Argument from silence is always risky
Submitted by Forgiven on March 26 2002 20:01:10
In reply to Re: Lots of interesting points submitted by sally on March 26 2002 15:15:28
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In two respects a) You're making the assumption that my past and present relationships with my YFs are sexually driven. That really isn't the case; there's been a shading of that in there, but the fact that clear boundaries were laid down by things that they said early in the relationship means that it has not been the focus of the relationship. One of the reasons why I have no doubt that the relationships are of God is that when the issue became a problem, prayer led to them saying things that placed clear boundaries. (Don't know if that makes any sense...) with the result that there has not been an issue or temptation since. b) We have NO idea what age John, John Mark or Timothy became part of the life of the respective men. There is little justification to assume that they would have NECESSARILY have been much over 14; the Jewish Bar Mitzvah at 13 indicates the age when they assume adult responsibilities. One of the interpretations of when Jesus is left in the temple argues that he was jutified in his behaviour because at that age he had adult status..... One of the deficiences in reformed theology is that they are very bad at celibacy; given Paul's commendation of it, this is a clear mistake. There is an art to celibacy - to fulfill the emotional needs for intimacy by having a lot of appropriate relationships with people who might be otherwise be our sexual partners. It's NOT a sexual relationship in the strict sense - but it fulfills those needs. And as a result when things are going well, I can honestly say that I don't 'burn'... I probably need to take your post apart a bit more to deal with it properly - but since it is WELL past my bed time on this side of the Atlantic, the rest will have to wait, except to say that I'm probably the most conservative evangelical here - and it's nice to have a biblically based argument!! (And therefore I agree with most of your strictures about homosexuality) |
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