Re: [Church_of_Christ] Re: Questions on Marriage
Beth: Well it seems to me that God places a hugh burden on us adults to do the same things.
Shawn writes: Not for adults who have the freedom to choose how they behave and meet the legal definition of competency.
Beth: Is this just a law put into force because we, as citizens have one up on God and we would have automatically known moral value had it not been for the God who created us?
Shawn writes: These laws exist to protect children from physical harm and neglect because they haven't the capacity or the power to protect themselves. Competent adults have both capacity and the power to protect themselves. You are comparing apples to oranges.
Beth: I'm really glad that you both acknowledge that. Since you have no problem knowing that this is wrong and illegal even by God's standards...
Shawn writes: Let's understand that less than 100years ago, what is defined as Pedophilia today would be common practice then. One cannot marry a 12 to 15-year-old child and not be a pedophile under the current legal definition. It is not necessarily that clear that homosexuality is or is not sanctioned by YHWH. There is a great amount of ambiguity around the subject. Even if the behavior is not sanctioned, it is not illegal under the law and since the U.S. is a Republic and not a Christian Theocracy, the rule of law and the protections guaranteed by the U. S. Constitution give citizens the right to live a lifestyle not sanctioned by YHWH if they so choose.
In fact, we are so strict on these laws that if a boyfriend turned eighteen yesterday and his girlfried does not turn eighteen untill tomorrow and the two have sex today, the boyfriend can be charged with statutory rape. We recognize the limited decision making ability of children and we strongly defend their right to be free from adult intereference.
Shawn writes: Not quite that strict but close. A change the ages to 16 and 15, and you're right on. 18 and 17 cannot be statutory rape in any state of which I am aware.
Beth: Why can't you relate this same scenerio to a (adult) child who doesn't know God? If we protect our children by the laws of the land....and we are a family in Christ...then why are we not to look out for those who are wandering and lost in sin...even those who may not be a member of our spiritual family. If we were going to adopt a child and the papers had not yet been signed and they were doing things contrary to the laws of the land and the laws of God...would we just leave them wandering with the attitude that....hey! it's none of my business what this child does....they have a right to do whatever they want so I'll just forget about making them a legal member of my family and let them go their own way. Is that what we as Christians are supposed to do with the children, and possible childen, of God?
Shawn writes: Competent adults have fully developed brains and are capable of looking past the moment to understand the possible consequences of their choices. They have the right to make their own decisions and choices. YHWH gives them that freewill to choose. You're comparing apples and oranges again. Helpless child with no power and protection vs. competent adult with both the capacity and power to protect themselves and make their own decisions.
Beth: Brian, the thing that really bothers me in all this is that you seem to be trying to justify judicial law rather than God's law. Cause if defending God's Law....we are taught through scripture that both acts are "WRONG."
Shawn writes: Brian is right and there is no need to justify it. Christians are required to live according to YHWH's laws, non believers have no requirement. Their status is the same, regardless of their behavior. What is the difference between an unsaved heterosexual and an unsaved homosexual? Nothing-they're both unsaved and remain in that state, regardless of any secular law allowing or prohibiting their choices.
Beth: This sounds really backward to me. you asked....what is the biblical basis for opposing pedophilia?
Do you have a biblical basis for defining it any way except as horrid and evil? And what does historical record have to do with pedophilia being acceptable in biblical times? We're not talking about marriage here...we are talking about people who abuse kids. There were marriages in biblical times of young people but it was not classified as Pedophilia. There are kids today that have to have parents signature to get married...I was one of them, but there was no pedophilia involved....
Shawn writes: What seems to be overlooked by many or seemingly not understood is that concubines were not wives, they were child bearers. Concubines were typically the female captives of their enemies who were conscripted or enslaved to serve as child bearers and as long as they were capable of bearing a child. So essentially, a female who had entered puberty and experienced a consistent menses became a concubine. Pedophilia in its purest form. Forced and coerced sexual interaction between a child and an adult.
Another thing that seemingly is missed is that pedophiles compose all people of all sexual orientation and not just homosexuals.
Shalom,
Shawn
Brian B.
.
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