, the terrorists who worked for Bin Laden went to stripper bars and prostitutes the nights before their suicidal rampage. Odd, isn't it, if they were so dedicated to Islam why did they essentially do things that led them to hell (according to their own teachings!).
Hey, I absolutely enjoy a healthy sexuality but I could fall at any time by being overconfident and not leaning on God. This is my 'achilles heel' and I love assertive, confident, attractive women.
Rex
