true_noir_chloe wrote:It is Ephesians 5:21-33. This is my favorite verse in the Bible regarding how husbands and wives should treat each other....
*gives a huge, honest smile... a rarity.*
Oh, thank you! I was trying to find that verse! My parents told me that passage really outlines the key to a good marriage. Thank you.
*continues reading eagerly.*
true_noir_chloe wrote:Marriage is give and take. And by far, the man in the marriage is the one who gives the most. In return, if he is married to a godly woman, he will be blessed with her complete love, honor and devotion.
My parents (and I) agree completely with you.
true_noir_chloe wrote:Omega Amen, I know I was not serious with my first answer. In fact, I hadn't even read your response until right now. I cannot totally agree with your response.
My apologies. I have this problem of taking nearly everything I see seriously. I honestly thought I might have unintentionally insulted you. I was trying to make amends in my second post. Sorry for the confusion.... Forgive me, that is my fault.
Disagreement?
true_noir_chloe wrote:I think to weigh so much on a couple is wrong. Once you are married you are your beloved, and your beloved is yours. Within the marriage, if you're following the guidelines laid out in Ephesians, then what you do in the bedroom is between you and God.
I guess I did not form my first answer very well, because I also agree with you on this point. (This is not surprising since I wrote my first post on the fly, and not being able to find the Ephesians passage.)
My concern is possible abuse of sex, that they become focused
only about themselves (I mean that singularly not collectively, i.e. husband only cares about
himself and not his wife), and
do not "become one flesh," and the husband starts becoming like "an abusive ogre" where he does not nurture or care or respect his wife. If the "a lot of sex" leads to this abusive relationship, where there is no "give and take" at all, where it fails to follow the Ephesians passage, where the husband does not follow Christ's example in loving the Church, then I believe it should not be done.
That was what I was trying to get at. I am not trying to dictate what a married couple does in the bedroom. Of course, it is between them and God. Note: when I say strengthen the marriage, I really do mean follow the guidelines in Ephesians. (That passage has been hammered in my head by my parents, but I keep forgetting where it is located, and yes, I am ashamed I keep forgetting where it is.)
At this point, I am really worried on how my first post does not follow the Ephesians passage. That passage is probably the biggest lesson that my parents gave me and one of the most dear to my heart. true_noir_chloe, if you can PM me on where it strays from the Ephesians passage, I would be very, very grateful.
true_noir_chloe wrote:And I still stand firm in my earlier statement. I think this guy is trying to rile Hitokiri up with something that has nothing to do with whether he believes in Jesus Christ or not. I've heard so many arguments through my years witnessing on college campuses. It's a ruse, and I stand by my thoughts that's the only reason this young man asked this, was for shock value.
I have the same suspicions as you have about the motivations of the person who asked the question. In my life, I have been constantly bashed for my faith, and questions like this one were precursors to the bashing. I developed some pretty thick skin because of that.
I also have no problem with your firm stance. However, personally, if I had to do it all over again, I would still answer those type of questions. I would not argue after I state my answer, in fact, I have never allowed the argument to develop. Answering a question is possible without starting an argument. I have done it many times, and yes, I have left people in the cold to argue with the air around them.
My parents' marriage is essentially what made me believe in the existence of God and that Christ's love is genuine. If it weren't for them, I would have never been a Christian, period. It is the love they demonstrate in their marriage is what makes them my heroes. It is their love that makes me put "Believer" in my custom user title.
Therefore, if I were to meet this guy Hitokiri mentioned, and he asked me this question, even with the intent to shock, I would still answer it. Why? Because it deals with marriage, even if it may be immature, and if I get a chance to express the beauty outlined in Ephesians and make a statement against destroying marriage, even in the silly context of "a lot of sex," I am going to do it. Marriage means too much to me....
However, I will not blame anyone in not answering those type of "shock" questions with the mention of marriage. I am used to the attempts to shock and to bash. I am almost numb to it.
true_noir_chloe wrote:...my husband understands his Ephesians husband role and is the greatest blessing in my life. We grow to understand the scripture more every day. ^_^
I sincerely mean this. I am very happy to hear that. I really am.
Hitokiri, sorry about this. But marriage means a lot to me. You have decided what to do anyway.
I have said more than my fair share here. I will not post again in this thread.