I started about 3 replies. One from Romans
about Paul's struggles. One from real life examples of how people's actions
were contrary of their beliefs. One from what we know about addictions. But
I realize it will be fruitless. The voice that cries out "if you fail, it's
your fault! shape up or ship out! it's easy! read the bible! just do it! no
excuses! you worthless piece of ____" will drown all. Love,
Caroline
Where do I assign
fault Caroline? When I wrote I was merely saying "this is the way it
is" - are you into 'political correctness as well as universalism?"
Yes Paul had struggles with his own flesh but he pursued
righteousness
so that he could
write younger believers to "follow him as they observed him following
Christ" and yes, there is
a spirit of
'addictions' - it runs in my family and I know about it first hand.
That's the reality and the battle we find
ourselves in and
this is why the answer is not a powerless 'universalism'
judyt
A MANS MORALITY DETERMINES HIS
THEOLOGY.....
The Princess of Wales was pretty messed up
too. A high power, high pressure marriage of convenience/love of two
wounded children. We all need saving - every single day of our
lives.
True, but she was manipulated and
duped into thinking it was a love match at least for a short
while.
While we're at it, I think the rest of the
family was pretty messed up too.
I agree and they have been for
generations, although Queen Victoria is said to have taken her faith
seriously.
But there is so much good and so much glory
in that tiny nation. Some of the greatest evangelists, missionaries and
theologians came from there. Some of the greatest social reformers came
from there. Our modern ideas which includes no slavery, protection of
workers, education for all came from there. Remarkable. It has to be God.
They had
their day in the sun, along with Scotland each nation has a 'day of
visition' and I don't doubt that God
still has a remnant in
those countries in spite of how pagan they have become.
I wonder if the Royal family is aware of
spiritual warfare? They are defender of the faith and the head of the
nation. Surely they must come in for more than the average person's share
of spiritual lies and attacks. I hope English Christians pray for them
daily.
Are you kidding? Philip and much
of the British aristocracy are Freemasons; Charles has resisted so far,
possibly because of the terrible relationship he has with his father but
he has not escaped. A close adviser by the name of VanDerPost
introduced him to pursuit of the occult many years ago and he read these
books on his honeymoon when he married Diana. Later he went to
Africa to investigate native religions. Both Diana and Fergie
were known to frequent psychics and astrologers. Charles disdains Christianity and has stated in the past
that when he ascends the throne he would like to be called
"Defender of the Faiths" - so
there you
go. The future King of England is a true universalist.
judyt
LOL Judy! I wonder what God said to Isaac
and Rebekah the morning after.
What would be wrong with
Isaac & Rebekah's union, they had the blessing of both
families and she went willingly.
For the longest time the State did not
govern or legislate marriage. They had to do that when our societies
got more complicated. I haven't done any research in this area but
when did State sanctioned marriages happen? Was it because English law
allows only legitimate sons to inherit with the first born one getting
the main title plus the lands that went with the title?
They probably started it to get
some kind of tax, whenever the State gets involved it has to do with
power or money. However we know that marriage is ordained by God and
that the marriage agreement is the closest idea we have in our
generation to that of covenant. Under Levitical law if a
man lay with a maiden he had married her.
Someone should write a book about how
primogeniture has shaped society. King Richard II became king by
declaring his brother's two sons illegitimate because it was
discovered that King Edward V was betrothed(!) to
another before his marriage. Apparently in those days,
betrothed people could have church approved sex and it was the
equivalent of marriage without the ceremony.
British Kings were for the most
part totally immoral and pretty much gave in to their carnality and
lust and did what they wanted to They were 'defenders of the faith' in name only and took
any female that appealed to them.
I can see why that tradition had to
change. I can imagine some cousin of Princes Will and Harry saying,
"your dad was betrothed to _____ before he married your mom so you
guys are illegitimate and I'm the heir apparent." and they replying,
"oh yeah and your grandfather......"
Love, Caroline
No kidding; there is already
speculation about Harry's paternity and Charles' behavior has been
disgraceful. Apparently some uncles of his messed him up big time. One
encouraged him to research the occult and another told him to sow
wild oats and play the field. This along with his loveless childhood produced an emotional wreck
of a man who had nothing to give his bride in 1981 but his
infidelity. How tragic and what a horrible example to his
sons.
How does God determine
what is fornication and what is not? I would think this
would be
the important part
because fornicators DO NOT inherit his Kingdom. Adulterers
don't either. judyt
I don't know what I think about
living together without a legal ceremony. I suppose
that if the couple has made a conscious commitment to one
another they are "married." I mean, the state does not
tell them to separate. It seems to me that there
is a difference between living together and shaken up.
I like what Caroline wrote, below.
Jd
In a message dated 4/11/2005 5:36:00
AM Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
writes:
Pros for legal marriage
1) legal
protection and rights including survivor benefits, inheritance,
insurance etc.
2) tax breaks
3) teens
can't contract serial marriages/divorces behind their parents
backs. Some are probably doing it anyway but they know such
marriages are not accepted.
When teens fall in love they:
- honestly
and wholeheartedly believe it'll last forever
- honestly
and wholeheartedly believe it's God's will
- will
believe that stats that say teen love and teen marriage is
temporary does not apply to them
If the above three
are not issues, then sure, no reason to get marriage sanctioned
by State. But then again, we have to remember that everyone
going to the altar never thinks they'll need State protection
from the person they are swearing to love forever and
ever.
Love,
Caroline
